Monte Lauro in Buccheri

The history of Buccheri's Monte Lauro

Monte Lauro di Buccheri is part of the chain of Iblei Mountains, located in south-eastern Sicily, in the territory of the Regional Province of Syracuse.

Monte Lauro is of volcanic origin, but the type of volcano from which it was born is quite particular: it is in fact a submarine volcano of the Miocene, that is, dating back to about 23 million years ago. Today this volcano is no longer active, but it has also given rise to other mountains in the area.

In more recent times, a Professional Meteorological Station of international importance has been installed on the northern slope of the mountain.

The history of the mountain is linked to that of the town: Buccheri, about 800 meters above sea level, extends along the slopes of the mountain, populated by theStone Age. In fact, traces of human presence have been found in these areas, testified by a series of huts. Over the centuries, on the Mount Lauro then they passed Sicilians, Romans and Arabs.

The myth tells that here Daphnis, son of god Hermes, he used to graze his flock and that of the gods, enchanting the animals with the sound of his flute.

Conformation and geography of Monte Lauro di Buccheri

Monte Lauro di Buccheri reaches its peak at 987 meters above sea level, also constituting the height record for the chain of Monti Iblei to which it belongs. With its slopes, however, Monte Lauro reaches the territories of the provinces of Catania, Ragusa and Syracuse.

The Mount is rich in vegetation and to this it owes its name: il Laura, laurel, which however is no longer present on its slopes, while there are several streams that originate from its sources. Subject to accumulations of snow that can reach 80 cm in the winter months, it has minimum temperatures of around -3°, but the annual average is around 13°.

What to do at Monte Lauro di Buccheri and in the surroundings

Nature and trekking enthusiasts can go up Monte Lauro di Buccheri thanks to the fantastic paths that wind through woods and clearings up to the summit. Walking, you can admire the vegetation and find the source of the Irminio river, visit the Neviera and Terre Vecchie, little gems of this mountain.

La Neviera is a place where it was customary to collect snow, to then sell it in the village during the very hot summer; Terre Vecchie, on the other hand, is an ancient settlement destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, of which the ruins are still visible.

After a walk at high altitude, relaxed by the relaxing sounds of nature, you are definitely ready to try the delicious Sicilian cuisine: returning to the village, in Buccheri, you will find the maccaruneddi, homemade pasta topped with pork sauce and ricotta cheese, and grilled meat, fried olives and freshly baked bread, to be enjoyed in the best restaurants in the village. Finally full, you can rest in the hotel before setting off again to discover Buccheri.

In the village there are many attractions to visit, such as the beautiful Church of Sant'Antonio Abate with its wonderful interior baroque, or the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, small but impressive for its facade and richly decorated interiors.
Just outside the town, there are two other churches, whose ruins are visible, where you can stop if you are spending a holiday in Buccheri: they are the XNUMXth century Church of S. Andrea and the Church of St. Nicholas. In the surroundings there are also other sacred buildings that can be encountered along the way.

Il Buccheri Castle went down in history for being "the most formidable fortress of the Val di Noto", as ancient local documents testify. Built in the thirteenth century it was inhabited at least until the sixteenth century and even if today only the ruins remain, visiting it it will not be difficult to imagine what fortress it might have looked like at the time of the wars between Sicilians and Angevins.

In the surroundings of Buccheri you can visit numerous museums, such as the Verghian Imaginary Museum at about 14 km, the Ibleo Museum of Emigration at 16km and the Gabriele Judica Archaeological Museum at 17km. Among the villages in the area it stands out Vizzini, reachable in less than 20 minutes by car: here is the incredible ghost town of Cunziria and you can admire the beautiful Mother Church of San Gregorio Magno in the country, in addition to the Verga Museum.

With a journey of about 50 km you can reach it SIRACUSA, where to visit the Duomo or admire the Beneventano del Bosco Palace, Catacombs of San Giovanni or Temple of Apollo, just to mention some of the infinite architectural beauties of the city overlooking the Ionian Sea.

How to get to Monte Lauro di Buccheri

Monte Lauro di Buccheri is located in the province of Syracuse and can be reached by car, taking the A18 Messina-Catania/Siracusa-Rosolini motorway to the Melilli exit, which is about 27 km from Buccheri. Il Monte is 6 km from the town and can be reached by taking the SP12.

© Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; L'Ibleo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons