Every corner of Sicily holds a secret, a tale passed down from generation to generation that sinks its roots into the deep blue of our sea.
If there is a legend that more than any other embodies the visceral bond between Sicilians and the sea, it is the story of Nicola, known to everyone as Colapesce.
A boy born for the water
Originally from Messina, Nicola was an extraordinary young man. More than a land-dweller, he seemed like a sea creature: he spent entire days swimming in the Strait, defying the strongest currents, diving into the abysses in search of sunken treasures, and bringing up coral, seashells, and news of what was happening down there. They called him Colapesce precisely because he almost no longer knew how to live out of the water.
His fame soon reached the ears of the King of Sicily, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, who, curious (and perhaps a bit skeptical), decided to put him to the test.
The challenge of the depths
The King threw a golden cup into the sea at a very deep point of the Strait, and Colapesce, without hesitation, dove in to retrieve it. Shortly after, he emerged triumphant, holding up the cup.
The King, unsatisfied, wanted to dare more and threw a royal crown into an even deeper and more dangerous abyss. Once again, Nicola returned it to the sovereign.
But the decisive test was yet to come. King Frederick wanted to know what lay hidden in the extreme depths of the sea and threw his precious ring into a terrifying whirlpool.
Colapesce dove down, but hours passed and there was no further news of him. The king and the onlookers waited a long time on the shore, sad and resigned, thinking the young man was lost forever.
The secret of Sicily
But Colapesce was not dead. He had descended so deep that he discovered the secret supporting the entire island: Sicily rested on three large columns (or rocks), and one of them, eroded by time and the fire of Mount Etna, had broken, threatening to make the land sink.
In an act of immense courage and love for his land, Colapesce decided never to return to the surface. He stayed down there, pressed his shoulders against the broken column, and decided to support it with his strength, preventing Sicily from sinking into the abyss.
It is said that even today, when there is a heavy sea storm or a minor earthquake, it is because Colapesce is tired and, shifting from one shoulder to the other to find relief, makes the earth tremble.
A bond that lasts through time
The story of Colapesce is not just a fantastic fairy tale. It is a powerful metaphor for our land: it speaks of sacrifice, of roots, of a love for one's territory so great that one decides to guard it in silence, day after day, from the depths.
And this is somewhat what we feel too when we think of our homes, our coasts, and the wonders of Sicily: places that are not just physical spaces, but chests of ancient stories that continue to live thanks to those who inhabit and protect them.
📍 Happy Thursday of stories and legends from Domus Sicilia Immobiliare.
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