Itinerary of Carcare
Hiking itinerary
- Departure: Scicli
- Trekking time: 4 h (including stops)
- Difficulty: medium-low, suitable for children and adults
- Length: about 4.4 km
- Max altitude: 335 m; Minimum altitude: 270 m; Difference in altitude: 65 m
THE COURSE
The itinerary in question focuses mainly on the “carcare”, that is, those kilns of an almost circular shape, where the limestone blocks were fired, until about the mid-sixties of the last century, for the production of lime. Interesting itinerary that illustrates to the hiker an important anthropological insight into one of the oldest professions in the area, “u carcararu” with the opportunity to appreciate different carcarare with their peculiar construction features. These small kilns were linked to the territory above all in relation to the geological aspect, since the location of them was a function of the availability of the raw material that was needed to obtain the lime. Lime, as a product derived from limestone blocks, was destined for various uses in ancient civilizations and even used as a drug or as a fertilizer. In addition to binder mortar, lime was used in the Middle Ages to make plaster, the fundamental basis of fresco painting. Another important element of the whole route is the rupestrian district of C.da Marafini, which overlooks the fascinating Cava di SM La Nova, inhabited until the sixties, very similar to the more well-known rupestrian district of Chiafura located in the historic center of Scicli . The rupestrian district consists of about 25 caves dug by man to adapt them to his needs. In this district you can also see threshing floors, cisterns, drinking troughs, cottages, dry stone walls.
USEFUL INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Equipment: Clothing suitable for the season: boots, jacket or windbreaker, hat, a backpack with water, trekking shoes and comfortable clothes, a flashlight and a camera.
LOGISTICS INFO OF THE ITINERARY:
- Nuccio Pisana cell.: +39 334.226 6249;
- Pietro Cavallo cell.: +39 366.132 1345
HOW TO GET:
Starting from Scicli or from Modica Sacro Cuore, take the S.P. n. 42 (Scicli-Catania) up to 4.88 km, then take a secondary road on the right side (direction of travel Scicli-Modica Sacro Cuore) to be covered for 0.64 km until near C. Manenti. What you can see: carcare, Mediterranean scrub, rupestrian quarter, archaeological site, Cava Santa Maria La Nova.
