Myths and Legends
The Origins of an Ancient Heritage
The story of this enchanting place is lost in the mists of time, intertwined with myths and legends, and creates in us a sense of wonder… sometimes even disbelief. We will try to share a glimpse of it with you, just a few words; everything else, if you wish, we can talk about together, perhaps over a glass of good Marsala wine. “La Giardinata”, as documented in ancient records, is a unique place. The reason for this bold statement is immediately explained: in the countryside of Trapani and Valderice, it is the hilly area furthest from the sea and at the same time the highest point one can reach. In simple terms, it is like the stage of a theatre, whose backdrop is represented by Monte Cofano, Erice, Trapani and its archipelago of three islands, Levanzo, Favignana and Marettimo. For this reason, from Giardinata one can enjoy daily sunsets over the sea and views of extraordinary beauty. Moreover, its hilly landscape favours the collection of rainwater; indeed, until the last century there were seven wells, an oasis of water in a land traditionally known for being arid.
The unique characteristics of this place, which we have mentioned, were probably known since ancient times. History tells that Federico III of Aragon fell in love with it in 1314, during Roberto d’Angiò’s expedition to Sicily, and wanted to donate it to the Mother Church of Erice. The former Giardinata estate remained the property of the Church for more than three hundred years before finally passing to the Grazia family. We descendants owe this to the sincere friendship between the Royal Chaplain Don Angelo Grazia and Philip IV of Spain, who granted him the title of Ciandro. The good canon Don Angelo Grazia passed away in Madrid on 21 October 1665, to the regret of the entire royal court, and such was his reputation that his remains were transported to the Mother Church of Erice, where the great Carvini delivered a funeral oration in his honour. To reward the great merits and services of this distinguished doctor and priest, the Giardinata estate was donated to his closest relatives. A nephew, Giovanni Di Grazia, was the first to take possession of it at the end of the 1600s, and from then on it has belonged to the Di Grazia family until the present day.
When the Di Grazia family acquired the estate, they found a true paradise. This place was a garden; there were peacocks, palm trees and plants of every kind, and everything cultivated here produced much more than in other areas. Due to the royal road that crossed it completely, a watchtower was built, followed by some rooms, and later a mill with an olive press that still exists today. It was from that tower that, on a very sad day, 28 April 1839, desperate because of an impossible love, the last glorious Giovanni Di Grazia decided to end his still young life. But these are ghost stories, and we will gladly talk about them over a glass… of good Marsala wine. V.G.