THE COURSE

The route takes place inside the Cava di San Leonardo along dirt tracks and allows the visitor to know n. 21 old water mills, where once generations of millers worked to grind the wheat produced in the area with an hourly production that fluctuated between 10 and 40 kg for each mill depending on the capacity. The path leads to the first important group of three mills, in Contrada Costa Puddara which used the water collected from the Setti Causetti (Seven Socks) spring flowing from inside a deep cave. After a fork and a votive shrine, there are three other mills in Contrada Passo, the only ones built on the left side, near the railway bridge called Passo di sopra, Passo di mezzo and Passo di sotto. Continuing, there are three other mills below the San Rocco district. One of these was acquired by the Regional Province of Ragusa and renovated. The excursion also allows you to admire the steep slopes of the valley and the riparian flora of the stream made up of poplars, ash trees and majestic walnut trees. The downhill path leads to admire five other mills in the Penninelli district. Nearby is the convent of the Capuchin fathers built in 1537. Four other mills are grouped around the church of San Antonio Abate. In one of these the entrance lintel bears the date 1878 carved. Finally, in the Contrada Vaccaria, in correspondence with the S.S. 194 are located the last three mills, of which one worked until the eighties and another was transformed into a residential building.

USEFUL INFORMATION AND CONTACTS

Equipment: Clothing suitable for the season: boots, jacket or windbreaker, hat, camera and binoculars.

LOGISTICS INFO OF THE ITINERARY:

HOW TO GET:

The route develops in the territory of the Municipalities of Ragusa Ibla. The starting point of the itinerary is the parking lot of the Ragusa Ibla Cemetery in c.da Scassale.