Grattara cave in Gratteri

Grattara cave e Gratteri are just 300 meters from each other: the town, 870 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, most probably owes its name to the cave that rises approx one thousand meters of altitude, between the peaks of Madonie Park.

To reach the Grotto you have to cross first the Pinewood which lies at the foot of the massif, then going up for a pathway which will lead you to the "Bed of the oxen", a plain from which you get to Grotta Grattera.

Always open to the splendid panorama of the valley, Grotta Grattera is also a magical cave, a second inhabited area the legend from the "Old Strina", the witch that all children know.

The conformation of Grotta Grattara

The Grotto opens from the massif of Pilo lace, on the splendid view of the valley below, from a height of a thousand meters. Within this natural opening in the rock, it appears to visitors a crater, empty and of good size, about 5 meters by 3; a source, which is accessed via a staircase created by the passage of man over time.

The outside of the cave, even in its most inaccessible points, is colored green: they grow on the rock wild pistachio e fern. The ravines along the rocky walls are often chosen by swallows, who build their nests there as well as pigeons, while in summer the Grotta Grattara often serves as a shelter for the flocks.

What to do at the Grattara Cave and in the surroundings

Grotta Grattara can be reached from Gratteri with aexcursion in the green that everyone can do: the route is short and the path is accessible, so we advise all enthusiasts to make a stop at the Grotto, during a stay in Gratteri. But from the town, it is also possible to discover many other tourist attractions, both in the center and in the surrounding area.

In the village, you will find the Old matrix, the Castle and several other sacred buildings, such as the Church of Sant'Andrea , Church of St. James; a few kilometers from Gratteri, you will meet the beautiful St George's Abbey,Abbey of Sant'Anastasia, Church of Santa Maria di Gesù. The Castle, however, of which the ruins remain today, was used as a quarry, from which to extract the materials for the construction of the Matrice Nuova.

Who wants visit Grattara Cave, can choose any period of the year: in Sicily the climate is mild and almost always favorable to visitors, but if you want to combine the visit with the discovery of true village life, you can organize a stay in Gratteri during the Patronal Feast of San Giacomo, on 8 and 9 September. With a few days at your disposal, you can also discover the surroundings of the village, such as the village of Isnello, with the ruins of the Norman Castle and its numerous churches, or the Madonie Park, where it is possible to immerse yourself completely in nature.

Another center in the surrounding area, about 23 km from the village, is Castelbuono, a destination that lovers of art cities absolutely must not miss: a town with an extremely ancient history, it offers its visitors pearls such as Piazza Margherita with the Matrice Vecchia, the Church of San Francesco and the Matrice Nuova, the splendid fourteenth-century castle perfectly restored Nineties of the last century, the beautiful Fontana della Venere Ciprea and many other beauties to be discovered with a walk in the centre.

In the surroundings of Gratteri there are also infinite naturalistic attractions, such as the Sempria plan and Gorges of Tiberius inland or Cefalù , Sant'Ambrogio beachalong the northern coast of Sicily.

How is it possible to get to Grotta Grattara

Grotta Grattara is located about 300 meters from the center of Gratteri: the village can be reached by car, but also by train, taking advantage of the bus and shuttle service at the nearest station.
Who travels by car, can take the A20 Messina-Buonfornello, taking the exit for Cefalù, while those arriving on the train, can get off at Cefalù Station.