Exploring the Anapo Valley is the ideal way to experience the Pantalica Nature Reserve. The Reserve's main trail follows the path of the old Siracusa-Vizzini railway, built between 1905 and 1912 to connect Sicily's inland towns to the coast. The railway was decommissioned in the 1980s due to low usage and the economic challenges of maintenance. Today, this route has been transformed into a magnificent hiking trail, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the stunning landscape. The railway closely followed the course of the Anapo River, offering breathtaking views of the rocky ridges where Pantalica's archaeological discoveries were made. The valley strikes a perfect balance between nature and historical memory.
Along the trail, hikers can also follow the Calcinara stream up to the intake of the Galermi Canal, a Greek hydraulic work that diverted river water to the city of Syracuse. This structure testifies to the ingenuity of the Greeks, who harnessed natural resources to create an advanced water supply system. For modern visitors, this route symbolically connects the sites of Pantalica and Syracuse, both part of the same UNESCO World Heritage site. The water route, from the Galermi Canal to the Calcinara, passes through the Anapo and ends at the Grotta del Ninfeo, located in the Greek theater of Syracuse. This artificial cavity, dedicated to the nymphs, served both as a sacred space and as a water source feeding the city's ancient hydraulic system.
The railway path, which includes tunnels carved into solid rock, also has branches leading to Pantalica's five necropolises and the Anaktoron.
The Anapo River spans about 50 kilometers, and its name may derive from the Greek term Ἄναπος (Anapos), meaning "hidden river," as it flows underground through limestone in certain stretches before reemerging in natural cavities. Today, the Anapo remains an ecologically vital element, hosting rich Mediterranean flora and fauna.
Pantalica, with its necropolises and ancient settlement remains, is inseparable from this visually striking landscape. Exploring it fully requires several days of hiking to experience the variety of trails it offers.
