Overview
Included in the global list of geoparks since 2015, the Madonie Regional Natural Park is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a total area of around 400 km2, the Park occupies a large part of the province of Palermo and includes the territories of 15 towns. It has a very complex history that began over 220 million years ago and its land is mainly composed of Dolomite limestone. Interesting karst morphologies, both superficial and underground, have developed more recently. The rich vegetation varies with altitude: from the coast up to 600–800 metres, the evergreen Mediterranean scrub prevails; up to 1200 metres, the land is mostly covered by oak forests and, in cooler areas, turkey oaks dominate. Above 1,200 metres, it is true mountain, with dense forests dominated by beech and a few specimens of the rare sycamore maple. More than thirty trails intersect ridges and valleys, offering landscapes of rare beauty. Cycling and horseback riding routes are also available, as well as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and ski mountaineering trails with ski lifts.
