Sicily holidays by Volcano Etna

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The Sicilian parks, lakes and other natural resources to discover

July 6th, 2007 · 2 Comments

I live in Sicily since 24 years….i’m 24  :-)   but when i’ve started to build this website i never think that near my home there were so many natural attractions…

So I’d like to share my conquests with you. Here a list of natural resources near the Etna mountain…maybe You could consider to visit them. They are less knows and more cheap…but worth a visit.

Lakes

  • The Pozzillo lake, near Enna, is a lake populated by a lot of types of fish. There other sport structures available.
  • The Biviere lake is a place where find between 200 species of birds.
  • The Trearie lake, has a surface of 10 hectares, between the commons of Tortorici and Randazzo. It’s one of the most humid zones of Sicily and center of migratory birds.
  • The Gurrida lake, in Randazzo, is the only lake in Europe formed by a lava obstruction. Its humid atmosphere, allows the grow of wonderful plants. Here numerous birds find the place during the migration.

Natural parks and oasis
Alcantara river
The Alcantara river park. This is one of the 4 Sicilian regional parks. It’s a river that flows along 50 kilometers. The bed of the river has been overflowed by a lava tap. This created a wonderful Canyon.

Nebrodi
The Park of the Nebrodi is known for its immense forests full of majestic trees. It’s the ideal place for excursions and walking trips. It’s very interesting the little forest called “Bosco di Malabotta”.

Etna park
The Volcano Etna park. The Etna is not only a great attraction exclusively for the presence of the craters, but It’s also an wonderful natural park with evocative landscapes, forests, vineyards, and walking paths.

Other natural resources:
The Timpa is a plateau of volcanic origin, under the city of Acireale. It’s placed at 102 meters of height. The coast along the Timpa is called Lemon beach. This is a coast full of seamen villages.

The fiumefreddo river, is a fluvial reserve in the common of Fiumefreddo. The fauna for 65% is composed by nest and migratory birds.

Simeto
The Oasis of the Simeto river, is one of the biggest migratory bird locations. Its territory is localized along the sides of the Simeto river and is extended for 768 hectares.  After a sea storm, along the Simeto it is also possible to find the Amber. This is one of the most valuable stone in the world.

Monteserra
The Monteserra park, is a park under the Mount Monteserra. This is an ancient volcano that today is the House of the butterflies, unique in Italy. In summer there is a summer ski school. The park is in the Common of Viagrande.

Salinelle
The Salinelle of Paternò, are little mud volcanoes. These little volcanoes have legacies to the sismic activity of the Etna. Some studies says that there is a link between the temperatures of the Salinelle with some sismic events of the oriental Sicily.

faraglione
The Lachea Island and the Faraglioni make part of the Natural Reserve of the Cyclops Islands. An ancient legend wants that the Faraglione were the masses that the Cyclops Polifemo launched to Ulysses. But in reality they are the first volcanic activity of the Etna.

The chestnut of 100 horses. This is the most ancient tree of the World. It’s near the common of Saint Alfio. Its age is estimated between 2000 and 4000 years. Its name derives from a legend which, Queen Giovanna of Aragon and its continuation of 100 knights, found shelter during a thunderstorm.

Caves of the Etna
The caves of the Etna. The best place to do cave excursions is Linguaglossa. These caves were formed by lava taps of the Etna. The best ones are the Cave of the Palombe, the Cave of the Females, the Cave of the Raspberries, the Cave of Ices, the Cave of Aci. The most known is the Cave of Ices because since 300 years in its inside is accumulated the ice.

Thanks to Flickr for some pictures

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Tags: Cheap holidays to Sicily · Mount Etna · Parks & Nature · Sicilian Pictures · Sicily tourists sights to see · Sicily travel guide book

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 bootylicious // May 12, 2008 at 10:23 am

    i likey ur site…….very very vyernice….i love it long time. i learn more inglesh nows……i likey website…i visit too!!!! goodiebys!!

  • 2 Robert Gardali // Sep 3, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Hi, I live in British Columbia in Canada. My father’s ancestors were from Cesaro in Sicily. It is near the nebrodi region. I want to visit in 2009 and am interested in accomadations in the area. It would be appreciated if you could name some websites which might be helpful. Thank you

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