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| 1499 A typical carretto siciliano |
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Posted on 28.03.2015, 18.11.2015
The Sicilian cart (or carretto siciliano in Italian and carrettu sicilianu in Sicilian) is an ornate, colorful style of horse or donkey-drawn cart native to the island of Sicily. Horses were mostly used in the city and flat plains, while donkeys or mules were more often used in rough terrain for hauling heavy loads. The cart has two wheels and is primarily handmade out of wood with iron metal components. There are two types of carts: Carretto del Lavoro (cart for work), used for hauling miscellaneous, and Carretto de Gara, used for festive occasions. They were introduced to the island by the ancient Greeks, and reached the height of their popularity in the 1920s. The Museo del Carretto Siciliano, in Terrasini, in the province of Palermo, is a museum dedicated to the carts.
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| 2046 A carretto siciliano in Taormina |
The crews that built carretti included woodcarvers, metal workers, and painters. The woodcarvers carved panels that were often historic reliefs. The metal workers worked the iron, in a 'ferro battuto' style, which included highly decorated metal undercarriages. Each province of Sicily has their own style. The carretti made in the province of Palermo have more of a square box design, those made in Catania are made with more elaborate 'keys', and the carts made in Agrigento have their own distinctive style. Carts are known for being covered with scenes from Sicilian history and folklore as well as intricate geometrical designs. These scenes also served the purpose of conveying historical information to those who were illiterate. The colors of Sicily's flag, yellow and red, feature prominently on the carts.
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