Siracusa History: Planning a Pantalica Necropolis Day Trip

Pantalica brings together an archaeological landscape and a protected reserve shaped by ravines, uplands and the Anapo valley. The reserve covers 3,712.07 hectares and includes parts of Ferla, Cassaro, Sortino, Palazzolo Acreide and Buscemi.

The reserve was established in 1997 chiefly to protect wetland ecosystems, the endemic Sicilian macrostigma trout and the oriental plane tree. Its landscape is also the setting for the necropolis and other archaeological features, including the Anaktoron, a Byzantine village and rock oratories.

For a wider city itinerary, how to fit Neapolis and Ortigia into one day in Siracusa covers two of the city’s archaeological and historic areas.

Visit Sicily describes four main entrances: two on the upland, one on the Ferla side and one on the Sortino side. Ferla and Sortino face the Calcinara valley, and the approaches between the towns are about 50–60 minutes apart, so choose your entrance around the route you want rather than assuming they are interchangeable.

Ferla side: Giarranauti

The Giarranauti route reaches the necropolis, the Anaktoron, a Byzantine village and three rock oratories before descending towards the Calcinara stream. If you use this approach, ask for an area map at the Forestry Service information point a few kilometres before Sella di Filiporto.

Sortino side

The Sortino entrance gives access to the Calcinara area and the Bat Cave, with views of the necropolis. It is the nearer of the two upland approaches to Syracuse and Catania.

Anapo valley

The route along the valley follows the former Siracusa–Vizzini railway line. Its 13-kilometre path is mainly flat and connects the entrances; along the way are old tunnels and a museum in the former railway station.

The valley-floor path is broad and flat, but climbs to the plateau and upper necropolises are steeper, with significant elevation changes and sometimes intermittent trail marking.

Plan your walk around the difference between the valley path and the steeper routes to the plateau. The change in elevation and intermittent trail marking on some climbs can make those sections more demanding than the broad, flat railway path.

Carry enough water for the whole walk: there is no water supply along the route. Bring a torch for the dark railway tunnels. These practical details matter whether you’re following the valley route or combining it with a climb.

Driving lets you choose between the Sortino and Ferla approaches. From Siracusa, the route described by Siracusa Turismo follows SS114 and SS124 towards Floridia, then continues to the Fusco entrance at Sortino on SP28.

For the Ponte Diga entrance at Ferla-Cassaro, continue on SP30 instead. Access roads are narrow and winding, so check the approach and entrance status with the reserve’s managing authority before setting out.

A trail guide reports no bus lines to the reserve entrances. Shuttle arrangements reported by that guide are time-sensitive, so don’t rely on them without confirming current service with the reserve manager. The same applies to internal shuttle operation from the Cugnarelli entrance.

In Siracusa, a four-star hotel in the city is about 40 km and 60 minutes from Pantalica.

The reserve itself has no entry ticket, but the regional archaeological park states that access to the Necropoli di Pantalica is free and by reservation. Treat the reservation requirement and the reserve’s general access as separate arrangements.

The reserve rules prohibit domestic animals. For current necropolis access and reservation details, check the official site before you go: contact the regional archaeological park by telephone on +39 0931 489511 or email parco.archeo.siracusa@regione.sicilia.it. The park’s address is 96010 Sortino (SR).