Una scalinata curva scende da Via Vittorio Emanuele al Lavatoio medievale di Cefalù, in Sicilia, dove l'acqua sorgiva del fiume Cefalino scorre attraverso lavabi con pendii in pietra per lo sfregamento di indumenti puliti da sporco ostinato e macchie. Il lavatoio ha antiche origini arabe ed è stato utilizzato per secoli dalle lavatrici di Cefalu. Secondo la leggenda locale, l'acqua proveniva dalle continue lacrime di una ninfa pianente piena di rimorsi per aver accidentalmente causato la morte del suo infedele amante.
4256 x 2832 px | 36 x 24 cm | 14,2 x 9,4 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
24 agosto 2011
Ubicazione:
Cefalu, Sicily, Italy
Altre informazioni:
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Cefalu, Sicily, Italy: a curved flight of steps descends from Via Vittorio Emanuele to the Lavatoio Medievale (medieval wash house), where mountain spring water from the River Cefalino flows through wash basins equipped with stone slopes for local washerwomen to scrub garments clean of stubborn dirt and stains. The Lavatoio replaced an earlier wash house demolished in 1514. The present structure mainly dates from the 16th century, although Moorish arches beside the steps recall an earlier, 205-year pre-Norman period when Cefalu was under Arab control. Cefalu washerwomen continued to clean clothes here well into the 20th century and the wash house was thoroughly restored in 1991 after finally falling into disuse. The steps and the wash basins are built of a mixture of basalt volcanic lava rock and lumachella or fire marble, dotted with tiny fossil shells. Water pours into the Lavatoio through 22 spouts, 15 of them lion heads, and flows out to the sea through pipes. According to Sicilian legend, the water originated from the ceaseless tears of a remorseful nymph mourning the accidental death of her unfaithful lover. In fact, the River Cefalino rises near the village of Gratteri in the Madonie mountains southwest of Cefalu. It was routed under the city streets in the 17th century. The cleanliness of the water was emphasised by Palermo-born historian, lawyer, royal archivist and poet Vincenzo Auria (1625-1710), whose words feature in a Latin inscription on a plaque dated 1655 at the top of the steps. It translates: “Here flows Cefalino, healthier than any other river, purer than silver, colder than snow.” D1100.B3133
