GROTTA DELLA SIBILLA E CHIESA DI SAN GIOVANNI

In the area of the archaeological park is the church of S. Giovanni al Boeo, built in 1555  by Jesuits. It covers the ipogeico complex known as the  “grotta della Sibilla”, in the centre of which is a fresh water spring, generally related to the existance of a oracular cult of water and known by more recent local tradition as a sepulcre or home of the Cumana Sibyl or ancient Sicilian. The spaces of the cave are decorated with frescoes and mosaics dating beck to between the end of the II and the III century. A.D. while  he floor of the northern area in stylized flowers is datable to the end of the IV century- first half of the V century A.D. The discovery of the statue of Venus outside the church has contributed to the understanding of the original function of the cavity. The statue of the Venere Callipigia dates back to the  II century A.D and therefore it is of the same period as the floors present in the cave. Probably the cave is interpretable as a specus aestivus of a large domus patrizia.