University Square hides not one but four legends represented by the famous four bronze candelabra: the legend of the young Gammazita, the Pious Brothers, Colapesce and the Paladin Uzeta.
THE PII BROTHERS
Anfinomo and Anapia were two brothers who, while working the land in a field at the foot of Mount Etna with their elderly parents, were surprised by a frightening eruption. In panic, they decided to flee. But since their parents were unable to sustain the fast pace, with a great spirit of sacrifice and selflessness, they loaded these on their own shoulders, thus slowing their pace and risking being caught up in the impending lava. They were called “pious” because when the lava reached them, it miraculously split into two branches and then rejoined, leaving the siblings and parents unharmed.
COLAPESCE
Cola (Nicholas) was a seafaring man who lived near Cape Peloro in Messina. The sea was his home: when he explored the silent and vast depths, he felt free and full of life. However, his mother, opposed to his passion, often scolded him; one day she even went so far as to curse him, “May you become a fish!” she told him. Gradually his skin became covered with scales and his hands and feet turned into fins. His fame spread throughout Sicily, even reaching the court of King Roger, who was eager to meet him. He therefore went to Messina to test Colapesce’s sea skills: he threw first a golden cup and then a crown into the sea.
While Colapesce was searching for the object, he discovered that Sicily rested on three pillars: one at Cape Passero, one at Cape Libeo, and one at Cape Peloro. The latter, however, was destroyed by fire between Catania and Messina. Colapesce returned to the surface and informed the king about what he had seen, but the king did not believe him. The boy decided to prove to him that he was telling the truth. “Your Majesty, do you see this piece of wood? I am going to dive into the sea with it, and if it comes back to the surface burned, it will mean that fire exists, as I said; in that case I will be dead because the fire will have burned me,” said Colapesce, and he threw himself bravely into the sea. Everyone waited for his return, but Colapesce did not ascend-he chose to support the damaged column so that the island would not sink. Legend has it that Colapesce continues to this day to hold up Sicily, and sometimes the land between Messina and Catania shakes as Colapesce changes position.
GAMMAZITA
Legend tells of a Catanian maiden named Gammazita, a beautiful virtuous and betrothed. She was madly in love with a French soldier, Droetto, who was despised by the young woman who did not return his love. On the day of her wedding, on her way to the well near Castello Ursino, Gammazita was attacked by the soldier, and rather than bow to his threats, she decided to throw herself into the well and give her life rather than dishonor her commitment. Because of the incident, the people of Catania decided to trick Droetto into capturing him by having some passersby pronounce a dialect word “ciciri” (chickpeas in Italian), among whom they singled out the soldier who, being a foreigner, was unable to spell it correctly.
PALADIN UZETA
The Paladin Uzeta is a fictional character invented by the Catania journalist Giuseppe Malfa. The legend tells of a young man of humble origins named Uzeta, who became a knight because of his prowess and defeated the Ursini, Saracen giants who gave their name to Ursino Castle. Thanks to this feat, the young man managed to win the hand of Princess Galatea, with whom he had fallen madly in love.
