Description of the attraction
The necropolis of Pantalica, located in the southeast of Sicily, consists of about 5 thousand tombs carved right into the rocks of the Ibleian mountains in the Anapo and Calcinara river valleys. The age of the necropolis is from 2, 5 to 3, 5 thousand years. It is believed that it was created by the Siculs, a people who appeared in Sicily at the end of the Bronze Age. Today Pantalica, together with Syracuse, is included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The necropolis is located on a plateau surrounded by canyons that formed the Anapo and Calcinara rivers, between the towns of Ferla and Sortino. Throughout the plateau, there are many hiking trails that allow tourists to get acquainted with the nature and history of these places. The Anapo Valley can be reached by a 10 km trail that runs between the cities of Siracusa and Vizzini. From the road to the plateau, you can turn towards Sella di Filiporto or towards Grotta dei Pipistrelli - Bat Cave. The plateau itself is part of three protected areas - the nature reserve "Orientata Pantalica", Valle dell Anapo and Torrente Cava Grande.
In the first half of the 13th century BC. all coastal settlements of these places disappeared with the emergence of various peoples who inhabited the territory of Italy in those years. The indigenous population took refuge in the mountains, where people could hide. According to ancient sources, in 728 BC. here came King Iblon, who founded the colony of Megara Ibleya. However, the creation at the same time of Syracuse and the continuous growth of the city's power predetermined the decline of the kingdom of Iblona. Since then, the megalithic structures of the Palazzo del Principe, also known as Anaktoron, and the necropolis of Pantalica have survived to this day. The latter consists of several necropolises, of which the Northwest is considered the most ancient (dates back to the 12th century BC), and the North is the largest. The other two are known as the necropolis of Filiporto and the necropolis of Cavetta (buildings from the Byzantine era can also be seen there).
