Blue Grotto and Grotta di S. Francesco

Both caves have their own entrance and are intercommunicating inside, they develop under the Hotel Grotta Azzurra. The first cave in ancient times had taken the name of Grotta dell'Acqua due to a small natural basin in which the dripping collected thanks to the bottom
made waterproof by a layer of calcium carbonate. This phenomenon in a lava environment would not have been possible if the calcareous shells of the guests of the Tyrrhenian beach had not been incorporated upstream of the cave. The dripping water in both caves was a precious one
drinking water reserve. I have calculated an average presence of about five hectoliters and I have not been able to calculate the renewable time required for the long commitment. I think it probable that the Idrisi refers to the water of the caves when he writes “Ustica has waters and an anchorage from Gallee”. In the Blue Grotto there is an ascending tunnel, almost communicating with the surface, a few millennia ago accessible from the outside, I arrived there in time to collect ceramic fragments with Conca d'Oro type decoration, from the Middle Eneolithic, up to the Middle Bronze Age. More abundant and varied is the material present and collected in the Grotta di S. Francesco. Certainly, its land entrance, which is missing in the Blue Grotto, which, due to its marine entrance, becomes inaccessible with undertow and rough sea will certainly have influenced it. The oldest fragments are from the second half of the Eneolithic and Bronze Age. A tiny fragment of proto-Corinthian aryballos remains unique today, with oil lamps and fragments of oil lamps dating from the third century. BC to the first century. d. C., numerous medieval pottery. F ° 249 ° IV NE, Ustica Island; UTM: UC43108572, Altitude: 0 m

Text source: Giovanni Mannino: Guide to the Prehistory of Palermo - List of prehistoric sites in the province of Palermo - Sicilian Institute for Political and Economic Studies)

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Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero Web

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