Tourism and tourist places in Sciacca: The Baths

Tourism in Sciacca

The Baths

Looking to the the sea and dominated by Mount San Calogero on its east side, Sciacca is the oldest baths resort of Sicily and one of the biggest town in the south-eastern coast.

It is white-washed and being situated on Mount Kronio, it has an Arab look.

All its people know the legend telling that Daedalus, expert in labyrinths, was able to channel the hot vapors coming from the fissures of the rock and use them for baths.

Very famous are the Natural Steam Vents of San Calogero, 7 Km away from the town. The area was inhabited up to the Copper Age, when an earthquake (2000 BC) caused the emission of vapor.

Nobody could live there anymore and the spot had to be abandoned. Several items have been found, evidences of people living there.

The caves have been called after a monk who, arriving in the spot in the 6th century BC, realized that the vapors could treat several diseases, and provided the area with stone benches for sick people.

The largest is la Grotta del Santo (the saint's cave), where St. Calogero probably lived, l'Antro di Dedalo (Daedalus's cave) and la Grotta degli Animali (The Animals' cave). Today the caves are part of the modern establishment of the Grande Albergo delle Stufe.

The geysers originate from an underground hot water spring flowing beneath Mount Kronio. The vapors come to the surface along the fissures of the rock, and reach 40° C.

Many illnesses can be treated with the vapors, such as rheumatisms, skin diseases, gynecological problems and allergies. In the premises the mudtherapy is practiced (for arthritis), bath therapy (for osteoarthritis and skin disease) and respiratory therapies.