The Trabacche cave is a fascinating early Christian funerary site dated to the 4th century; one of the most important burial in Sicily.

It has a square plan, is preceded by a rectangular entrance, measures about 380 square meters and has a height of about 2.80 meters.

Inside the cave there are two monumental and refined canopy tombs carved into the rock, which preserve false columns connected by small arches supported by capitals.

The particular refinement of these tombs indicates that illustrious personalities were deposited in them.

In addition to the two main tombs, along the cave walls there are various other cavities that house other sepulchres; other tombs were also found below floor level, and are visible today.

The cave is lighted by an opening in the center; the rainwater that entered from this was diverted from the slope of the floor and ended up in a special drainage channel.

Although it is a funerary site it has such beauty that in the nineteenth century the famous painter traveler Jean Houel described it as "One of the most picturesque and spectacular burial grounds"; he made an incision and made this site famous in the world.

Recently the cave was also used as a movie set for the famous television series "Il Commissario Montalbano" in the episode "The terracotta dog".

To visit the site you need to call the Municipality of Ragusa to have the access gate opened.

Due to the lack of signs it is not simple to find the cave: to reach it, after leaving the car at the car park, follow a path for two minutes between two dry walls (long trousers are recommended); go past a first gate and continue down slightly to the left until you reach the gate that closes the cave.

Top