sicily holidays | sicily vacation | hotels in sicily

When viewed for the first time, a tomb may appear to be just a hole in the ground/ stone, as 5000 tombs may appear to be 5000 holes in the ground/ stone. At a closer look though, the 5000 tombs may prove themselves to gather eclectic testimonials of extinguished civilizations.

South- Eastern Sicily is a very generous area from this perspective. Not only it offers the late baroque towns as a living proof of baroque-like marvels but it also allows deeper investigation by hosting the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica.

The large collection of over 5000 tombs from the 13th century to the 7th BC, made by the indigenous people of Sicily, is confined by rivers Anapo and Calcinara, on one hand and by towns of Ferla and Sortino on the other. UNESCO has properly updated its heritage list by inscribing the necropolis site, which was titled “Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica”. The town’s offer of necropolis is rather abundant as they cover a large area. The Necropoli di Filiporto situated 9 km away from Ferla, the Necropoli di Nord- Ovest, one of the oldest, the Necropoli della Cavetta, the Necropoli Nord, which is the most extent, they all sprinkle the town with depicting proofs of people long gone.

The site has actually a dual character as it offers two distinct entities in the same area. Next to the carved tombs there is the ancient heart of the Syracuse from the 8th century BC, the moment of the Greeks’ arrival. The Syracuse enables a real travel through time for anyone curious enough to visit this amazing site. Remnants of the Temple of Athena from the 5th century (which was subsequently turned into a cathedral), the Roman amphitheatre, the Greek theatre, they all represent traces of the marvels that once determined a shining orator of Ancient Rome, Cicero, to consider this town one of the most exquisite of them all.

The Necropolis of Pantalica doesn’t solely offer a wonderful sight for wonderers, but also serves as an efficient instrument of digging deep into the history of the Mediterranean civilization of the past three millennia with the possibility of ranking different periods.
Still, if what you are looking for is discovering the mysteries of South- Eastern Sicily, do not be exclusive. Tombs, cathedrals, churches and theatres aside, the rural scenery is breathtaking. With this previous outlook, you will be properly introduced to insights on Sicilian life which can only be revealed by personal contact.

But there is no use in pointing this out furthermore. Anyone who initiates a trip to Sicily will inherently be pulled in by the extraordinary natural environment that this island displays.