Cavagrande del Cassibile
Things to do, attractions, interesting facts
Area: Siracusa surroundings
The Cavagrande del Cassibile Nature Reserve is an area of the Ibleo plateau which assumes spectacular aspects due to the presence of deep fractures, the quarries, created by the erosion of the watercourses that still flow on their bottom.
L ' area of the reserve is crossed by the Cassibile river, the ancient Greek Kacyparis, which over the millennia has created a series of deep canyons 10 kilometers long.
The reserve includes the quarry area, whose height difference is about 300 meters, and the mouth of the river on the Ionian Sea at the beach of the Marchesa di Cassibile.
The inaccessible overhanging walls of the quarry and the presence of water allowed the settlement of inhabited settlements in the Paleolithic era. The Sicilians were the first inhabitants of this place, and here they built two rupestrian villages: the northern one, which you immediately notice as soon as you look out from the belvedere, the Dieri rock complex; and the southern one, almost opposite: the Grotta dei briganti or della "Cunziria". While on the edge of the reserve, to the north-east, there are various ancient necropolises, known as Necropoli del Cassibile.
In the valley floor, a complex system of small waterfalls and natural reservoirs, among which the most evocative, known as the lakes of Cavagrande or lakes of Avola, can be reached from the viewpoint of Avola Antica.
The riparian forest extends along the banks of the river for a few tens of meters , where there are also magnificent oriental plane trees, the most ancient specimens of which have trunks with a diameter of about one and a half meters.
L ' area of the reserve is crossed by the Cassibile river, the ancient Greek Kacyparis, which over the millennia has created a series of deep canyons 10 kilometers long.
The reserve includes the quarry area, whose height difference is about 300 meters, and the mouth of the river on the Ionian Sea at the beach of the Marchesa di Cassibile.
The inaccessible overhanging walls of the quarry and the presence of water allowed the settlement of inhabited settlements in the Paleolithic era. The Sicilians were the first inhabitants of this place, and here they built two rupestrian villages: the northern one, which you immediately notice as soon as you look out from the belvedere, the Dieri rock complex; and the southern one, almost opposite: the Grotta dei briganti or della "Cunziria". While on the edge of the reserve, to the north-east, there are various ancient necropolises, known as Necropoli del Cassibile.
In the valley floor, a complex system of small waterfalls and natural reservoirs, among which the most evocative, known as the lakes of Cavagrande or lakes of Avola, can be reached from the viewpoint of Avola Antica.
The riparian forest extends along the banks of the river for a few tens of meters , where there are also magnificent oriental plane trees, the most ancient specimens of which have trunks with a diameter of about one and a half meters.
Things to do
Tour, Experience, Tastings,...
Cavagrande del Cassibile Reserve Hiking Tour
Experience the natural beauty of the Cavagrande del Cassibile Reserve on a guided hiking tour. Explore the trails, and enjoy the uncontaminated nature of the Iblee valleys.
What to eat
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Cavagrande del Cassibile
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc. But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
Where to stay
Best Offers of Vacation Rental, hotel, B&B where to sleep in Cavagrande del Cassibile
Nearby Places
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the surroundings of Cavagrande del Cassibile. The places are located at a maximum distance of about an half hour by car. Good fun!