Grotta dei Cordari

Grotta dei Cordari Located in the complex of the Latomie del Paradiso, inside the Neapolis Archaeological Park next to the Orecchio di Dionisio, si trova un’ampia zona indicata con il nome di “Grotta dei Cordari”. The Grotta dei Cordari, now unusable, is an enormous quarry with a high level of humidity, with the inner walls covered with moss and fern, surrounded by lush vegetation rich in oleanders, palms, lemons, medlars and prickly pears, has the vaults supported by pillars resembling large stalactites, between the huge overhanging walls. Here, for 300 years until 1984, there were craftsmen who produced ropes with hand-wheel, these were also a piece of “folklore” of the city of Syracuse, Syracuse, as this activity evoked curiosity and fascination for all visitors. Those who worked as rope makers could be considered privileged, because they had the opportunity to meet a vast audience of visitors as important personalities of the show business, culture and politicians, attracted by the beauty of Syracuse and its classical monuments of great importance.

One became a rope maker by family tradition, the Ambrogio and Scrofani families were the first families to settle in this cave. The work of the rope maker has always been considered simple and at the same time very tiring. It began at dawn and ended at sunset: a continuous and tiring work of legs and hands. For obvious space requirements, the work was carried out, in the open air or under poorly protected shelters, or in any space large enough in length to allow the wires to be stretched, woven and twisted. he materials used were hemp, coconut and agave americana; he latter was used exclusively for sitting chairs. The coconut, of which the outer part was processed, came from India. It was used for the most robust and water-resistant cables. Hemp was the most prized and widely used fibre. But the diseases of plants imported from other countries, led to the use of hemp from Campania (Southern Italy), as the only material for processing ropes. The trade of rope makers was strictly artisanal, but with the advent of synthetic fibres produced by industrial chemistry, it was destined to disappear. Mr. Vincenzo Ambrogio (Ambrogio, the first family to settle in the cave) was the last rope maker in the cave; in November 1984 he was forced to finish the production of ropes, as the cave had been declared unfit for use due to the risk of collapse.

OPENING HOURS AND PRICES

Location: Viale Paradiso –  Parco Archeologico della Neapolis Contacts.: +39 0931 489511 Location: Viale Paradiso – Neapolis Archaeological Park Contacts: +39 0931 489511 Archaeological site without architectural barriers First Sunday of each month free entry. Entry ticket to the Archaeological Park: Adults € 10.00 – Reduced € 5.00 (under 18 years) – Free entrance up to the age of 12. Combined ticket for the Archaeological Park + a museum of your choice between the Paolo Orsi Museum or the Palazzo Bellomo Gallery – Ticket price: € 13.50 – Reduced € 7.00 (under 18) – Free admission until the age of 12 Opening hours of the ticket office: from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm PARK OPENING HOURS: from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. From May 10 to July 18 the schedule may vary, on the occasion of the tragedie greche that will be performed at the Greek theater.