In Viagrande, at the foot of Etna, reopens The house of butterfliesA tropical oasis where splendid specimens of lepidoptera find refuge that come from every corner of the planet. This year, the exhibition itinerary is enriched with an in -depth analysis of the silk and its ancient processing in Sicily
A refuge for wings and colors: the return of the butterflies house
On the slopes of Etna, where the green of the woods meets the black lava stone, it stands Viagrandea village immersed in Sicilian nature. Here is the house of the butterflies, a unique tropical greenhouse of its kind. After a period of closure for redevelopment work, it reopens its doors with a renewed path.
For over twenty years, this sanctuary of biodiversity has been welcoming schoolboards, scholars and enthusiasts, allowing them to observe the life cycle of lepidoptera closely. Here, the butterflies, ephemeral and fascinating creatures, find a protected habitat, where they complete their extraordinary metamorphosis, from the egg to the chrysalis, up to the first beat of wings.
Crossing the threshold of the great aviary means entering a suspended world, surrounded by the ethereal dance of hundreds of butterflies that come from every corner of the planet. Among the most fascinating species stand out the blue morpho, whose changing color seems to challenge the light, the Monarchtireless traveler capable of migrations to the limits of the impossible, and the mysterious Cobra carbon, whose wings imitate the head of a snake to deceive predators. Next to them, the Civetta butterfly shows up drawings that evoke scrutinating eyes, a perfect illusion to confuse enemies.
The secret of silk: a forgotten heritage
In addition to the magic of butterflies, this year’s big news is a journey into the history of silk, a material as precious as it is wrapped in mystery. For centuries, this fabric has represented wealth and prestige, becoming a symbol of power and refinement in European courts and beyond.
Not everyone knows that Sicily, thanks to its strategic position in the heart of the Mediterranean, was an important serum center. The breeding of the Bombyx Mori, the caterpillar of the silk moth, spread on the island already in the Byzantine era, blooming under the Arab domination (IX-XI century). The Arabs perfected the breeding techniques and introduced new varieties of mulberries, essential to nourish the dubbes. Palermo, Catania and Messina became production poles of a very fine silk, appreciated throughout the Mediterranean basin.
During the Norman and Svevo period (XI-XIII), Sicilian serum work reached its peak. Federico II of Swabia, a large patron of the arts and sciences, encouraged the cultivation of mulberries and the improvement of the spinning techniques, transforming the island into a crossroads between East and West. The products produced were exported to the Champagne fairs and the Florentine shops, while the most refined fabrics embellished the king and dignitarian clothes. Which, testifies to the artisanal excellence of the territory.
Competition and decline
In the following centuries, the florid silk industry knew alternate fortunes. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the competition of French manufactures and the progressive industrialization marked the decline of the island in the trade of the precious fiber.
However, until the nineteenth century, many Sicilian families continued to breed silkworms in their homes, selling the cocoons to the bigather, the workshops specialized in the processing of the wire. This small but significant trade represented a fundamental resource for the rural economy, supporting numerous communities in a delicate balance between tradition and subsistence.
It is useful to specify that Sicilian production was part of the broader context of the Silk Road, the ancient network of commercial routes that connected Asia to Europe. Through this network of exchanges, not only were precious fabrics transported but also traveled ideas, inventions and knowledge, in a cultural dialogue that shaped the history of the Mediterranean.
Thanks to the preparation of the butterflies house, visitors will be able to rediscover this ancient art, observing the life cycle of the Bombyx Mori live, from the deposition of the eggs to the formation of the cocoon. A unique opportunity to understand the historical and cultural value of an almost forgotten industry and to reflect on the indissoluble bond between nature, tradition and innovation. But it doesn’t end there.
An immersive experience between nature and science
The butterfly house is not only an exhibition, but an educational and emotional experience. It is a place where tourism and science, play and learning merge into a single reality, approaching adults and children to the importance of biodiversity and the protection of the environment.
The direct observation of butterflies and silkworms stimulates curiosity and awareness, showing how even the smallest organisms can play a fundamental role in natural balances. Insects like butterflies and bees are pollinators Essential, real guarantee of the survival of terrestrial ecosystems.
The structure, unique in its kind in southern Italy, is part of a responsible and sustainable tourism, aimed at promoting respect for the nature and recovery of local traditions.
Beauty as an instrument of environmental education
The goal of the butterflies house is clear: educating through beauty. Observing the beat of a butterfly closely, discovering the patience with which the wrecked their cocoons, immerse themselves in the complexity and delicacy of the natural world are experiences that leave a deep sign.
As Ettore Barbagallo, president of the Association points out Friends of the earth and promoter of Etna Todaythis initiative wants to raise awareness of the new generations on the importance of knowing, respecting and protecting the environment:
«Our mission is to bring the public closer to nature through immersive and exciting experiences. The house of butterflies is a magical place, where l’Meeting with these small living beings teaches us to look at the world with different eyes, more attentive and respectful ».
In short, the Viagrande butterfly house is much more than a simple exposure: it is a bridge between past and present, between science and culture, between man and nature.
An invitation to stop, to listen to the light rustle of the wings and to rediscover, in every little beat, the greatness of life.