Vassallaggi, 5 kilometers south of San Cataldo, today a complex of 5 hills of lush countryside, was once a city.
The Greeks, after establishing colonies on the coasts of Southern Sicily, travelled up the river route, “the Salso River or Southern Imera”, which flows from the mouth of Licata to Sabucina, Capodarso and beyond. They discovered the quality of the strategic position of these hills, to the point of building a military post, Prohrourion, to control the territory of central Sicily.
But Vassallaggi's qualities extend beyond its strategic location. The climate and fertile soil meant that Vassallaggi, with its five hills covered in lush vegetation and an ideal climate for unconditional habitation, became a polis, a city ( Motyon) , and a home to Greek colonists, where the indigenous people had already lived since the Bronze Age.
Furthermore, the strategic position today becomes a prestigious panoramic point to enjoy the whole of Sicily from the center of the island.
From Vassallaggi, imagine being able to almost touch Mount Etna, and seeing beyond the Salso River valley to the summit of Mount Formaggio, past Mazzarino; and even further south, until you can glimpse a short stretch of the Sicilian Strait near Licata.
And again, to the west, the peaks surrounding the Platani river and, again Sutera, Mussomeli and Mount Polizzello to glimpse to the north also the internal slope of the Madonie, beyond the town of Marianopoli and closing again to the east with Mount Altesina, the fulcrum of the geographical division into the three valleys of Sicily arranged by the Arab geographer Abdallah Muhammad al-Idrisi in 1154.
And the vestiges of the city are evidenced by the remains of a section of the Sacred Area with the sanctuary and traces of the sanctuary area around it. The surrounding walls on the southern stretch of the third hill and the necropolises at the foot of the hills testify to the importance of the ancient settlement during the Greek era.
The Archaeological Area of Vassallaggi offers all this.
We'd love to accompany you on a walk to discover the panoramic views of Sicily that only Vassallaggi can offer, and explore the remains of the ancient city nestled in the five hills overlooking the surrounding area.
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