Pantalica necropolis of Realmese di Calascibetta

In the territory of Calascibetta there is the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese just three kilometers from one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

History of the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese in Calascibetta

The founding characteristic of the Necropolis of Realmese Calabiscetta is represented by the presence of approximately three hundred cave tombs of the Pantalica type. To be precise, there are 288 tombs and they date back partly to the protohistoric age from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century BC and partly attributable to the archaic age between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries BC

There were no gods Archaeological excavations carried out in a rational and continuous manner except those carried out for a two-year period in the mid-XNUMXs by Luigi Bernabò Brea, thanks to which various finds made up largely of different types of ceramics, tools, jewelery and some grave goods were brought to light again miniaturized which are currently visible at the Varisano Museum in Enna and at the Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum in Syracuse.

For some years the Necropolis of Realmese di Calascibetta has been an integral part of a specific itinerary planned by a European agency that deals with international academic mobility and which includes a theme park that includes all this archeological area.

Architecture present in the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese in Calascibetta

The Necropolis of Realmese is a site of significant historical importance which covers an entire limestone rock wall where the cave tombs dating back to a period ranging from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century BC are located.

In its immediate vicinity lies the Rock village of Vallone Canalotto which represents the habit of ancient populations of frequenting troglodyte sites where there were rock tombs as well as dwellings located in caves and semi-hypogeal buildings which were used for viticulture.

What is known as Regia Trazzera Caliscibetta-Gangi, is a road that crosses the territory of the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese and which blends well with the present nature, characterized by medical and aromatic plants that were also used in ancient times, during the burials of the deceased.

Il archaeological site it is located on the steep slopes of the mountain and is the second Pantalic Necropolis of the entire island.

Returning to the Regie Trazzere, these are part of a road system dating back to the Norman era which did not take into account the presence of even significant slopes. They are quite wide streets - over 36 meters - which had their origins in the city or in the immediate surroundings and which connected various locations in a radial pattern with the seas that bathe the island.

In fact, twelve trazzere depart from Calascibetta, one of which has as its destination the territory of the Xibetan area and which crosses the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese, continuing along the road now called della Menta, arriving alongside the fortified village of Bardonaro and the Castello di Re Giovanni, which is located near Cacchiamo, a small hamlet of Calascibetta which borders the Val di Mazara, the Val di Noto and the Val Demone and which reaches Gangi ending in Cefalù.

What is possible to do in the surroundings of the Pantalica Necropolis of Realmese in Calascibetta

The village of Calascibetta is certainly worth exploring, starting from its own castle stone Hisn al-Giran, the fortress of the caves.

The village will amaze you thanks to the mix of architectural styles that can be seen in the main square dominated by a modern sculpture which has a fountain inside. Don't miss the eighteenth century Madonna del Carmelo church and the adjoining bell tower. Also interesting church of San Francesco di Assisi dating back to the sixteenth century with the nearby Capuchin Convent where it is possible to admire a series of valuable paintings from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Also the Mother Church of San Pietro e Santa Maria Maggiore, known as Royal Palatine Chapel, built on the ancient foundations of a Norman castle in the mid-fourteenth century and commissioned by King Peter II of Aragon, deserves to be visited due to interesting works of art such as seventeenth and eighteenth century paintings and some marble sculptures from the Gagini school .

Don't miss it either Norman Tower , Prison Street before heading towards the Jewish Quarter which hosted a populous Jewish community until the sixteenth century.

Just outside Calascibetta stands the Byzantine village of Canalotto with the presence of Byzantine tombs and ancient houses built into the rock.

How is it possible to get to Calascibetta

By car:, from Messina take the A18 and A19/E932 in the direction of SS 117 bis with exit at Enna and continue on the SS290 up to Calascibetta and from there follow the signs.