COLAPESCE

What happened to Colapesce? Do you really believe he died? But no, he's still alive in the dark and deep seabed supporting the ruined column to be sure Sicily did not come down.

Little by little his skin became like that of a fish covered with scales, and his hands and his feet turned into fins.

They rowed ultill they found Cola and the king told him: "They say you can swim like a fish! I will test you! Let's see what you can do!"

A popular legend rewritten by Erasmus Italian Team 4 I.C.Marconi, Lentini

Illustrations taken from the book "Colapesce" by R. Francaviglia and M.Sgarlata

The king threw the cup he was holding into the sea.

Once upon a time, long time ago in a city of sailors and fishermen between Messina and Catania, there was a young boy, Nicola, called Cola...

Everyone was talking about that little boy who looked like a fish. "I tell you he breaths underwater! "He can!" So people called him Colapesce. His fame spread all over Sicily, reaching the Court of the King.

The legend says that Colapesce is still there and if sometimes the land shakes between Catania and Messina it is because Colapesce now and then alternates his shoulder which he carries the burden on.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Who know where Colapesce is?" The boat of Colapesce's brothers drew up to the beach. "Colapesce is our brother. your majesty!" "Go find him!" said the king. "Get on the boat, we will look for him together, we will search the sea!" the brother said.

Nicola spent a lot of time in the sea, It was his entire life, his passion.

When he explored the silent and vast dephts of the sea, he felt free and alive. But his mother didn't like his passion and she always felt him off. "Cola, Cola, get out the water or you will become a fish! Come home!"... and Cola laughed.

One day his mum, worried and angry cursed him: "Cola, Cola! Come home!" "May you become a fish ! "

Cola spent all the day underwater and observed everything with great amazement. He often told his brothers all of his adventures.

"At the bottom of the sea I saw so many things, sea monsters, mysterious caves! Corals as big as tomatoes, old wrecks full of treasures! Underwater even the rocks are beautiful, covered with beautiful plants."

The cup slowly sank into the sea. Colapesce plunged into the water, waving goodbye. He went down to the deep seabed until he saw the cup.

Bravely Colapesce jumped into the sea but nobody ever saw him again. Only later a burnt piece of wood slowly emerged. The King, holding the burnt stick in his hand, said : " That's true there is fire in the deep sea!"

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One day a trusted royal adviser told the King about Colapesce and his wonderful underwater world full of treasures. The King, greedy for wealth, left his castle and reached the seaside.

"Here is your cup! I got it back!" The king was amazed but he decided to test Cola's skills again.

The king threw out a crown in the deepest point of the sea. While Cola was looking for it, he discovered that Sicily was standing on three columns but one had been ruined by fire. The red lava of a big volcano!

"You liar, what are you talking about! Fire can't stay in the sea!" "I swear it, please your Majesty, believe me! Sicily stands on three rock coloumns but one is ruined by fire!" The greedy and suspicious king said: "If it is true that there is fire in the sea, take this wood, go down and burn it and bring it back to me."

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