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    Day Itinerary

    6 Activities
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    Day 2

    95 mi0.4 mi

    Discovering rock churches in Pantalica and the traces of the first Christians in Syracuse.

    After leaving the city of Catania, drive your car towards the Pantalica reserve, a fascinating place inhabited by man from the protohistoric to the medieval period, which has been declared World Heritage UNESCO site together with the Greek city of Syracuse. After visiting the rock churches and oratories carved into the rock, continue your itinerary, crossing the Hyblean area, towards the city of Syracuse. In the ancient Greek colony you can visit the many funerary tunnels of Christian use and the church dedicated to the cult of another young Sicilian martyr, Santa Lucia, born and died in Syracuse.
    52.8 mi1 hr 30 min
    Pantalica: rock churches and oratory
    09:003 hrs

    Pantalica: rock churches and oratory

    Historic Site
    Open Details
    The Pantalica area (the very famous rock cut necropolis has been used since the Prehistoric times) was also used for residential, spiritual and funerary purposes also in the Byzantine period and in the following centuries. In this regard, you can admire some truly suggestive places, dug entirely into the rock.
    -S. Micidiario: near the entrance of Filiporto there is a village of about 150 houses with the small church of S. Micidiario on the edge of a chasm. Inside, faint traces of frescoes and wall inscriptions are still visible. However, we recognize the figure of the Pantocrator flanked by two angels and another figure, perhaps a saint. There are probably two layers of fresco, the lower reddish one and the upper blue one.
    -S. Nicolicchio: next to the Anaktoron (the ancient princely palace) there is a small village with the oratory of S. Nicolicchio, also decorated with traces of a very ruined fresco. However, Sant'Elena and Santo Stefano are recognized. The dating seems to be from the 7th century.
    -Grotta del Crocifisso: used as a church, has a rectangular apse with the remains of a crucifixion as well as the representation of St. Nicholas and an anonymous saint whose representation has been detached and kept at the "Paolo Orsi" Archaeological Museum in Syracuse.
    20.2 mi1 hr
    Agriturism Pantalica Ranch
    13:001 hr 30 min

    Agriturism Pantalica Ranch

    Food
    Open Details
    Continue your tour, surrounded by nature and make a stop at the Pantalica ranch. You can also go for a horse ride after lunch.
    16 mi40 min
    Catacomb of St. John in Siracusa
    15:1545 min

    Catacomb of St. John in Siracusa

    Historic Site
    Open Details
    This is an incredible place to discover! The Catacombs in Syracuse hosted one of the biggest Christian community of the first Christianity and the extension of the Catacombs is second only to those in Rome. The Catacomb of St. John was mostly excavated between 315 and 360 AD, and remained in use until the end of the 5th century. They are the best preserved and a guided tour is necessary here: you might get lost in the corridors and rock-cut tombs!
    0.9 mi5 min
    Catacomb of St.Lucy in Siracusa
    16:4045 min

    Catacomb of St.Lucy in Siracusa

    Historic Site
    Open Details
    A second important Catacomb in the city is the Catacomb of St.Lucy. They were excavated starting from the 4th century AD, and were frequented for many centuries; even after losing their original function as a cemetery, they welcomed small underground places of Christian devotion, among which the most important is undoubtedly the Sepulcher of Santa Lucia, the patron of the city, which today stands isolated but was once an integral part of the galleries.
    0.4 mi10 min
    Olivia Natural Bistrot
    19:202 hrs

    Olivia Natural Bistrot

    Open Details
    We suggest to have a relaxing dinner here, in this very nice bistrot, where you can eat genuine food...and drink very good birras!
    1.6 mi10 min
    Sikaru' Beerstro
    21:301 hr 30 min

    Sikaru' Beerstro

    Beer Bar
    Open Details
    And if you want an after dinner, here is the right place for you!
    2.1 mi15 min
    Dimora Archimedea
    23:308 hrs 30 minHotel visit

    Dimora Archimedea

    9.6
    Another exciting day has ended, tomorrow we will move to the Hyblean plateau, to discover some other ancient Christian places, but now it's time to sleep!
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