Pagoda of Peace in Comiso

La Pagoda of Peace in Comiso is located on the hill which is located in the Iblei mountain range, a project strongly desired by a Buddhist monk who in this way wanted to demonstrate the concept of peace against war, in an extremely symbolic place. Even today, the Pagoda is visited every year by pilgrims who want to demonstrate their desire for harmony in the world. Here is everything you need to know to visit the Peace Pagoda in Comiso and discover all the beauties that this location offers.

History of the Peace Pagoda in Comiso

The Peace Pagoda in Comiso was consecrated on 7 July 1997. However, the history of its construction is much longer and more troubled, as it took over ten years to complete the work, due to bureaucratic problems and of stonewalling. In fact, the Peace Pagoda stands in front of what was once an important one missile base during the years of Cold War, symbol of the nuclear catastrophe that was about to break out among the great world powers. Today the base has been closed and dismantled, but the Peace Pagoda in Comiso remains a symbol of pacifism but also of brotherhood and union between peoples, given that it is located in the middle of the Mediterranean, halfway between north and south, between Europe and Africa. The group of Buddhist monks who did their utmost for its construction was also responsible for the construction of many other pagodas, about eighty, around the world.

Architecture and any works of art present in the Peace Pagoda in Comiso

From an architectural point of view, the Peace Pagoda in Comiso looks like a typical one Buddhist construction. The building is shaped like a hemisphere with a large golden Buddha statue and a peace symbol at its top. Finally, to access the structure, it is necessary to walk up a white stone staircase. The overall height of the building is 16 meters while its diameter is 15 meters.
The exterior of the Peace Pagoda is entirely in white stone but even inside the building is very simple and bare, in full Buddhist style. The Pagoda of Peace in Comiso is open every day for those who wish to visit it or simply go inside for a prayer, from 5 to 5,30 and from 16,30 to 17.

What you can do around or inside the Peace Pagoda in Comiso

In addition to visiting the Peace Pagoda in Comiso, it is also possible to discover other beauties of this place. A sightseeing tour of the city must necessarily start from Source Diana square, the heart of the Old Town, which also overlooks the Palazzo Comunale which is from the eighteenth century. The building was built on ancient Roman baths which, however, were only discovered in 1930 but today they are partly visible in the cellars of the Palazzo. At a short distance you can then admire the small one Church of St. Blaise, destroyed by the terrible earthquake of 1693 and then rebuilt recovering the beautiful majolica tiles that cover its facade and the interior with a single nave. The symbol of Comiso, however, is certainly the Hake Castle, a fortified structure which in the sixteenth century was the residence of the feudal lords and which for centuries has remained the symbol of the political power of the place. Finally, don't miss theAncient Market, located in Piazza delle Erbe, and the Church of Santa Maria delle Stelle, whose first construction dates back to the XII century.

How is it possible to get to Comiso

By car:, those who wish to visit the Peace Pagoda in Comiso and depart from Ragusa, Agrigento or Trapani, can follow the SS115 to get to their destination, while from Palermo the most suitable road is the SS626. Those coming from Catania or Syracuse, on the other hand, have two possibilities: they can follow the SS194 or the SS514. From Messina the shortest road is the one that provides for the A18, from Caltanissetta the Ss626, finally from Enna the Ss117 bis.
Who prefers to travel on the train will be able to use the Comiso railway station as an arrival point, which is located along the line that connects Caltanissetta to Syracuse. Finally, to travel cheaply and quickly, you can take advantage of the connections via bus made available by the AST company.

© Image by Blisset, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons