Sicilian cart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sicilian cart (or Carretto Siciliano in Italian and Carrettu Sicilianu in Sicilian) is an ornate, colorful style of donkey-drawn cart native to the island of Sicily, in Italy. The cart has two wheels and is primarily handmade out of wood. Carts are used for hauling light loads, such as produce, and also for festive occasions such as weddings and parades.
The carts were introduced to the island by the ancient Greeks. Carts reached the height of their popularity in the 1920s, when many thousand were on the island. Miniature carts, or Carrettino Siciliano, are often sold in Sicily (or in Italian shops and restaurants in other countries) as souvenirs. The Museo del Carretto Siciliano, in Terrasini, in the province of Palermo, is a museum dedicated to the carts.
The craft of making the carts is handed down from generation to generation, through the training of apprentices. Carts are known for being covered in carvings and brightly painted 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 Palermo's flag, yellow and red, feature prominently on the carts, along with details in bright blues and greens. The animals pulling the carts are often elaborately adorned as well.
In modern-day Sicily, the tradition continues in small, three-wheeled motorized vehicles (called lapa). They are often painted in the traditional way.
