A tour of gorges, waterfalls and nature reserves in Sicily: 4 places to discover
2 minutes
Sicily is a region with a rich natural heritage: nature parks, reserves, protected areas, gorges and waterfalls. These places allow us to reconnect with nature and, at the same time, with ourselves. Let's set off to discover these four natural treasures of Sicily.
Sicily’s natural wonders: the Alcantara Gorges
Our virtual tour starts on the east coast of Sicily. Between Messina and Catania lie the Alcantara Gorges. This natural canyon was carved out over thousands of years by the river of the same name, which exposed the volcanic rock of these gorges.
The beauty of this place lies in the very structure of its walls. These walls were formed by flows of basaltic lava, which, once cooled, created various hexagonal, pentagonal and prismatic shapes.
We recommend buying your ticket in advance on the official Gole Alcantara website. Alternatively, you can take advantage of free municipal admission to admire the gorges from above.
Sicily's natural wonders: the Catafurco Waterfall
In the province of Messina, north of the Nebrodi Park, lies the Catafurco Waterfall. It is a completely natural waterfall formed at a 30-metre drop along the course of the San Basilio River.
Upstream of the waterfall, the water collects in the Marmitta dei Giganti, a natural basin carved into the rock, where you can go swimming in the summer.
Sicily's natural wonders: the Gole di Tiberio
Our journey continues to the Gole di Tiberio. This is a small natural canyon in the province of Palermo, located within the Madonie Regional Park.
It is said that these gorges get their name from the fact that, in the hamlet of San Mauro Castelverde, there was an imperial-era villa dedicated to the Emperor Tiberius.
Numerous legends surround this place in an aura of mystery. One of these legends tells of how the guardian of the place was imprisoned in the gorges by evil spirits. This would explain the human-like shape of some of the rocks at the start of the gorges.
According to another oral tradition, the large boulder halfway along the path was used as a secret passage by bandits, who had hidden a treasure here.
The natural wonders of Sicily: Stagnone di Marsala Islands Nature Reserve
The final stop on our tour of Sicily's natural wonders is the Stagnone Nature Reserve.
Established in 1984, the reserve stretches from the sea off Capo San Teodoro to the sea off Capo Boeo, and includes the islands of Mozia, Isola Grande, Schola and Santa Maria, as well as the salt pans of San Teodoro, Genna and Ettore Infersa.
It is one of the largest lagoons in Sicily, with a rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Indeed, thanks to its wetland habitat, it is an ideal place for many species of migratory birds – such as flamingos, avocets, egrets and black-winged stilts – to stop over and breed.
