The Dammuso

Dammuso (dammusu in Sicilian means roof) is the name of that part of the historic house typical of Modica, Palazzolo, Buccheri, and in general of the Hyblean Mountains, consisting of a natural cave expanded over the centuries and generally used as a service room. But the use of the term Dammuso often refers to the traditional house of the island of Pantelleria.

This type of home, particular to the island of Pantelleria, has its origins in antiquity, during the period when the Phoenicians frequented the island, and has been gradually modified, until today. The first units were houses built with the dry construction method, using square, small local lava stones. With the arrival of the Romans the roof, flat up until then, became a dome. This transformation was preparatory to the construction of cisterns to collect water.

The dome shape, in addition to making the roof more secure with regard to the infiltration of water, allowed channelling the rain into the tanks and then creating large reserves of water for use during the long, dry Pantellerian summer. To this end the roof's surface, still today, is treated with lime that besides waterproofing it, also ensures its thermal insulation.

Another common feature of these rural buildings are the Pantelleria gardens, a constructive creation both typical and exclusive to this island. They consist of a high wall with a circular base and are made with stones in the dry construction method. This construction allowed the species cultivated inside the walls, mainly citrus and/or fruit trees, to remain isolated and therefore protected from the force of the winds. This demonstrates that the ancient inhabitants of the island gave importance to these kinds of plants, almost to the point of considering them protective gods of the house and its inhabitants.