Average path of the Sughereta
It is a path into the last strip of the Mediterranean forest of the southern Sicily, among the centenary cork oaks and the typical shrubbery of the undergrowth.
The visitors will walk into the wide valley of Contrada Pisciotto and climb an upland to eventually admire a breathtaking view; then they will go back to discover the thick woods where, 500 years ago, the famous mosaic Oak took roots.
Best time to visit: any time of the year
Path length: 3,8 km
Travel time: 3 hours accompanied by a naturalist guide, 1 hour in trekking mode
Difficulty level: easy, there’s only one height difference at midway.
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Little path of the Sughereta
It is a quick itinerary into the woods of Contrada Pisciotto, which starts from a specific footpath for people with sight difficulties and continues until a little parking area provided with benches; from here the visitors can easily enter the thick Mediterranean forest: here they can admire the mosaic Oak(estimated to be over 500 years old), and then continue the walk back, following the didactic signs that tell about curiosities and details on the animal and plant species living in the Sughereta.
Best time to visit: any time of the year
Path length: 1,5 km
Travel time: 1 hour , accompanied by a naturalist guide
Difficulty level: none, there is no height difference
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The walk of the storks in the sunset
A walk that will make you admire the sites where the white storks of the biggest Italian colony nest, among the cultivated and uncultivated fields of the Piana di Gela. A breathtaking sight in one of the most suggestive Sicilian landscapes, embellished with the sunset lights.
The naturalist guides, with their binoculars and telescopes, will allow you to observe the typical species of the environment, such as the European roller (Coracias garrulus), the rapid pratincole (Glareola pratincola) and the stealthy curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus).
Best time to visit: from March to June
Path length: 2 km- it’s a linear and not circular, you go back through the same path
Travel time: 2 hours accompanied by a naturalist guide
Difficulty level: none, there is no height difference
Note: the walk can be planned in the morning, too!
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The badlands of Niscemi
Let’s discover a forgotten footpath that twists into the wide valley of Contrada Torotto, wreck strip of the woods facing the Piana di Gela. From here you can admire the beautiful landscape of the flatland and the clayey badlands of Niscemi. In the undergrowth it is easy to observe the Sardinian warbler, the wren and the great tit, whereas on some stone there will surely be a mammal, maybe a fox? A hedgehog? Let’s find it out together!
Best time to visit: any time of the year
Path length: 1,2 km
Travel time: 1 hour accompanied by a naturalist guide
Difficulty level: Medium. There are little descents with handrails.
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Walk in Montelungo
It is an unknown beach near Gela. From the promontory of Montelungo, halfway to the Golfo di Gela, you can enter a footpath through the thick rushes that leads to a rarely visited beach. Here you can admire the last sand dunes, the rare botanical species and the typical birds of the littoral coast, such as the Kentish plover.
Keeping on walking, you get to the mouth of the torrent Gattano and, following your own footprints on the water edge, you get to the cliff that separates this area from the beach of Roccazelle.
We invite you to start this adventure in the afternoon, so you can enjoy an extraordinary sea sunset.
Best time to visit: any time of the year
Path length: 3,2 km
Travel time: 2 hours accompanied by a naturalist guide
Difficulty level: medium-easy, reasonable descent lacking of any natural support.
The climb back up is easier.
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The treasure of biodiversity of the Comunelli
It is located on the edge of “Torre Manfria, Biviere and Piana di Gela”, which is a SPA(Special protection area).
The lake of Comunelli is the big excluded, although it is in one of the areas of the Golfo di Gela with the biggest density of birds. The area has an artificial dyke, which has now become natural as time goes by, with a thick tamarisk wood and the perimeter covered in rushes.
Helped by a naturalist guide you will know and appreciate the local birds, such as the swamphen and the ferruginous duck. Then you will enter a wood and you will walk until an upland from where you can admire the view: the town of Butera in the background, the water mirror reflecting the bordering hills, the sun behind the calcareous cliffs….and more!
Best time to visit: any time of the year
Path length: we offer itineraries 3, 5 or 7 km long. You should bring a lunch box.
Travel time: from 2 to 5 hours with a naturalist guide, depending on the chosen itinerary
Difficulty level: medium. A path uphill is necessary in order to get to the highest point.
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The hunter’s fountain (Fontana del cacciatore)
In Santo Pietro(Caltagirone), the wood has many different footpaths to discover and take; we suggest the one that leads to the hunter’s fountain, in Contrada Molare, as one of the most interesting. The visitors will be able to admire the strips of the Mediterranean forest of centenarian Quercus suber ,alternating with examples of Quercus ilex and other important blooming shrubs in the Mediterranean scrub. The stream by the path is a micro- habitats for moist plants such as the Equisetum, ferns and various kinds of moss. There is a high presence of birds like the Sardinian warbler, the subalpine warbler and the Eurasian blackcap. Small migratory passeriformes , such as wood warblers, spotted flycatchers and pied flycatchers, can be seen especially during the spring.
Best time to visit: october/novembre and april/may
Path length: we offer itineraries 3 or 5 km long even in different areas of Santo Pietro, depending on your demand.
Travel time: from 2 to 3 hours, depending on the selected itinerary, accompanied by a naturalist guide.
Difficulty level: easy. No height difference
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Monte Gibliscemi, the gypsum mountain and Valle dell’Aquila
Starting from Monte Gibliscemi, there is an uphill path until Valle dell’Aquila, located in the Southern area of Mazzarino, which extends towards West – East in the Northern side of Gibliscemi.
It is geologically interesting thanks to the presence of the complete sequence of the degrees of the Messinian (tripoli, basic limestones and gypsums).
There is an important vegetation typical of the calcareous and plastered soils of the central Sicily, such as garrigues, characterized by thyme, Erica multiflora, Cistus, Mastic and Phillyrea.
The area is rich in archaeology and rural architecture (Gibliscemi Houses, Gibliscemi Sottano Houses, Perno Cannada Houses).
Best time to visit: September/October/November and April/May
Path length: 3,5 km. It is a linear itinerary, you go back through the same path
Travel time: 3 hours accompanied by a naturalist guide
Difficulty level: medium-easy. It is not a challenging climb and there is a wide and well equipped path.
Excursions upon your request
-Nighttime excursions
-Mountain of Ganzeria
-Visit of the Biviere lake
-100 in 48: a challenge against your naturalist guides to observe 100 species of birds in 48 hours!
– Bubbonia Mountain
-Formaggio Mountain
-Costafredda