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Stories and Characters of the Medieval Period

There was a time in Sicily when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in peace and harmony, enhancing each other’s culture and knowledge. But happy times are always too short and even this prosperous period began to fall apart. The hard clash between the papacy and the King of Sicily Frederick II of Swabia for the start of the sixth crusade also involved Sicily.
Relations between Arabs, Christians and Jews gradually increased and at the multicultural Frederick’s court more and more frequent riots became, which slowly turned into expulsions of Muslims, sent to Lucera, in Puglia.

While the mercenary Manfredi defends the royal fortresses and the Saracen Yusuf escapes persecution, the knights of Frederick tremble to go to Jerusalem. Goffredo Iudica already shines his armor, his beloved Constanza prays for his soul with the good Amodeo, Cistercian friar now conquered by the pacifist and heretical ideas of the order of the firanda that makes its way into the hearts of the faithful.

TAAHIR 
Merchant

The rich merchant of Savoca has a sad and painful past from which he cannot free himself. For years now he has been meditating on revenge against the man who cruelly killed his beloved, revealing to the world a mystery long hidden.
Something seems to be finally revealing itself.

PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• SAVOCA;

• SAMBUCA;

• CASBAH DI MAZARA DEL VALLO;

• CASTELMOLA;

• PALAZZO CORVAJA.

GOFFREDO di JUDICA
Knight

The young crusader is pawing while waiting for the crusade. In the same time, however, the people are passionate about the monastic movement of the firanda, which repudiates the use of weapons. Even the beloved Costanza Reali seems to have fallen into this net.
But Goffredo is not there and with all his strength tries to quell the nascent religious revolt.

PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• PALAZZO DEI NORMANNI (PALERMO);

• CAPPELLA PALATINA e CATTEDRALE (PALERMO);

• CHIESA S.GIOVANNI DEGLI EREMITI (PALERMO);

• ERICE;

• CASTELLO DI MAREDOLCE (PALERMO);

• CASTELLO DEI LUNA (SCIACCA);

• CASTELLO DI CACCAMO.

AMODEO
Monk

The monk spokesman for the order to firanda. He has a mission: to convince the bishop not to support the armed crusade and to encourage the spread of the new pacifist order by putting Frederick II at the top.
But how does the people of Sicily react to his words? The sweet Amodeo is making himself dangerous enemies in his venture.

PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• DUOMO E CHIOSTRO DI MONREALE;

• DUOMO E CHIOSTRO DI CEFALU’;

• CHIESA SS.PIETRO E PAOLO (CASALVECCHIO SICULO);

• DUOMO DI  SIRACUSA;

• PORTALE DI SAN GIORGIO (RAGUSA);

• SANTA MARIA DELL’ ITRIA (RAGUSA);

• VILLAGGIO BIZANTINO CANALOTTO (CALASCIBETTA).

MANFREDI SERRANO 
Mercenary

Arriving from Germany, he was in the pay of the Emperor with the aim of quelling the Arab revolts in Sicily. He knows that fighting against a rebellious people can be very difficult, even more so if he can count on part of the army.
For this reason he fears the clash with Yusuf al Zabdhi, a royal court ex-soldier who passed with the rebels.

PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• CITTADELLA FORTIFICATA DI MILAZZO;

• CASTELLO URSINO (CATANIA);

• MONTALBANO ELICONA:

• CASTELLO NORMANNO DI ACICASTELLO;

• SAN MARCO D’ ALUNZIO;

• DUOMO DI MESSINA;

• CASTELLO DI LOMBARDIA (ENNA)

• CASTELLO CHIARAMONTANO DI NARO.

COSTANZA REALI

Noblewoman

The noblewoman, promised wife of Goffredo, prays day and night for the life of her beloved about to leave for Jerusalem. Will her prayers be answered in the words of the monk Amodeo and in the movement of the firanda?
And will he succeed in convincing Goffredo not to depart for the ever more imminent crusade?


PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• CASTELLO DELLA ZISA (PALERMO);

• CHIESA S. MARIA DELL’AMMIRAGLIO (PALERMO);

• CHIESA DI SAN CATALDO (PALERMO);

• CASTELLO DEI VENTIMIGLIA A CASTELBUONO;

• CHIESA DELLA SANTISSIMA TRINITA’ DI DELIA.

YUSUF-AL-ZABDHI
Soldier

He was a Saladin of the court of Frederick II until he realized that the peaceful cohabitation of Arabs and Christians was vanish. For this reason he decided to support his people and lead the Arab revolts against the king, using the war patterns learned at court.
But on his way he will meet Manfredi Serrano, not at all intentioned to lose.

PLACES OF INTEREST (POI)

• RANDAZZO E VIA DEGLI ARCHI;

• PALAZZO DELLA CUBA (PALERMO);

• CASTELLO MANIACE (SIRACUSA);

• CASTELLO DI PATERNO’;

• CASTELLO DI SPERLINGA.