Considered an omen of a storm or a sudden change in the weather, it was feared by fishermen and sailors who sailed in Sicilian waters.
It has many names, in the coastal areas, especially by fishermen and sailors, it is called “sea wolf” but in the hinterland of the island this very curious and at the same time spectacular phenomenon is simply given the name of fog or “low cloud”.
Whatever its name, for those who have not yet had the fortune of witnessing such a manifestation of nature, it is and remains one of the most evocative and magical spectacles of the entire island.
Returning to the “sea she-wolf”, there is no certain information but the term, of popular and poetic origin, is used to describe the fog that forms on the coasts of Sicily.
The latter has been handed down over time through popular traditions, legends and stories told in the Sicilian coastal communities.
The “sea she-wolf” was considered a omen of storm or a sudden change in the weather and was feared by the fishermen and sailors who sailed the Sicilian waters.
Adv
Although the origin of the term remains uncertain even today, this particular expression has contributed to defining and distinguishing the phenomenon of maritime fog in the culture and collective imagination of Sicily. But the “sea she-wolf” is not alone in characterizing and making some areas of the island unique.
Not everyone is aware, in fact, or at least not everyone has had the opportunity to admire that particular fog that appears in the hilly areas of Sicily at first light in the morning.
This suggestive phenomenon that “Mother Nature” offers us, typical of the mountainous and hilly regions of the hinterland, influenced by the climatic and geographical conditions of the area, is often called “hill fog” or “Apennine fog” and is a characteristic element of the varied landscape Sicilian.
The formation of such a phenomenon in Sicily is mainly linked to the interaction between the cold air coming from high altitudes and the earth’s surface heated by the sun during daylight hours.
This temperature difference causes the condensation of the humidity present in the air and the consequent formation of a foggy veil that envelops the surrounding hills and valleys, creating enchanting landscapes and suggestive atmospheres.
The fog in the inland areas and in particular in the “Vallone”, a strip of territory that falls within and embraces both some municipalities in the Nisseno and Agrigento areas, occurs mainly in the morning, when the air temperature is lower and the the relative humidity is high.
This fog that persists for a few hours is dense, almost palpable and envelops the landscape, attenuating the contours of the hills, woods and fields, creating plays of light and shadow and giving life to breathtaking views, to say the least, worthy of a companion novel .
This particular phenomenon has always aroused the keen interest and curiosity of local communities and visitors who, with camera in hand, have immortalized the atmospheric event on film, giving life to real magic.
From the town of Mussomeli, this event is visible in all its entirety and magnificence. In fact, from its 800 meters above sea level, from the small town of Nisseno it is possible to admire the large valley below where the tops of the hills seem to emerge from a white sea, taking the form of islands and archipelagos of the most varied shapes.
Although magnificent and spectacular, the phenomenon of hill fog is not always well appreciated by commuter workers from Mussomelese and beyond who, unfortunately, to go to work in the nearby cities, going down into the valley, have to literally immerse themselves with their car inside this thick curtain of thick, white smoke, with all the dangers that can result from it.
Nonetheless, the fog that forms in the hilly areas of Sicily as well as the “sea she-wolf” is a fascinating and mysterious phenomenon that contributes to defining the landscape identity of the island.
With its evocative beauty and suggestive power, this characteristic fog represents a peculiarity of the Sicilian landscape, testifying to the richness and diversity of the island’s nature and the profound connection between man, the earth and the climate.
Having said that, all you have to do is take the car, go to the heart of Sicily and at the first light of dawn witness the formation of the phenomenon, letting yourself be carried away by the suggestion.
Don’t forget, please, your camera.
