Sicilian cart
A Sicilian cart ( Italian Carretto siciliano , Sicilian Carrettu sicilianu ) is a two-wheeled cart made of wood that is lavishly decorated with carvings and paintings. Usually drawn by donkeys or horses, such carts were a common means of transport in Sicily until the middle of the last century .
history
The two-wheeled carts were introduced to Sicily by the Greeks. The tradition of painted Carretti Siciliani began at the end of the 18th century. The carriages of the wealthy landowners served as models . By means of artistic carvings and colorful, detailed paintings, the carts of the common people should also be given a magnificent appearance.
Wood carvers, blacksmiths and painters specialized in the design of carts and passed their skills on from generation to generation. In addition to decorative ornaments , scenes from mythology, history and everyday life in Sicily were preferred. Over time, each province developed its own style of painting.
At the beginning of the 19th century the carts were very common and there were several thousands of them in Sicily. The Carretti del Lavoro were used to transport goods such as wood, wine and food. Filled with ice from Etna , they were also used as refrigerated trucks.
The Carretti de gara , where the draft animals were also festively decorated, were used on festive occasions such as B. Weddings for the transportation of people.
regional customs
Today, the three-wheeled small delivery vans that replaced the wooden carts in the middle of the last century or cars are sometimes painted in the typical style.
The old Sicilian carts are exhibited in museums. There are particularly extensive collections in Terrasini in the Museo del Carretto Siciliano and in Palermo in the Museo Etnografico Siciliano Giuseppe Pitrè .
In Palermo and Taormina , festive processions with the Sicilian carts are held annually at the end of April and beginning of May. Reproduced in miniature format, they are sold as souvenirs.
Further information
literature
- Brigit Carnabuci: Sicily. Greek temples, Roman villas, Norman cathedrals and baroque cities in the center of the Mediterranean (= DuMont art travel guide ). 6th, updated edition. DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2011, ISBN 978-3-7701-4385-6 .
- Eva Gründel, Heinz Tomek: Sicily . DuMont Buchverlag, Cologne, 5th edition 2001, ISBN 3-7701-3476-1
- Leoluca Orlando , The Sicilian Cart. Impressions from an eventful life , Ammann Verlag, Zurich 2004, ISBN 3-250-60063-6
