Excursion to the Byzantine Village of Vallone Canalotto

Calascibetta – Casa del Mastro, Contrada Vallone Canalotto | July 9, 2025

On Wednesday, July 9, a new event was held, organized by Si.M.Geo – Ecomuseum System of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark, in collaboration with the GAL Rocca di Cerere Geopark area.

The Geo-Event featured a guided tour of the Byzantine village of Vallone Canalotto, one of the most significant rock-cut settlements in central Sicily.
Leading the excursion was Gianluca Rosso, a certified environmental guide, who accompanied participants along a trail steeped in history and surrounded by nature.

A Layered Landscape of Nature, Archaeology, and Geology
The meeting point was set at Casa del Mastro, in Contrada Canalotto, Calascibetta. The excursion followed a 1.7 km trail with moderate elevation gain (between 594 and 644 meters above sea level) and a total duration of approximately two and a half hours.
Classified as an E-level hiking trail, the route passed through valuable wooded areas, including centuries-old trees, conifers, and notable geological formations, offering many opportunities for rest stops and observation.

Along the way, participants explored the historical and cultural layers of the ancient rock settlement, where funerary, civil, and religious architecture intertwine—bearing witness to the lives of communities that inhabited the area from prehistoric times to the Byzantine era.

This initiative was a unique opportunity to highlight a symbolic site within the Geopark, where history, geology, and landscape merge into an immersive narrative, powerfully evoking the deep-rooted identity of the territory.