Site Location

Archaeological site Akrai (Greek Ἄκραι, Latin Acrae, Agris, Acrenses) is localised to the west of the modern town of Palazzolo Acreide, in south-eastern region of Sicily, in the province of Siracusa.

It seems that the city’s location was not an accident. Akrai was established on Acremonte, 770 m above sea level, a flattened hill in the Hyblean Mountains, rising between the valleys of minor streams: in the north – the Anapo (Anapus), in the south – the Tellaro (Helorus) and Cassibile.

The site was an excellent lookout point over the entire surrounding region. Virtually on each side, except in the east, the hill slopes are very steep, nearly vertical. Such a strategic location suggests that the town played an important role, both political and commercial, and guarded the access to Syracuse to which it was subordinated. Thanks to the river Anapo and the city Akrai, the powerful Syracuse dominated the access ways to the south-eastern part of the island.