Moon and Venus Above Mongialino Castle

A photo composite of multiple exposures. From the photographer: “A thousand years have passed since the Arab traveler Edrisi mentions the name Malga Al-Khalil, literally “Khalil’s refuge”, speaking of an ancient farmhouse north of the ancient Menai (Mineo) which before the arrival of the Normans submitted entirely to Arab culture, becoming a valid strategic support of the territory.Before this mention there is nothing certain about the origin of this magnificent rock spur, located, facing the Margi valley, whose top houses the ancient fortress of Mongialino! (cited by Diego Barucco).

A few years have passed since I went to the castle of Mongialino but I decided it was the right time to resume the alignment between Venus and the Moon by taking advantage of the colors of spring. Getting to the castle was particularly challenging due to the conditions in which the access roads are in, but the concern and tension were repaid by the spectacular view of the rocky hill on which the castle stands, of which it is possible to see its main feature, the tower. A little below you can see the remains of ancient agricultural settlements and a small abandoned church. The landscape, on the other hand, is luxuriantly green dotted with small yellow flowers. The final scene is made suggestive by the presence of the sickle moon that precedes Venus as she sets next to the castle tower.”

Technical details: Canon 6d, Sigma 105mm, Sky: f/2, iso 3200, 2 sec, 17 images; Landscape: 30 sec, iso 640, f/2