Pantalica is a large necropolis in the province of Siracuse on Sicily, Italy.
The Necropolis of Pantalica is a large necropolis with over 3,000 tombs dating from the 13th to the 7th centuries BCE. Pantalica is situated in the valley of the rivers Anapo and Calcinara in south-eastern Sicily. Together with the city of Syracuse, Pantalica is listed as Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site
Around 1300 BCE, the Sicans tribe left their coastal settlements and settled down in the valley between the rivers Fiume Anapo in the south and Fiume Calcinara in the north. As dwellings, they used natural limestone caves in existing slopes as well as carving artificial caves in the mountain. Probably around 1100 BC the Anaktoron (palace) was built.
From the original settlement, over 5000 artfully constructed cave tombs remain. In 665 BCE during the Hellenistic colonization of Syracase, the settlement was destroyed. In the early Christian and Byzantine period new tombs were created and the Pantalica became a hideout during the Arab invasion. They named the place Buntarigah (caves).
After the valley was inhabited by the Normans, it was abandoned. Paolo Orsi, an archaeologist, recognized its importance and started excavation activities. In 2005, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In this area the oleander is very common. This evergreen plant blooms from May to July. The flower color varies from white to pink. The fruit is ripe in October and November. It is a poisonous plant for humans and animals because of the high content of glucosides. The Sicilian trout is a salmonid that is found only in southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and North Africa. This fish is very demanding, requiring fresh highly oxygenated water.
The Necropolis has a West Entrance 📍 and an East Entrance 📍. Both entrances can be reached by car. West from Ferla and east from Sortino. Follow the brown Pantalica tourism signs. A small visitors center can be found at the west entrance. You can park your car here but it is possible to follow SR11 further east and park your car at the end of the road.
Both entrances can be reached by bus from Syracuse.
It's possible to walk from Sortino to the East Entrance. It takes about 45 minutes. Get off a bus at Piazza Santa Sofia stop in front of a church or a stop earlier at Piazza Giovanni Verga in front of a town hall. Then go downhill on wide stairs to Piazza Capuccini next to a Capucinian cloister. It's a platform with a nice lookout at a valey and hills in the direction of Pantalica. But don't get fool yourself. Pantalica is a third valey out of your sight. Only the furthest slopes on a horizon belong to Anapo Valey of Pantalica.
On the platform there are two barely readable maps and a hiking path starts here. The path is marked with direction labels and an orange-green stripe mark painted on walls. Unfortunately the stripe mark predates recent changes in a land ownership and sometimes leads to a fence or a gate of a new house. You will need to use a map and common sense. Basically, follow road SP54 and then turn right using an old road down to creek Torrente Ciccio which is bypassed by a concrete bridge and then on the right side of the valey you will pass an icon of Jesus with an electrical lamp set into a rock.
Once you climb the valley, you will get on a crossroad with a direction label and the very first sign of Pantalica natural reservation zone B. Continue leftish on the road between walls separating gardens and you will descent into a second valley. After bridging its creek, you can use use a shortcut on right side between gardens and pasturies.
Then you will pass few villas on left side and olive orchards on right side on the hilltop plateaux and you will get on a crossing with an asphalt road SR11. The crossing is adjacent to a small road bay at the left corner in front of a villa and with an informational panel about Pantalica. At the crossing is a new, brown, wooden sign Pantalica pointing left, east, in the line of SR11. Use that road SR11 which will lead you directly to the East entrance of the park with a parking lot, gate, panels, and a cottage for park rangers. Do not follow the orange-green stripe mark from that crossing. It leads to a dead-end (a bar and a fence).
The East Entrance lies on a slope of the third valley of Calcinara River.
In high season, there may be an entry fee. The park can be sometimes closed. In that case you will be diverted by rangers guarding the entrances.
It is possible to explore by foot or by bike. Take headgear if biking, and drinking water.
When hiking around the necropolis, time passes quickly, but you may still have time to swim in the Anapo or Calcinara.
There are no shopping, eating, or drinking facilities.
Think about adequate sun protection and drink supplies. It can be very hot in summer. Refreshments are not available on the site.
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