This bold Arch is what remains of a large grotto that penetrated the mountain. The waves of the sea extended its aperture and wasched away its debris. After the uplifting of the island during the paleolithic era, the grotto was freed from the erosive action of the waves and the wind and the rain trasformed its surface.
On returning from the Natural Arch, a flight of steps descending to the valley below leads to the Matermania Grotto, an impressive natural cavern trasformed during Roman times into a luxurious Nymphaeum. To-day few remains of the wall, which were originally lined with mosaic „ tesserae“ made of glass paste and decorated with multi-coloured plaster, shells and marine valves, have survived.
These elements, now lost, were also found in the Arsenal Grotto, beneath the Gardens of Augustus.
Beyond the Grotto, an easy path winding along the cliff bordering the sea lads to Via Pizzolungo and Villa Malaparte, (or "Casa come me"), built at Punta Massullo. It continues up to Tragara Belvedere , from where the centre can be reach in a few minutes walking along the eponymous road (1 hour 30 mins.)
From Piazza Umberto I, on foot passing along via Longano, Sopramonte and Matermania or always from Piazza Umberto I passing via Le Botteghe, Croce and Matermania.
