If you want to know a real Eden between Trappeto and Terrasini consisting of a delightful small cove of crystalline sea water, you must go to the Grotta delle Colombe.
An evocative stairway overhanging the sea is what you have to go through to reach what the locals know as a "rutta ri pallummi", i.e. the Cave of the Doves which is located between the neighboring municipalities of Trappetto and Terrasina, on the San Cataldo bay where in 1314 the powerful Angevin fleet landed to fight the Saracens.
The small bay and the cave were formed following the terrible eruption which took place in 1669 and consists of a gallery of lava nature about a hundred meters long and having a vault about seven meters high. The steep and irregular floor is made up of shreds and slag of lava welded together and there are some rolls while stalactites are rare. Obviously the atmosphere is also humid because it is characterized by a water source which helps the development and diffusion of lichens and mosses evident right from the entrance.
Fascinating legends
As with other places of this kind, the Cave of the Doves originated some legends. One of these refers to Aci and Galatea narrating that this is their refuge where the mythical lovers used to meet.
Another connects to Ionian, a nymph who took care of the pigeons that found refuge in this cave in winter. But other jealous nymphs of Ionia prevented the pigeons from entering causing their death and Ionia, seized by pain, caused the cave to collapse, remaining buried together with the other nymphs.
Unfortunately the pollution affecting the mouth of the Nocella stream, prohibits bathing in this corner of paradise watched over by various local associations and committees who have signed a document so that the local authorities take care of this high-rise area landscape value.
In the highest part of this place, a bunker from the Second World War is still visible. The area is also known as the twin of the Zingaro coast, has considerable landscape potential and is a place to be protected on which it is important to keep the attention high in order to protect its beauty. Indeed the coast that winds from Ciucca beach up to that of San Cataldo, offers pebbly coves and steep cliffs on the sea.
How to get to the Grotta delle Colombe
Reach the San Cataldo bay it is decidedly simple but not for everyone. You must take the State Road 113 where you meet a small dirt road that leads to Contrada San Cataldo. Once you have taken this road, you have to continue a few hundred meters before reaching the bay. It must be kept in mind that there are about thirty meters where the route is a bit dangerous, so it is advisable to wear closed shoes and pay particular attention to avoid accidents but, we guarantee, at the end of the route the scenery abundantly repays the effort carried out.
Do not miss the cave of the doves
For all people who intend to travel to Cave of the Doves it is suggested to implement the visit with the exploration of the nearby Cape Rama Reserve characterized by an area of about five hectares of dwarf palm scrub located on one of the most scenic points of the Sicilian coast on an important crag of calcareous nature.
Also to know Cala Rossa beach located in the territory of Terrasini. It is a picturesque inlet framed by red rocks that have white veins and which make the crystalline and blue sea even more evident. To reach the beach it is necessary to face a stairway carved into the rock known as praiola.
© Image by Ciccio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
