Cava d'Ispica - Ispica
Cava d’Ispica is a river valley that for 13 km crosses the Hyblaean plateau, between the cities of Modica and Ispica. The valley, immersed in the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean, houses prehistoric necropolis, Christian catacombs, cave oratories, monastic hermitages and housing units of various types. It is located between the cities of Modica and Ispica, is immersed in the typical Mediterranean vegetation and houses prehistoric necropolises, Christian catacombs, rock oratories, monastic hermitages and housing units of various types, which have occurred since prehistoric times until at least the fifteenth century. The site, in the terminal area of the valley, is called Forza Park
Storia
The oldest caves could be attributed to the Sicans, while most of them are catacombs of early Christianity. The Sicels, invaded Sicily, seized the Sican settlements of the Cava Ispica and founded new ones, forming communities that remained until the earthquake of 1693. With the arrival of the Greeks some cities were conquered, while others, including the village located in Cava Ispica, remained independent while maintaining commercial relations; it was the same with the Romans of which there is little trace, then confused with the subsequent Byzantine presence. To escape persecution, the local Christian populations took refuge in the caves of the Cava where they dug small places of worship or adapted for this purpose already existing environments, decorating them with sacred images. This is demonstrated by the rock church of Santa Maria, the cave of Sant’ Ilarione, the cave “dei Santi”, the rock church of S. Nicola and then the catacombs such as the “Larderia”, “U Campusantu”, the “Spezieria”. After the terrible earthquake of 1693, most of the population living in the southern part of the site moved to a new city, called Spaccaforno, which only in 1936 changed its name to Ispica.
Morfologia del paesaggio
The particular morphology of the gorge-shaped quarry, the type of rock, the position naturally suitable for defense, the proximity of the sea, have contributed to make this place one of the largest rock settlements in Sicily. In the terminal area of the valley in the territory of Ispica, close to the city, there are numerous testimonies attesting the presence of man from prehistory until the earthquake of 1693. The quarry, which in some points is about one hundred meters deep and more than half a kilometer wide, is crossed by a stream that has name Pernamazzone in the upper course and by the Busaitone in the lower course. The presence of watercourses has led to the development of lush vegetation in the place, a source of attraction for various species of birds and other animal species, such as to make this place a site of unique scenic beauty. The flora existing in the quarry is made up of species typical of the Mediterranean maquis such as holm oak, euphorbia arborea, carob tree, dwarf palm, wild olive tree, olive tree, plane tree and others; also the undergrowth has several varieties: male fern, earth cyclamen, sorrel, borage, nepitella, ampelodesma, asparagus, ivy, sage, etc.
