Sicily · Siracusa
Ferla
A baroque village at 500 meters on the Monte Lauro slopes, the western gateway to the UNESCO necropolis of Pantalica eleven kilometers downhill.
Known for
PANTALICA
Western gateway to the UNESCO rock-cut necropolis, 11 km east of the village; around 4,000 chamber tombs from the thirteenth to seventh centuries BC.
BAROCCO IBLEO
Levelled by the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt in Iblei baroque between 1700 and 1750; the Basilica San Sebastiano is the rebuild's central monument.
COMUNE VIRTUOSO
Part of the Comuni Virtuosi network for waste reduction and sustainable practices, one of the few in eastern Sicily inside the program.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- J12°
- F14°
- M14°
- A17°
- M23°
- J30°
- J33°
- A32°
- S27°
- O22°
- N17°
- D13°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: San Sebastiano, 20 July
Why come
Ferla sits at 500 meters on the slopes of Monte Lauro in the Iblei, the western gateway to the rock-cut necropolis of Pantalica, eleven kilometers down the road through the Anapo valley. The Pantalica tombs, around four thousand chambers cut into the limestone between the thirteenth and seventh centuries BC, became a UNESCO World Heritage site with Syracuse in 2005. The village name dates to the Norman refoundation, possibly from the Lombard farra meaning community.
The 1693 Val di Noto earthquake leveled Ferla and the town rebuilt itself in Iblei baroque between 1700 and the 1750s. The Basilica di San Sebastiano, the largest church in the village, was begun in 1481, destroyed in 1693 and completed in its current baroque form in 1741. Ferla is a Comune Virtuoso, recognized for its waste reduction and small-scale environmental programs, one of the few in eastern Sicily inside the network.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Ferla’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
From Catania (CTA), about 1h 12m by car.
By car from the centre of Palermo 3h 34m.
Coming by train into Siracusa? Ferla is about 1 hour away by road.
What to see
Basilica di San Sebastiano
Largest church in the village, founded 1481, destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and completed in 1741 in Iblei baroque; central monument of the rebuild.
Chiesa di San Giacomo
Baroque parish church on the upper square, rebuilt after 1693 with a polychrome marble altar and the village's patron statue.
Necropoli di Pantalica
Around 4,000 rock-cut chamber tombs from the thirteenth to seventh centuries BC on a limestone promontory 11 km east; UNESCO site since 2005.
Valle dell'Anapo
Limestone gorge between Ferla and Sortino with the Anapo river, lush vegetation, abandoned railway trail, and access to the Pantalica plateau.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Ferla fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
Through the year
What happens here
Feasts and festivals that come back year after year. We give the month rather than the date, because the date moves and the month rarely does. Check with the source before you plan a journey around one.
Festa del Tartufo Nero di Ferlafood festival
usually held in August. Sicilia in Festa
Living here
- Population 2,305
- Off the beaten pathi
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Catania, 1 h 12 min drive
- Regional capital Palermo, 3 h 34 min drive
Common questions
- What is Ferla known for?
- Ferla is a baroque village at 500 meters on the Monte Lauro slopes, the western gateway to the UNESCO necropolis of Pantalica eleven kilometers downhill.
- Where is Ferla?
- Ferla is a comune in the province of Siracusa, in Sicily.
- What is the nearest airport to Ferla?
- Catania (CTA), about 1h 12m by car.
- How long is the drive from Palermo to Ferla?
- About 3h 34m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Ferla?
- Best in Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. July is the warmest month, averaging 33 degrees, and May the wettest, with about 10 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Ferla?
- Yes. Festa del Tartufo Nero di Ferla. August is when the first of them falls.
- Which other towns are like Ferla?
- Mezzojuso, San Marco d'Alunzio and Sant'Alfio.
- How many people live in Ferla?
- 2,305 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
The numbers
- Elevation: 500 m
- Population: 2,305
- Surface area: 24.9 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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