Grotte di Sciacca

Grotte Vaporose del Monte Kronio - Grotte di Dedalo - Stufe di S. Calogero

Useful Information

photography — Grotte des Bagneurs, **Jean Houel** (1782). Grotte di Sciacca, Sicily, Italy. Public Domain.

Location:	Via S. Calogero al monte, 92019 Sciacca AG. (37.5186936, 13.1140760)
Open:	All year Fri, Sat, Sun 17:30-20. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Swimming in Caves
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=37-39 °C, H=100 %.
Guided tours:	D=15 min, Min=1, Max=7.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Pino Guidi (1987): The Legend Of The Grottos Of Sciacca, The British Caver 80-1981, p 10ff. Jean Houel (1782): Voyage pittoresque des isles de Sicile, de Malte et de Lipari Paris, De l'imprimerie de monsieur, M.DCC.LXXXII online
Address:	Grotte Vaporose del Monte Kronio, Via S. Calogero al monte, 92019 Sciacca AG. MUSEO DIFFUSO dei 5 Sensi, Piazza Libertà 2, 92019 Sciacca (AG), Tel: +39-334-322-0888. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

4th century	home of the monk Calogero, who discovers the therapeutic properties of the hot steam.
2016	spa closed.

Description

The Grotte di Sciacca contains hot springs and was already used by the Greek more than 2000 years ago. The city Sciacca is today a harbour city, but was founded in the 5th century BC by the Greeks with the name Thermae or Thermae Selinuntiae. It was the spa for the nearby Greek city Selinunte. It was even more frequented during Roman times, when the site was called Aquae Labodes, Aquae Labrodes or Aquae Larodes. The site was mentioned by Pliny as well as Strabo.

The springs are located on Mount San Calogero, which rises up behind the town. The sulphurous springs, both the sulphur and the heat, are a result of the nearby volcanism. The caves on the other hand are karst caves, probably with massive hypogene, sulfur-based limestone solution. On top of the mountain is a church named Monte San Calogero, the spa nearby is called Antiquarium di Monte Kronio, the caves Stufe di S. Calogero. Unfortunately, the spa is closed for many years now. According to local lore, the monk San Calogero lived in the cave, hence the name. He was doing wonders in the area, especially healing with the thermal water, and is today the Patron Saint of Sciacca.

The cave which can be visited is more or less a cave church with Christian altars, an extension of the church above. There are stone seats for people who take a steam bath in the cave. Some say they were built by San Calogero. The caves are named Grotte di Sciacca, and the plural is actually correct. Actually, there are two different caves, one was used to treat animals and the second to treat people. The caves are also known as Grotte Vaporose del Monte Kronio and Grotte di Dedalo. The last name is the result of a legend that the cave was excavated by Daedalus.

The cave is actually quite spectacular, there is a horizontal passage which is not very big and which is well developed with trails and electric light. However, it is small and more like a cave church with sauna. But the cave behind, which is only accessible to cavers with special equipment, has an enormous bell shaped shaft. The visitors who are not able to see this first hand, can look at a 3D model which is part of the small exhibition.