Acquedolci: Grotta di San Teodoro, Culture and Regional Beaches

The Antiquarium Comunale in Acquedolci displays paleontological and prehistoric finds from the nearby Grotta di San Teodoro. The cave opens in a rock face at 140 metres above sea level. The specific location of the Grotta includes the rock face and the elevation of 140 metres above sea level.

Paleontology and Prehistory

The more recent deposit in the Grotta di San Teodoro provides evidence of human settlement from approximately 15,000 to 11,000 BC and is attributed to the late Epigravettian. The Grotta di San Teodoro is the first and most important site providing evidence of burials from the Upper Paleolithic. In front of the Grotta di San Teodoro there is also a Pleistocene lake deposit dating from approximately 200,000 years ago. This deposit contains thousands of hippopotamus remains, Hippopotamus pentlandi Meyer. The dating of the deposit and the human traces points to clearly different periods; the cave leads from a very old geological layer to more recent traces of human settlement.

Architecture and Religious Heritage

Baglio del Castello, also known as Castello Larcan-Gravina, is a fortified complex dating from the 17th to the 18th century. Baglio del Castello contains the Chiesetta di San Giuseppe, dating from the 16th century, which was restored in 2004 and features a late Baroque Sicilian altar as well as antique maiolica. The altar and the antique maiolica add specific furnishing details of the Chiesetta di San Giuseppe to its construction dates. The Chiesetta therefore dates from an earlier period than the Baglio and is the older of the two buildings. The Chiesa Madre provides another historical accent: its foundation stone was laid in 1926, and the building was completed in 1928.

Festivals with Local Traditions

The Carnevale Acquedolcese has a very old tradition and is accompanied by various folkloric events. The celebrations of San Giuseppe in Acquedolci take place on the third Sunday in May or on the Sunday after the historic Fiera di Acquedolci; this historic fair takes place every year on 14 May. The May dates give Acquedolci's festival calendar a clear seasonal focus. At Carnevale, the folkloric accompaniment takes centre stage, while San Giuseppe and the Fiera di Acquedolci are associated with Sundays and May dates.

Palaces, Museum, Mountain and Beaches in the Surrounding Area

The immediate surroundings of Acquedolci include Palazzo Corrado, a palace, Castello Gallego, a museum, and Palazzo Calì, also a palace. Monte San Fratello is also located in the immediate surroundings of Acquedolci; it is a mountain. In the wider regional area, Palazzo Cupane is another palace. This area also includes the beaches of Spiaggia di Capo d'Orlando, Spiaggia di San Gregorio, and Spiaggia di Testa di Monaco. The geographical classification distinguishes the destinations in the immediate surroundings from Palazzo Cupane and the beaches in the wider regional area.

Other destinations:Villafranca Tirrena, Capo D'orlando, Alì Terme, Gallodoro, Tindari, Furci Siculo, Patti, Monforte Marina

To the higher-level travel overview: Messina.