Things to see in Palazzolo Acreide

Palazzolo is a town of 8,000 people (2024) in the Syracuse province in the Hyblean Mountains. The town is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The city has a lovely historic center. It is very interesting and pleasant to get lost in the streets of the centre to get to the castle, between stairways and panoramic views. It is a member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

Archaeological sites: Akrai Archaeological Area (Area archeologica di Akrai). Akrai Greek Theatre (Teatro di Akrai). The Greek theatre dates back to between the 3rd and 2nd century BC. It is of modest size and is now used for youth performances during the INDA Festival which is held every year. Bouleterion. The bouleterion was a room where representatives of the boulé met to make decisions related to the management of the polis. Paleochristian hypogeum (Catacombs of Palazzolo) (Ipogeo paleocristiano). The area where the hypogeum stands is called latomia, that is, a stone quarry like those found in Syracuse. The latomie then became a place of worship and were crossed by a sacred way due to the presence of pinakes (squares dug into the rock walls). The early Christian hypogeum features pit tombs with arcosolium separations. A style found only in the Syracuse area. The Santoni (they are in another area of the park reachable by car). The Santoni are stone statues dated around the 4th-3rd century BC that represent different figures connected to the cult of Cybele for which there was an important sanctuary. The cult is one of the only examples in Sicily having originated in Asia Minor.