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Adrano, Mendolito and the Saraceni bridge

Walking the history in Adrano area

Adrano, Mendolito and the Saraceni bridge

The Saraceni bridge
The Saraceni bridge
Adrano, city walls
Adrano, city walls
The view of the Simeto plain from the settlement of Adrano
The view of the Simeto plain from the settlement of Adrano
The hill where Adrano stood
The hill where Adrano stood
Adrano, city walls
Adrano, city walls
Saraceni bridge
Saraceni bridge
The Simeto river flows below the Saraceni bridge
The Simeto river flows below the Saraceni bridge
Prehistoric cave near the Saraceni bridge
Prehistoric cave near the Saraceni bridge
The orange groves and the Saraceni bridge
The orange groves and the Saraceni bridge
The amazing floor of the bridge
The amazing floor of the bridge
Mendolito, city walls and door
Mendolito, city walls and door
The castle in the downtown of Adrano
The castle in the downtown of Adrano

In the western part of the province is the Greek city of Adrano dating from the 5th century BC. It was one of the most important in Sicily. Today it’s ruins are sadly encased in cement. What remains visible is an excellent stretch of strong walls (photo) with blocks of lava stone and a half meters thick.

The wall, probably made in 400 BC, has huge square blocks, one on top of the other, with no mortar in between them, typical construction of the Siceliot (early Greeks of Sicily).

Other stones are round and were certainly used for transport as is evidenced by the center beam holes. Once they were used, they were put into the wall.

At Adrano we also find a famous temple: that of the native god Adranos that was surrounded by one hundred ferocious dogs. Traces of this building can be identified in the sixteen basalt columns of the mother church today.
Porta in ingresso

But according to many scholars, the traces of this temple can also be found in the valley near the river Simeto, where are the ruins of the very delicious oranges , the city of Mendolito. One sees almost nothing as you arrive. You can find it with a guide or a farmer to help.
Mendolito was founded by the Siculi around the 10th century BC and later Hellenized by the Greeks (5th century BC). What remains are the strong stones of the monumental city gate, lava stone, (reconstruction in photo) on which some Siculo writing was discovered, that is still undeciphered today (in the Museo Orsi in Syracuse). It was, maybe, a writing of welcome.

The many findings indicate bronze treasures, but today they are spread all over the place. .

South of the city of Mendolito, in the area of Sciare Manganelli, one finds a necropolis with a tomb that has a circular plan to which can be accessed by crossing a small corridor (dromos).

The tombs were constructed directly on the lava bench and were designed to accomodate more than one person, almost certainly families.

 

Ponte dei Saraceni

 

A few kilometers into the valley of Adrano (around 8 kilometers), where the river Simeto flows (the longest river in Sicily), are the imposing remains, Roman – Arab – Norman of the Bridge of the Saracens (photo).

This very elegant construction, in lava stone with pointed arches, is tucked away in the silent groves of the amazingly delicious oranges of this part of Sicily. The original bridge probably built by the Romans, has a clear Arab-Norman style. Lovely. The bridge was the subject of fascination for many visitors on the Grand Tour and they recorded this fascination in water color and in prints of all sorts. It is certainly not passable now, but not only because it could not hold weight, but also because at this point, it is probably good for nothing.

 

 

Eventually, visit the beautiful Norman dungeon (XI century), in the middle of the city, that shows an archeological museum.

 

Ask our Cultural Department for more info or for a Guided Tour

 

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