Villaggio bizantino Canalotto, Archaeological site in Calascibetta, Italy.
Villaggio bizantino Canalotto spreads across a valley with dozens of rooms carved directly into rock faces. The site contains small churches, living chambers, food storage areas, and spaces where people processed grain and oil.
The settlement began during Byzantine rule and was later inhabited by Arabs, who brought advanced water management techniques. Both periods left their marks in the structures and methods discovered here.
The rock-cut churches show how faith and daily life were deeply intertwined in this settlement. People used the same spaces for worship and grain storage, revealing their strong connection to the land.
Access is through Casa del Mastro in the Contrada area, roughly 4 kilometers from the town center. Wear sturdy shoes as paths cross uneven ground and steep sections.
Below the rock chambers runs a qanat system, an underground channel that carried water over long distances. This Persian technique allowed residents to grow crops in this dry region.
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