Pantalica
Things to do, attractions, interesting facts
State: SR - Area: Siracusa surroundings
Pantalica is an evocative site where nature, history and culture meet.
The Pantalica Reserve, Valle dell'Anapo and Torrente Cava Grande as well as being a naturalistic area of great value, represents a precious archaeological area: in this area there is the largest rock necropolis in Europe, a UNESCO heritage site.
The archaeological area of Pantalica is made up of six necropolises made up of about 5000 tombs dug directly into the rock.
Inside the area there are also the remains of three villages from the Byzantine era and three rock churches linked to them: Cavetta village and the cave of the Crucifix; village and cave of San Nicolicchio, village and cave of San Micidario.
The naturalistic reserve of Pantalica has inside: two karst caves, the bat cave and the found cave; the Bosco di Giarranauti, near Ferla; the waterfall of the valley and the lakes near Sortino.
The Pantalica reserve has three entrances:
The entrance on the Ferla side is the recommended entrance to see the archaeological beauties of the area. From this entrance it is possible to reach various places of interest by car and have parking spaces near each attraction. Along the way we meet Sella di Filiporto and its necropolis, the village and the cave of San Micidario, the Anaktron, the south necropolis and the village and cave of San Nicolicchio, the village of Cavetta and the cave of the Crucifix, the Grotta Found and the Grotta dei Pipistrelli, and finally the North belvedere from which you can enjoy the best view of the North Necropolis. The necropolis of San Martino are located near the town of Ferla, before reaching the park entrance.
The Fusco entrance, on the Sortino side, is recommended as a nature trail. This is the wildest entrance but at the same time offers greater possibilities for shelter, allowing you to reach the area of the lakes and the waterfall of the valley in less than an hour of walking, to see the Calcinara stream, the waterfall of the Valley and the lakes. Crossing the Calcinara river through a rudimentary ford and you can go up along a path and reach the Belvedere of the North Necropolis and the other archaeological areas.
The previous routes both allow you to descend along the Anapo Valley, but from two opposite sides of the canyon.
The entrance on the Ferla-Cassaro side allows you to go towards the central area of the Anapo Valley faster than the access on the Sortino side, however the initial part of the route is less impressive and the lakes area requires at least three hours of walking. br>
Within the reserve, two cycle and pedestrian paths have been set up to expand the possibilities for using the site: a first path in the Giarrananuti Woods; a second route, usable with the authorization of the forest, stands out on the former Syracuse-Vizzini railway line, which crosses the Anapo valley. This path, very beautiful and flat, however, does not allow you to visit the necropolis but only to admire them from afar, so it is mainly a landscape and naturalistic walk.
What is the best time to visit Pantalica?
Pantalica can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you. But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Pantalica during the year.
What to see
What to eat
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Pantalica
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc. But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
Nearby Places
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the surroundings of Pantalica. The places are located at a maximum distance of about an half hour by car. Good fun!
