Sofia Gastaldo 

  1. Véd - ongoing ⟢
  2. Functions of the Well - 2025
  3. Miele Dalla Pietra - 2024
  4. Sant’Elia’s Caves Visual Exploration - 2024
  5. Sibyllae - 2024


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©2025 Sofia Gastaldo

5 → Sibyllae



The Sibillini Mountains are rich in narratives closely tied to the figure of the Apennine Sibyl. Prophetess, friend of the people, Madonna, pagan deity, personification of evil: she embodies the place's inherent ambiguity. The project focuses on the area from Amandola to Arquata del Tronto, known for stories by Barberino, Antoine de la Sale, and Joyce Lussu. Its aim is to analyze a collective memory influenced by cultural forces preserved through late industrialization and the layering of traditions and legends. The testimonies offer insights into magic, historical knowledge, religion, community, and ritual practices related to the territory.

I approached the figure of the Sibyl as something totemic—an entry point to initiate dialogue. There is a legacy of people who became fascinated, even obsessed, with her story, some of whom moved to the Sibillini mountains in search of meaning. Yet, much of the legacy that developed around her was rooted in a highly intellectualized and abstract philosophy—one that was, in many ways, detached from the land itself. I was interested in exploring what remains when myth meets place, and how the narrative shifts when it is grounded in interpretation, obsession, false scientificity, or historical records and biases.


Piana della Gradosa, Foce. Outlet for the pressure exerted by the underlying watercourse. It is said that this area was a meeting place for the appearances of the Sibyl.

Tito Spinucci holds a copy of "Sibilla = Disegno di Dio" by Giovanni Rocchi. There have been numerous studies conducted on the Sibyl: from hypotheses related to the existence of a cult or a connection to the pagan roots of the character, to those that see her as a different frequency that influences the surrounding environment.
Photo of Joyce Lussu,  writer who extensively reflected on the figure of the Sibyl. Her work focused on the reworking and blending of various legends and imaginaries associated with the prophetess.
The Sibyl is considered a symbol of peasant wisdom, almost a protective entity, whose memory is deeply rooted in local culture. Throughout various epochs, different civilizations that have succeeded in cultural dominance over these lands have tried to assimilate this rich heritage of beliefs.
Shepherding is one of the main means of livelihood for the mountain populations of the central Apennines and particularly the Sibillini Mountains, dating back to pre-Roman times. It was said that it was the Sibyl who taught these practices to the inhabitants of her lands.
The Comunanze Agrarie are ancient forms of collective ownership linked to the residence of inhabitants in certain areas, who have managed civic-use lands for centuries. Within and all around the perimeter of the Sibillini National Park, many of them still exist, often organized into consortia.
The Sibyl sends the fairies in her service to the villages to teach women how to sew and spin wool.









Lake Pilato, oval in shape, once had a central islet—still identifiable today—where it was said that sorcerers would go to perform rituals. These two mysterious places, Lake Pilato and the Sibyl’s Cave, have been frequented since medieval times.
La reproduction of Giovanni Rocchi's illustration on a print of the Sibyl's Cave: he claimed that the cave actually contained Picene inscriptions and other decorative motifs. Currently, the cave's facade has collapsed, making it permanently inaccessible.












The road back from Montemonaco.