Tholos in Montalbano Elicona
The Tholos in Montalbano Elicona are small and simple buildings that were once used as a shelter for shepherds. They are also known by the name of cubburi, from the Latin cubescere, as they consist of a single room closed by a dome.
These buildings are characterized by perimeter walls with a load-bearing, from an entrance compartment with one or two architraves that rest on the perimeter wall, from the pseudo-dome of coverage and from the internal niches.
The similarity of this structure with Mycenaean architecture suggests their more ancient origin . It is certain that the large presence of tholos in the Montalbano Elicona area is linked to the presence of the Arabs in this territory: in 1154 AD, following the death of Roger II, many inhabitants were in fact forced to take refuge in the mountains and it is believed they may have used the Tholos as shelter.
