Amber from Sicily (called simetite)
The amber deposits in Sicily are located in the north at the foot of the mountains Castrogiovanni and Caltanisetta. As a result of heavy rains, many amber deposits were washed into the Simeto river until it flows into Catania. Experts say that the trunk plants of the simetite were most likely deciduous trees.
From 1786 to 1788 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe undertook his adventurous and fascinating journey through Italy. From his diaries it can be seen that he was particularly fond of Sicily. Thus, he wrote the following to his friend Philipp Seidel: "The journey to Sicily has been happily completed and will remain an indestructible treasure for my whole life" (in Helmut Dahmer, page 213) On May 3, 1787, Goethe meets the richest citizen of the city of Catania, Vincenzo Principe di Biscari. The prince's mother, Princess of Poggo Reale, personally showed Goethe the amber collection of the house. Goethe reported: "She herself opened the glass cabinet for us, in which the works in amber were kept. The Sicilian differs from the Nordic in that it rises from the transparent and opaque wax and honey colour through all shades of a saturated yellow to the most beautiful hyacinth red (see photo). Urns, cups and other things were cut out of it, which sometimes required large, admirable pieces of the material" (in Helmut Dahmer, page 146).
Bernstein AUS SIZILIEN
When we inquired about the large amber collection in the Biscari Palace in Catania, we were told that it had disappeared since the Garibaldian riots.
Literature:
Helmut Dahmer, Mit Goethe in Sizilien oder Die Entdeckung des sizilianischen Goethe. 2010 Books on Demand.