Priolo Gargallo, Italian comune
Priolo Gargallo is a small town near Siracusa in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, located just about 30 meters above sea level. The town covers around 57 square kilometers and is home to just over 12,000 residents living in an area shaped by a mix of history, nature, and modern industrial activity.
The area was inhabited in ancient times, with remains of the prehistoric city of Thapsos from the 15th century BC uniting Sicani, Sicel, and Mycenaean cultures. In 1807 the current center was founded by Tommaso Gargallo, and in 1954 a large petrochemical complex was built here, fundamentally changing the landscape and economy.
Priolo Gargallo takes its name from the Greek word Priolos, indicating a church connection, while the second part comes from the Gargallo family who ruled here in the 1800s. The town is known for traditional sweets like Pupe cu l'ovu at Easter with a hard-boiled egg inside, and Christmas treats such as Totò, Giuggiulena, and Pignuccata made with honey and almonds.
The town can be visited year-round and is most lively during festivals and celebrations with local colors, flavors, and music filling the streets. For nature lovers and history enthusiasts, the Thapsos archaeological site and Saline di Priolo, a protected nature reserve, are good destinations for exploration.
The area is home to ancient Thapsos, a major prehistoric settlement considered one of Sicily's oldest inhabitation sites and playing an important role in understanding early human settlement in the region. The site is often overlooked today despite bearing witness to different cultures living together thousands of years ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
