The Teste di Moro (Moorish Heads) are one of the most iconic symbols of Sicily. Crafted in ceramic with artisanal mastery in workshops across the island, they depict a man and a woman—protagonists of a legend that has captivated lovers of Sicilian history and culture for centuries.
The story of this couple is so deeply rooted in Sicilian tradition and folklore that it has gained recognition all over the world.
The origins of the Moorish Heads date back to around the year 1100, during the Arab domination of Sicily. According to legend, a young woman from the Arab district of Al Hàlisah in Palermo fell in love with a Moor who was visiting the city during his travels. The man returned her affection, and the two began a passionate relationship.
Their love story continued for a while, until the man eventually confessed that he had a wife and children back in the East and would soon have to return to them. Blinded by rage and jealousy, the woman killed him during the night—cutting off his head and using it as a pot in which she planted basil.
To make the tale even more macabre, it’s said that the basil thrived exceptionally well in that unusual pot. The neighbors, curious about the young woman’s “lucky plant,” began asking local artisans to create vases in the shape of a Moor’s head for their own balconies and ornamental plants.
To this day, Moorish Heads are widely used as decorative elements in Sicilian homes—adorning living rooms, gardens, terraces, and especially balconies, where they originated as a traditional display.
