Cimillà: Bronze Age, Baroque and Karst Landscape

Cimillà presents the landscape around Ragusa from several perspectives: the SP81 panoramic route is reached at Contrada Cimillà from the SP25 Ragusa Marina, continues via the SP37 towards Camemi and joins the SP25 again.

Bronze Age traces and a fortified masseria

The Relais Cimillà is an old fortified masseria. In the Ragusa area, in Contrada Cimillà, a settlement dating from the Early Bronze Age was excavated. The site on the Scifazzo-Cimillà plateau was associated with livestock raising, grazing and agricultural activities during the Early Bronze Age. This gives you an insight into a region whose character is also shaped by traces of early settlement.

Baroque and culture in the surrounding area

Ragusa Ibla, the heart of Iblean Baroque and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be reached from the Relais Cimillà in 10 minutes by car. The surrounding area of Cimillà also includes the Museo Archeologico Ibleo di Ragusa, Castello Sortino Trono di Castiglione di Ragusa, Palazzo Vescovile Schininà di Sant'Elia and Palazzo Zacco. If you are interested in history and architecture, the area offers a range extending from museums and castles to palaces.

Karst landscape and Ice Age finds

A karst cave in Contrada Cimillà yielded numerous Pleistocene mammal bones. The dominant fossil remains included the dwarf megacerine Megaloceros (Megaceroides) carburangelensis. The Pleistocene mammal remains belong to the younger faunal association of the Hyblean Plateau. A nearby karst cave in Contrada Cimillà also yielded remains of non-endemic mammals.

Archaeological evidence from caves

Remains of a hearth were discovered in a cave. Remains of non-endemic animals associated with Diana-style pottery were found in a cave. Fragments of Diana-style pottery were recovered from the peripheral Contrada Cimillà. A nearby karst cave also yielded Neolithic artefacts.

Cave, beach and peak

The Grotta Delle Trabacche cave, Spiaggia Donnalucata beach and Monte Scannalupi peak are located in the immediate vicinity of Cimillà. Spiaggia Cava d'Aliga lies in the wider regional surroundings of Cimillà. This makes it possible to consider different landscape forms when exploring the area: underground karst structures, coastline and higher-lying terrain.

Choose accommodation to suit your interests

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Cimillà, you can therefore weigh up your priorities clearly. The SP81 panoramic route suits travel planning focused on regional road connections, while Ragusa Ibla, the museum, the castle and the palaces provide the cultural focus. Those wishing to explore natural history or archaeological topics in greater depth will find a distinct area of interest in the caves, fossils, artefacts and Bronze Age sites.

More destinations in the region

For further orientation, you can also include Camemi, Casuzze, Santa Croce Camerina, Scoglitti, Modica, Balata di Modica, Marina Di Ragusa and Ragusa.

For the overarching travel overview: Ragusa.