The dialect word zubbii refers to a tectonic depression, a natural sinkhole. Here, the landscape opens into a deep fissure set between imposing gypsum walls, offering a scene of extraordinary charm and rich biodiversity. In the past, the waters that flowed into it were used to power the water mills of Sommatino.
The surrounding lands, once belonging to old landowners, were granted to the Forestry Administration for reforestation and afforestation work. At the same time, hunters introduced rabbits and other game, transforming the gorge into a popular hunting ground. During the hunting season, which in those days lasted almost all year, the small forest attracted enthusiasts from various parts of Sicily. Among the dense foliage, hunters moved and disappeared, while the echo of gunshots filled the valley.
The darkness of the woods, combined with the constant noises coming from within, helped create around this place a gloomy and unsettling aura. Thus, the term Zubbii, originally a simple geographical name, came to take on a negative connotation, evoking something like a “gateway to hell.”