During one of my trips to Sicily, I drove from San Vito lo Capo to Erice. Along the way, I decided to take an 'off the beaten path' side trip and discovered a rather unique attraction: the Grotta Mangiapane.

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The Grotta Mangiapane is one of nine caves known as the Grotte di Scurati. The Scurati Caves form an ancient settlement that dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period (40,000 to 10,000 years ago)!

With a height of 70 meters and a depth of 50 meters, the Grotta Mangiapane is the largest of the nine caves. The cave includes a tiny village made up of charming earth-colored houses, a small chapel, a wood oven, and some stables. But who lived there?

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Well, as you may have guessed based on the cave's name, it was the Mangiapane family who lived there. The Mangiapane were a Sicilian family of farmers and fishermen. They inhabited the village from 1819 until the 1950s.

After a period of neglect and decay, the village and its picturesque houses have been restored by locals. To revive the same atmosphere as 70 years ago, the locals had some help from the only member of the Mangiapane family still alive. The result is absolutely stunning!

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Would you like to visit the Grotta Mangiapane yourself? You can do so from April to November. Once you reach the village, you can wander around the site freely. Don't forget to take a look inside the cave as well. There, you'll find workplaces and homes with their original tools and furniture. It definitely feels like you're going back in time!

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Practical information

Off-the-beaten path in Italy