Legend of the Countess Giulietta Queen of Sciacca
The Countess Giuletta, daughter of the Grand Count Roger, the liberator of Sicily from Arab rule, was in love with her cousin Robert of Bassebille. The countess knew that her father would never have approved their marriage, so she decides to flee with her beloved and to take refuge in the cave at the top of Rocca Sant'Elmo in Sciacca, still visible today. Later, thanks to the intercession of friar Mauro, who led a hermitic life on Monte Kronio, the two young men obtained forgiveness from the Grand Count who, having obtained the dispensation from the Pope, allowed his daughter to marry her cousin. Countess Giulietta received from her father, as a wedding gift, the city of Sciacca and all the surrounding area. Under the reign of Countess Juliet, called Queen of Sciacca, the city reached its maximum splendour.
In memory of this legend and in honor of the figure of Countess Juliet, Rocca Sant'Elmo is also called Rocca Regina by the people. The local fishermen, who know this legend well, still manage to identify a ladder carved into the rock that leads to the cave in which Juliet allegedly gave birth to a son.
