Luca La Spina
Luca La Spina is a young merman hailing from the sun‑drenched waters of Sicily, the large island at the toe of Italy’s boot. He is the son of Luciano La Spina, the archaeologist, and the nephew of Lucrezia La Spina, the elderly bar owner from Naples. Physically, Luca cuts an impressive figure: he is described as tall, with dark hair, which is typical of southern Mediterranean mermen. His exact tail colour is not specified in the narrative, but given his Sicilian origins, it would not be surprising if it bore the warm, golden‑brown hues of the local coral reefs. By profession and passion, Luca is a student of classical history at a university, yet he is notably more captivated by foreign influences on his island – that is, the cultural and artistic imports that have shaped Sicily over millennia – than by the standard, mainland‑focused curriculum. When Sawa and her younger sister Mewa travel all the way from Poland to Sicily, hoping to uncover the mysteries behind La Fontana Della Sirena, it is Luca and his father who receive them warmly. Despite being a veritable mine of historical knowledge, Luca – like his father – confesses that he knows nothing about that particular fountain, a small disappointment that does not dampen his hospitality. He and his father prove to be generous hosts, and though the sisters do not find the answers they sought about the fountain, the encounter enriches their Italian journey. Luca represents the living, breathing connection to Sicily’s layered past – a past that merges Greek, Roman, Arab, and Norman influences, much like the island itself.
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