Offbeat Travel: Arianna’s Labyrinth in Sicily

So, you’re hiking through the Sicilian countryside and suddenly you come across a large concrete spiral. What could this be, you wonder? An abandoned World War II fortress? The remnants of a very organized meteorite? Something placed here by the Ancient Roman gods?

Well, that last one actually isn’t so far from the truth. What you’re seeing is actually Arianna’s Labyrinth, a modern art installation created in 1990 by sculptor Italo Lanfredini. The labyrinth is an endless concrete spiral perched just outside Palermo in the countryside of Castel di Lucio.

Lanfredini’s work is actually part of a larger attraction called Fiumara d’Arte, which is an open-air museum featuring a collection of contemporary artworks in Sicily. The Fiumara d’Arte exhibition features different artworks around Sicily, and it is one of the largest sculpture parks in Europe, created by private bequest in 1986 as a singular project.

Il labirinto di Arianna by Davide Mauro licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Arianna’s Labyrinth is inspired by the Greek myth of Ariadne and Theseus, which has its roots in ancient Greece. In the myth, Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos of Crete. Minos keeps a terrible monster called the Minotaur in a labyrinth beneath his palace. The Minotaur is half-man and half-bull, and it demands to be fed with human sacrifices.

Theseus, a young prince from Athens, volunteers to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. Ariadne falls in love with Theseus and helps him to escape from the labyrinth by giving him a ball of thread. Theseus ties the thread to the entrance of the labyrinth, and then he follows the thread back out after killing the Minotaur.

The labyrinth in Palermo is a symbol of Ariadne’s help to Theseus. It is a winding path that leads to a central chamber, where the Minotaur is said to have been kept. The labyrinth is made of concrete and is painted terracotta red. It is surrounded by trees and mountains, and it is a popular tourist destination.

According to Lanfredini. the labyrinth is also a symbol of the journey of life,  a reminder that we all have to face challenges and obstacles, but that we can overcome them if we have help from others. Perhaps not surprisingly, the labyrinth has become a popular place for reflection and meditation.

You Might Also Enjoy: Offbeat Travel: The Tropical Islands of…Brandenburg, Germany?