Lake Pergusa

10km/6mi south of Enna (SS 561) at an altitude of 667m/2,188ft lies the oval-shaped Lago di Pergusa. Situated between two mountain slopes covered with eucalyptus trees, it is 1km/0.5mi wide, 2.2km/1mi long and 4.6m/15ft deep. According to the myth: Persephone (in Latin, Proserpina) was seized here by Hades, while she was plucking flowers, and taken down into the underworld. Her mother Demeter (Ceres) caused the land to wither and thereby extracted the concession that her daughter could return to earth in spring and summer. Out of this legend developed one of the great vegetation and mystery cults of ancient times. The motor-racing track running round the lake has banished the charm of this legend.