Leontinoi

City of the most sublime Siceliot antiquity (8th century BC) that was, according to legend, also inhabited by Cyclops, Lestrigoni and Lotofagi (Lotus Eaters giants, more of less). Its story is fascinating, and among the most important of Sicily. It was a very powerful city under Siceliot (Greeks of Sicily) rule (seventh/third century BC.).

Its ruins are within an archeological park that includes San Mauro Hill, Valley of San Mauro and the hill opposite called Metapiccola.  It is imposing, but there are not many traces of its ruins. You enter through the south gate, the Syracusan gate, in the Valley of San Mauro. On its sides are two hills (Metapiccola and San Mauro) with fortifications.

In short, it was a narrow passage, a “pincer gate” that allowed the Leontinesi to easily capture the enemies.  Turning left up towards San Mauro Hill, there is the acropolis, where there are well-preserved sections of wall and the remains of a temple. Facing the South Gate, extends the southern necropolis (sixth/third century BC)  featuring characteristic monumental tombs with stairs (photo), called epitimbie riserved for the rich and powerful..

On the Metapiccola hill (reachable by taking the path on the right just after the entrance to the Archeological Park) there were some findings and also traces of a village from the prehistoric era with seven rectangular huts. You can see quite perfectly, around the perimeter of the construction, the holes for the insertion of poled that would form the skeleton of the hut. Other holes, in the central part, are used to support the pitched roof.  A burned patch near the central pole indicates where the fire had been.
The archeological material recovered, among the most abundant inside Sicily, is found in various museums on the island not the least of which is the museum of Lentini.