Sortino

Discover the town of Sortino

Hello! If you are looking for a town in Sicily, then you should go to Sortino! Located in the Iblei Mountains, this city offers a beautiful view of the Pantalica rock necropolis and the Anapo River. Sortino is also famous for its honey production, and if you want to learn more about the city's beekeeping tradition, you can visit the traditional beekeeping museum in Via Gioberti. Let's discover the city of Sortino together!

Physical geography

Sortino is located northwest of Syracuse, 34 kilometers away. Although it is situated between Syracuse and Catania, it is in the upper Anapo Valley. The Pantalica necropolis is one of the city's most famous attractions and contains five thousand caves dug by various generations of hominids, such as the first Neanderthals, the Paleolithic, and the Neolithic. The people of the Pantalica civilization reused these caves as tombs.

Sortino: a Baroque pearl among the Iblei mountains.

History

Sortino was mainly linked to the noble families of Moncada and Modica's heirs. The Sortino fief was granted by Empress Costanza to Arnaldo de Mohac, whose successors remained until 1477 when it was purchased by the Gaetani Baroni family. The Gaetani family dominated the history of Sortino and the entire province of Syracuse for over three centuries. Pietro Gaetani helped the city's reconstruction after the earthquake that hit the area in 1693.

Monuments and places of interest

Sortino preserves many monuments of Sicilian Baroque, including numerous churches. The Church of Giovanni apostolo ed evangelista is an architectural wonder representing the Catholic religion. The Church of Santa Sofia is another beautiful church that has been recently restored. The Purgatorio Church is a seventeenth-century church with a beautiful marble altar. The Church of San Sebastiano is an eighteenth-century church with stunning acoustics. The Montevergine Monastery is a church and monastery that houses the Benedictines. The Church of the Annunciation is a recently restored baroque church. The Church of the Madonna del Carmelo is a seventeenth-century church with simple yet beautiful architecture. The Church of San Francesco d'Assisi is another example of baroque architecture. The Church of Pietro apostolo is a seventeenth-century church with fascinating stuccos. The Church of Antonio abate, known as the Convent of Collegiate Sisters of the Holy Family, houses a community of nuns. The Church of San Giuseppe is an imposing church with a beautiful marble altar. The Capuchin Monastery is a monastery dedicated to prayer and meditation. The Sortino Diruta site is a collection of ruins representing the old Sortino present before the 1693 earthquake. Pantalica is a rock necropolis that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Typical products

Sortino is famous for its honey production. The traditional beekeeping museum in Via Gioberti is a perfect place to learn more about the local beekeeping tradition.

Conclusions

Sortino is a beautiful town located in Sicily, with wonderful monuments and places of interest. If you are looking for a place to observe the beauty of nature, high-quality honey, and baroque architecture, Sortino is the perfect place for you. Do not hesitate to visit this wonderful city!

Martina Caruso
Updated Thursday, Dec 29, 2022