The Descent into the Underworld and Lake Pergusa: Myth, Sinkhole and the Touristic Construction of Landscape

Abstract

Purpose – This paper examines Lake Pergusa as an emblematic case of interaction between classical myth, geomorphological processes and the touristic construction of landscape. Drawing on the theoretical framework of literary tourism and imaginative geographies, the article argues that the narrative sedimentation of the abduction of Proserpina – notably codified by Ovid in the Metamorphoses – has contributed to transforming a sinkhole lake in inland Sicily into a ‘mythical gateway’. The aim is twofold: first, to reconstruct the cultural genealogy of the katabasis and the territorialisation of the myth in Sicily; secondly, to demonstrate how this symbolic stratification may represent a resource for cultural tourism and geotourism, particularly within the framework of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark.

Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining literary analysis, historical-cartographic interpretation and geomorphological assessment. It first reconstructs the motif of the katabasis in the Western tradition (from Homer and Virgil to Dante), highlighting the progressive association between physical locations and symbolic thresholds of the underworld. It then investigates the territorialisation of the Proserpina myth in the Enna area through literary, iconographic and cartographic sources that attest to the identification of the lake as the site of the abduction. Finally, it analyses the geological features of the basin, interpreted as a piping sinkhole developed in sedimentary cover deposits over evaporitic bedrock, together with its hydro-biological dynamics (including the episodic reddening of the waters), in order to connect mythical narrative and scientific explanation within a sustainable tourism perspective.

Originality/value – The originality of the paper lies in proposing Lake Pergusa as a geomythological landscape in which myth, literature and geology jointly shape territorial identity. It contributes to the still limited debate on literary tourism in the Italian context and advances an integrated interpretation that overcomes the conventional divide between tangible and intangible heritage, framing the sinkhole as both a natural phenomenon and a narrative device.

Practical implications – From an applied perspective, the study suggests enhancement strategies grounded in the integration of scientific interpretation and mythic narrative, supporting the design of geotourism and environmental education initiatives. Such an integrated reading may strengthen the local cultural offer, promote informed and sustainable visitation, and raise awareness of geological risk. In this respect, Pergusa may serve as a replicable model for other symbolically dense landscapes.