BRONTE
 Bronte, an important center of twenty thousand inhabitants with a predominantly agricultural and pastoral economy, capital of pistachios, is located in Sicily, 50 km from the capital Catania.
The name, according to tradition, derives from the Cyclops Bronte; in Greek it means "roar", "thunder" with evident reference to the proximity of the Etna volcano. It is nestled between the western slopes of Etna covered with skiing and woods, in a basin-like depth, between the sandy mountains of Pizzo di Maletto (1633 m.) and Piano Daini and the southernmost heights of the mountains S. Marco (900 m.) and Colla (910 m.). It dominates the upper Simeto valley and extends, descending gently, from the slopes of the volcano to the banks of the river, where the last trickle of lava magma corroded by the waters is found, before climbing up the Nebrodi mountain system in the direction of Tortorici and Longi. «Its view - writes B. Radice -, to be enjoyed in the early hours of the day, from the station or from the convent of S. Vito, in spring and autumn, in all its country pomp, is the most varied and picturesque of the Circumetnea.» The view sweeps «over fields and vineyards and pistachio groves, almond groves, orange groves, olive groves, which arose as if by enchantment amidst the horror of the lava, benefited by the paternal Simeto, and over woods that extend in black circles up the cloister of the opposite mountains, the Nebrodi: Placa, Bolo, Cutò, Cattaino, Semantile, Rapiti, Grappidà, embraces the entire charming view of the countryside and the town below as if in a painting. The houses, with the tall slender bell towers of the churches, leaning on each other, looking towards the valley, seem from moment to moment to fall, roll down and cover with their ruins the beauty of that vast and varied surrounding scene.» |
