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Sorrento
is known all over the world, not only for its wonderful landscape
but also for its cakes. Whoever is lucky enough to visit the
Peninsula during Easter period will have
the chance to taste two typical Easter cakes: the "casatiello"
and the "pastiera".
Here in Sorrento reality very often mingles with
legend and this is one of the characteristics which makes this area
so rich in magic. Also, the history of the pastiera
is tied to a legend: the myth of the mermaid
Partenope.
The legend reads that the mermaid Partenope
rejoiced the lives of the people living in the gulf with her melodic
singing. To thank the Mermaid, the inhabitants of
the area decided to offer her the joy of their fertile land: flour,
the wealth and strength of the farmers; ricotta, given by the
shepherds; eggs, the symbol of ever-renewing life; soft wheat boiled
in milk; orange flower essence to give it the intense aroma of
Sorrentine orange groves; aroma of spices of far
eastern lands and sugar, the symbol of sublime sweetness. |
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The Mermaid
Partenope, overwhelmed by such offerings, returned to her
kingdom, in the depths of the abyss and presented the gifts received
at the feet of the gods. The gods, enchanted by Partenope's
delightful singing, used their divine arts to mix together
all the ingredients the Mermaid had received: the
result was a cake which was even more wonderful and sweet than
Partenope herself … the "pastiera".
There is also another story that is told about this marvellous cake.
King Ferdinand II of Bourbon married Maria
Theresa of Austria, an austere woman who the people had
given the name "the queen who never smiled". It is said that one day
Maria Theresa, gave in to Ferdinand's insistence,
and tasted a slice of the pastiera and a smile
illuminated her face, at which point the king said: "it took the
pastiera to make Maria Theresa smile,
now I will have to wait until next Easter to see
her smile again!”
Nowadays, Sorrentines are luckieras they do not
have to wait for Easter to smile whilst eating a
slice of pastiera, it can easily be found all year
round because it has become one of the traditional cakes of
the Campania region.
Sorrento Info suggestion:
Even if it is not Easter when you visit
Sorrento, I would suggest you taste a slice of
pastiera; there are many varieties, some with custard cream,
some with chocolate … choose the one which thrills your taste buds
the most and you will see that it is impossible not to smile, just
like Maria Theresa of Austria! |
