The Cave of the Saints in Licodia Eubea

The history of the Grotta dei Santi in Licodia Eubea

The Grotta dei Santi, a rock site on the hill of the same name, just 17 km from Licodia Eubea, is a very ancient cemetery complex dug into the tuff.

The complex is made up of various terraces, which were colonized in different historical periods, from the late ancient era to the Byzantine Empire, dating back to around the XNUMXth century AD.

The first Christian communities present on the island chose this place protected by the tuff hills, which dominates the Cava dei Volaci valleyto bury their dead. The Valley, crossed by the Amerillo River, was inhabited since ancient times by rural communities, which exploited the fertility of the land.

There is historical information about the rock site as a monument starting from the XNUMXth century, as evidenced by the words of the scholar Vito Maria Amico, but it is only in the XNUMXs that the Cave of the Saints receives due attention from an archaeological point of view, rediscovered and returned to the general public since Sicilian professor Giuseppe Agnello.

The architecture and works of art of the Grotta dei Santi in Licodia Eubea

At the rock site of the Grotta dei Santi in Licodia Eubea, nature and architecture meet at the highest levels: the rural burials were dug directly into the tuff.
Anyone arriving from the Valley can immediately observe how the side of the hill is characterized by two terraces, overlooked by the ancient tombs.

From the outside, the entrances to each room, with entrances and windows, stones and rock. Crossing the threshold of one of the rooms, you will find inside the typical structure of underground burials, in which the entrance is placed in communication with theinternal by steps dug into the tuff, while the space of the cave is divided into rooms separated by columns made from the same tuff; the internal areas reserved for the tombs are dug into the rock.

On the walls, there are still clearly visible traces of pictorial panels surrounded by a red frame. This cave was probably supposed to be the burial of an important man.

The other rooms found on the site have undergone alterations over time and in some cases it is difficult to find the original appearance; it is also important to note how the presence of brick built walls, indicate that the site was still used by the men of these lands in recent times.

Visiting the Grotta dei Santi and the surroundings of the hill, it is still possible to find remains capable of suggesting to the imagination what the place must have looked like in late ancient era.

What can you do in the Cave of the Saints in Licodia Eubea and the surrounding areas

A stay in Licodia Eubea is the ideal opportunity to discover the beauties of Sicily, even those that go beyond the dream beaches and crystal clear waters: the hinterland, more hidden and protected by hills and rocks, nestled in the flourishing valleys , holds real archaeological treasures that are part of the historical and cultural heritage of our country.

Visiting one of these sites means being witnesses of the passage of history, being able to admire the ingenuity and ability of a civilization far from us, but which has left traces that are still present. Lovers of history, archeology and culture cannot miss such an interesting visit, perhaps even combined with a tour of the surroundings.

The site is located approximately 17 km from Licodia Eubea, which can also be the starting point for a small tour in the Sicilian hinterland.

Visiting Licodia Eubea means discovering an ancient history, which has its roots even before the birth of Christ, as a colony of the Sicani; later, noble families lived here who gave the village the name of Little Palermo, due to the commercial importance that this place had acquired in Middle Ages.

Today, Licodia Eubea offers visitors numerous religious and civil architectures, from Mother Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia, Church of the Crucifix and the Church of Bianchetto, solitary and with a particular octagonal plan; among the civil architectures, however, are the Palazzo Mugnos in Sicilian Baroque dating from the eighteenth century and the Palazzo Comunale.
There is no shortage of green spaces in the town, where you can also bring children, such as Municipal Villa Santapau.

Nearby, you can visit the Necropolis of Fossa Quadara or the mysterious Aqueduct, which connects underground the Colle del Castello Santapau at Colle Calvario.

How to get to the cave of the saints in Licodia Eubea

Licodia Eubea is located in the Sicilian hinterland and is a small town in the Metropolitan City of Catania.

Visitors can reach the town by car or train: the A18 Messina-Catania connects the main Sicilian cities to Licodia Eubea, via the Lentini-Carlentini exit. Those who prefer the railway can get off at Ragusa station and continue by bus or shuttle to the centre.

© David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0 - David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0 - David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0 - David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons