THE NELSON DUCEA

Let's visit, together, the city of Bronte

The Celtic-style basaltic cross that stands in the center of one of the courtyards of the Nelson Duchy complex is the only memory left by his heirs in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson.

The Serra del Mergo obelisk, although incorrectly known as Nelson's Obelisk, was instead built in honor of one of his descendants: the fourth Duke of Bronte Alexander Nelson-Bridport.

It was built in 19O5, a few kilometers from the Castle of Maniace, in Contrada Serra del Mergo (1553 m.), near Serra del Re (1754 m.) and the Foresta Vecchia area, by Duke Alexander Nelson-Hood in honor of his father who died a year earlier.

At the base a large plaque, now worn by time, has a Latin inscription carved on it which reminds us that it was placed in the year 1905 in memory of Alessandro Nelson Hood (IV Duke of Bronte, photo on the right), "illustrious descendant of the immortal hero of the Nile":

"MEMORIAE,
ALEXANDER NELSON HOOD DUCA BRONTIS,
VICECOMITIS BRIDPORT,
QUI IN HAEC RURA,
QUAE ESEMPIO HAEREDITATE ACCEPERAT,
PLECLARO PARENTE HEROE
IMMORTALI NILI,
HUMANITATIS ET PROGRESSUS CULTUM INVEXIT,
NATUS FUIT 23 DECEMBRIS 1814
OBIIT 4 JUNII 1904,
FILIUS AMORE IMPULSUS HOS SIGUM POSUIT,
ANNO MDCCCCV"

(To the memory of Alexander Nelson Hood, Duke of Bronte, Viscount Bridport, who in these places inherited from the immortal hero of the Nile promoted well-being and civilization. He was born on 23 December 1814 and died on 4 June 1904. His son erected this monument driven by love in the year 1905).

For years, the centenary stele has shown the signs of time but above all of the continuous devastation and offenses of man. Cracks mark the length of the large blocks of sandstone, some unfortunately missing and the quadrangular base is also compromised.
It is framed, in fact, by a series of three disconnected or ruined sandstone blocks. If nothing is done, there is a serious risk that it could collapse onto the ground below, furrowed by deep trenches caused by off-road vehicles.

Before it falls into complete ruin, rather than due to the neglect of time or the continuous, perennial vandalism, it seems appropriate to launch an appeal for a conservative restoration, also fencing off the place to avoid direct and devastating access from the numerous quads and off-road vehicles on Sundays. But who to turn to? The stele appears to have no brace. Which body is responsible for its restoration: the Nebrodi Park, the Municipality of Bronte, the Province of Catania, the Region?

May 2002

 

The fourth Duke of Bronte Alexander Nelson-Bridport