Modica and the archaeological Sicily seen from the sky in the event promoted by Unitre

In the presence of Valeria Li Vigni, widow of the late regional assessor for Cultural Heritage Sebastiano Tusa, the meeting “Archaeological Sicily Seen from the Sky” took place in Modica, at the premises of the Grimaldi Foundation, promoted by the local branch of Unitre and the Rotary Club of Modica with the sponsorship of the Foundation itself.

The proceedings were opened by Salvatore Campanella and Enzo Cavallo, who brought greetings from the Grimaldi Foundation and Unitre.

Following this, Uccio Barone, speaking for the Rotary, introduced the topic by recalling the figure of Sebastiano Tusa and showing a photograph from a previous meeting held at the same venue, in the presence of the scholar.

Then Valeria Li Vigni, president of the Sebastiano Tusa Foundation, spoke, highlighting the extraordinary richness of Sicily's archaeological heritage, illustrated in the volume that collects original photographs, mostly unpublished, taken from above by Luigi Nifosì.

An artist-photographer, she emphasized, but above all a rigorous scholar. The shots, taken during numerous inspections for territorial control, have been organized into a unique guide, the result of the activity initiated by Tusa and completed, after his passing, by the Foundation named after him: five years of interdisciplinary work that have expanded its contents and focused its objectives, enhancing landscapes of great value and offering, as a whole, an unprecedented image of Sicily.

Luigi Nifosì then recalled the inclusive nature of Sebastiano Tusa, capable — “like the painter Piero Guccione” — of making anyone passionate about archaeology. A deep connoisseur of the vast island heritage, Tusa closely followed scholars and officials from various offices.

Nifosì focused on the experiences gained during aerial shoots and the preparation of the guide, which accompanies each image with precise territorial and archaeological notes, while the photographs were displayed on the screen in the hall.

In closing the technical interventions, the archaeologist Simone Scerra, an official of the Soprintendenza di Ragusa and director of numerous excavations in the Iblea province, highlighted the value of the volume: a work rich in content, a valuable tool for discovering the Sicilian civilization between nature and history, a book that "invites you to take a tour in Sicily".

A text in which Tusa expressed himself with absolute freedom of thought, without adhering to often opposing interpretative schools, confirming the habit of being ahead of his time and surprising his colleagues.

At the conclusion of the event, Valeria Li Vigni recalled the significant anniversary of March 10, an annual day dedicated to Sebastiano Tusa and Cultural Heritage: on this occasion, free admission to all archaeological sites in Sicily is expected.