Rating
3.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)
Interesting Sites Nearby
User Reviews
Prof. Giuseppe Micieli (5 years ago)
Evocative place rich in history. Too bad it's not taken care of
Evocative place rich in history. Too bad it's not taken care of
Marvin Marvellous (5 years ago)
The area is beautiful but it is not cared for and valued at all. The two stars are not for the area, but for the total absence of care and enhancement. Too bad for an area so interesting and rich in Mediterranean history and beauty.
The area is beautiful but it is not cared for and valued at all. The two stars are not for the area, but for the total absence of care and enhancement. Too bad for an area so interesting and rich in Mediterranean history and beauty.
Giorgio Banaudi (5 years ago)
Windy afternoon at the beginning of 2020. After visiting Neapolis (archaeological site of Syracuse) and the Paolo Orsi museum (a "must see" for those who appreciate beauty), I felt like seeing Thapsos. Initially I wanted to go by bike from Syracuse, but it takes a long time and the roads are not ideal (too many "distracted" cars). Parked the car on the last widening of the isthmus (a derelict and abandoned beach, with some occasional camper), you have to go through the side barriers (the road is closed by a large gate). On the right a sad and degraded factory now in ruins, in the background the plateau of this site. Indeed, to be one of the places of origin of the autochthonous Sicilian culture, it deserves more; space is at the mercy of cows, occasional waste and little care. Along the way there is only one sign explaining the place, but there is practically nothing to access. But coasting the peninsula you reach the northernmost tip, very close to the lighthouse, where it makes (ugly) a series of sheds, once perhaps stables or deposits ... you are right by the sea, rocky coast but not very high. And here you will find the incredible Thapsos necropolis, a series of tombs carved into the rock, all oriented towards the sea (or Etna?), All with a comfortable channel for flowing the waters, so as not to become brackish pools. Apart from a bit of waste (few, fortunately, but always unpleasant), one cannot notice anything other than the architecture of the tombs and the logistical arrangement; there are more than 10 artifacts dug in the rock, some two-seaters, others larger, others tiny ... going there with the stormy wind, the saltiness that assails you, makes it suggestive and pregnant. Why bury people in front of the sea? Sailors for one last landing? Rest stops towards other migrations? ... To see.
Windy afternoon at the beginning of 2020. After visiting Neapolis (archaeological site of Syracuse) and the Paolo Orsi museum (a "must see" for those who appreciate beauty), I felt like seeing Thapsos. Initially I wanted to go by bike from Syracuse, but it takes a long time and the roads are not ideal (too many "distracted" cars). Parked the car on the last widening of the isthmus (a derelict and abandoned beach, with some occasional camper), you have to go through the side barriers (the road is closed by a large gate). On the right a sad and degraded factory now in ruins, in the background the plateau of this site. Indeed, to be one of the places of origin of the autochthonous Sicilian culture, it deserves more; space is at the mercy of cows, occasional waste and little care. Along the way there is only one sign explaining the place, but there is practically nothing to access. But coasting the peninsula you reach the northernmost tip, very close to the lighthouse, where it makes (ugly) a series of sheds, once perhaps stables or deposits ... you are right by the sea, rocky coast but not very high. And here you will find the incredible Thapsos necropolis, a series of tombs carved into the rock, all oriented towards the sea (or Etna?), All with a comfortable channel for flowing the waters, so as not to become brackish pools. Apart from a bit of waste (few, fortunately, but always unpleasant), one cannot notice anything other than the architecture of the tombs and the logistical arrangement; there are more than 10 artifacts dug in the rock, some two-seaters, others larger, others tiny ... going there with the stormy wind, the saltiness that assails you, makes it suggestive and pregnant. Why bury people in front of the sea? Sailors for one last landing? Rest stops towards other migrations? ... To see.
Sergio Consoli (6 years ago)
An evocative and fascinating place, of absolute historical importance: it is in fact one of the first settlements in Sicily, dating back to 1500 BC. (to be clear, almost 1000 years before the arrival of the Greeks), in the middle of the Bronze Age (the numerous finds are exhibited at the Paolo Orsi museum). In addition to the prehistoric tombs, on the site there are bunkers used during the Second World War and a watchtower (Torre Magnisi), built by the English around 1800. The peninsula is accessed by following the seafront of the Priolo marina up to a widening dirt road where it is possible to leave the car. From here (there is a closed gate but pedestrian access is permitted) you continue on foot along the asphalt road which branches into two different dirt paths. The first leads to bunkers and tombs, the second to an old unused warehouse. Between the two paths there is the Magnisi tower. The site, unfortunately, is in a state of total abandonment and the presence of pyrite left by an old industrial plant (absurd!) completes a picture of unjustified degradation.
An evocative and fascinating place, of absolute historical importance: it is in fact one of the first settlements in Sicily, dating back to 1500 BC. (to be clear, almost 1000 years before the arrival of the Greeks), in the middle of the Bronze Age (the numerous finds are exhibited at the Paolo Orsi museum). In addition to the prehistoric tombs, on the site there are bunkers used during the Second World War and a watchtower (Torre Magnisi), built by the English around 1800. The peninsula is accessed by following the seafront of the Priolo marina up to a widening dirt road where it is possible to leave the car. From here (there is a closed gate but pedestrian access is permitted) you continue on foot along the asphalt road which branches into two different dirt paths. The first leads to bunkers and tombs, the second to an old unused warehouse. Between the two paths there is the Magnisi tower. The site, unfortunately, is in a state of total abandonment and the presence of pyrite left by an old industrial plant (absurd!) completes a picture of unjustified degradation.
