Day 5 Rosita's Masseria Mandrascate
Morning Rounds in Cefalú.
Aren't the Italians colorful people? We saw this delivery van in the early morning as we left Cefalú.
Abandoned Sulfur Mines
Sebastian gives us a briefing on the sulfur mines we will be hiking through today. These mines were used from the 1700s until as recently as the 1980s. Parents would send their young boys to work for the mines, thinking they would have a better life with a steady paying job without the threat of starvation. Little did they know the children were exploited as sex slaves for the older men. During working hours, children as young as 5 were driven in a furious fashion to bring the salt ore out of the mines carrying loads much greater than imaginable for their young bodies, working underground for 8-10 hours a day. These children were essentially slaves with no escape from their living hell. To gain their freedom, a "death benefit" had to be repaid to the owners, but was never attainable.
Entrance to the Park
Not a great photo, but it shows our group entering the sulfur mine property.
Here We Are In…??
I have No clue where we are. There is more land here in Sicily than I ever imagined. I DO know there is lunch at the end of the trail. :-) Here is a view across some of the vast landscape we have hiked. If you look closely, in the distance there is a city at the top of the mountain.
17th Century Italian Villa
We have arrived! The outside courtyard of Rosita's Masseria Mandrascate…our lunch destination.
Miss Rosita
Charming, engaging and very animated, Miss Rosita welcomes us to the villa which has been in her family for many years,
Exterior Courtyard
This estate and all the structures you see in the photos were built in the 1600s. It is a working farm producing fruits, vegetables and ricotta cheese.
Italian Watering Trough
There is a romantic feeling, an ancient charm, surrounding this water trough in the interior courtyard. A time for pause to imagine what life was like many years ago on this farm.
Enjoying the Shade!
After a long, hot hike, Deb, Ray, Reggie and Ted cool down under the magnificent ancient trees.
2 Essentials….Water and Wine
Karen and Bill rehydrating as well under their tree.
What a Spread!
Lunch is served buffet style. The woman in the foreground is Rosita's right hand in the kitchen. These ladies know how to cook!
Jim's First Plate
Not a usual consumer of fried food nor zucchini, Jim and I both admit the fresh, homegrown zucchini were delicious.
Bocci Anyone?
Jim and Scott playing on the authentic Bocci Ball court.
Cheers!
Scott found the best seat in the house. Life doesn't get much better!
Interior Courtyard
Looking for the perfect wedding destination? Rosita, ever the entrepreneur, often hosts weddings and other events on the estate.
If This Old Cart Could Talk….
An antique wagon passed down through generations of Rosita's family. Another example of the color and detail Italians love.
