16-23 MAY 2016 SICILY: SCILICI

'It is perhaps the most beautiful city in the world'   (Elio Vittorini)

Scilici is a small UNESCO-listed Baroque town in the south east of Sicily, deriving its name from the Sicels who founded it around 300 BC. The town grew up around 2 valleys divided by steep ridges emerging into a wider valley. 

When we had decided to visit the home of Inspector Montalbano it had been entirely by chance that we had chosen Silici over Ragusa to stay in but we were so glad we had. It's a gem!

No shortage of churches!

Nor of squares to sit and people-watch.

Chiesa di San Bartolomeo:

Although its origins are in the 15th century, the church we visited was built between the mid-18th and late 19th centuries. 

Rich rococo stuccowork adorns the interior. The late 18th century altarpiece is The Martyrdom of St Bartholomew.

Chiesa Santa Teresa:

Another 18th century church, it was attached to the former monastery of Santa Teresa founded in 1660.

The building proved to be precarious so was demolished and rebuilt in 1854. 

Chiafura:

One of the town's oldest districts, this abandoned cave settlement is accessible from a path close to the ruined fort. It wasn't until the 1950s that the last residents were rehoused in social housing. Schemes, some EU-funded, have planned to redevelop the area into a tourist attraction but they have clearly had limited success although they provide a spectacular vista from the town, not least the Chiesa di San Matteo perched on top of the hill.

We set off on foot to see how far we could get.

There were plenty of cars parked ....

..... some outside what could have been current dwellings ......

..... or one of the handful of souvenir shops that had opened.

We clambered up an overgrown path

and found more evidence of occupation. It made for good pictures BUT the poverty and hardship of living there was all too obvious.

Chiesa di san Bartolomeo

Chiesa Santa Teresa