|
AREA: The Madonie Area
This territory includes 15,000 hectares of woodland
where the greatest variety of plants in the
Mediterranean can be seen, including some examples that
cannot be found in any other part of the world. The
Madonie mountain range is divided between the valley of
the Pollina river to the east and the northern part of
the Valle dell'Imera to the west. To the north, the
boundary is a large stretch of coastline, running from
Campofelice di Roccella to Pollina, while the southern
extreme is characterised by the sulphurous highlands of
the Nisseno area. It is no coincidence that some people
refer to this area as the botanical garden of the
Mediterranean. Indeed, apart from the sea views, this
area, while covering only 2% of the region’s overall
territory, contains around 50% of the island’s species
of flora.
Unique examples, such as the Nebrodean fir (an old
name used in the Madonie region) flourish alongside
other more typical central European vegetation:
holm-oaks, cork trees, holly trees, oak trees and beech
trees. The area is also home to Sicily’s oldest rock
formations, including calciferous hill-sides, carbon
gorges, Karstic dolinas and vertiginous peaks, all of
which create the unmistakeable skyline and geomorphic
structure of the Madonie.
Thanks to the area’s special characteristics, in 1989
the Natural Reserve of the Madonie Region was
established. Its 40 hectares include 15 different
Communes:
These towns are all important agricultural centres
not only thanks to the characteristics of their
surrounding countryside but also to the varied and
harmonious coexistence of mountainous areas and seaside
towns, a perfect of example of the latter being Cefalù..
This area also include:
In a context characterised by harsh mountainous area
that tower over Sicily’s sea and deep valleys furrowed
by torrents, there are still signs of mankind’s
millennial presence in the area, and some of the area’s
present day activities have been passed down through
generations over thousands of years. The area’s
underground world is also of great interest and the
so-called “Water Paths”, Karstic formations of caves and
cavities, are home to a labyrinth of subterranean rivers.
There are numerous architectonic treasures not only
in the towns themselves but also where you might least
expect them, emerging from the countryside and the woods.
One only has to think of the great solitary ruins of the
Castello dei Ventimiglia in Geraci Siculo, or the
imposing castle of the Princes of Ventimiglia in
Castelbuono. Signs of man’s millennial presence in the
area can also be found in the grotta of Vecchiuzzo near
Petralia Sottana, in some caves and abysses near Isnello
and Gratteri and in the pre-Hellenic archaeological
discoveries of La Rocca, the promontory that dominates
Cefalù and its beautiful Norman Cathedral. The territory
is also home to numerous religious buildings,
monasteries, hermitages and rocky churches that are
often totally isolated on the top of mountains. A good
example of this is the ex Benedictine convent, better
known as “Gangi Vecchio”, in Gangi. There are also
numerous churches containing works by the famous local
artist, “Zoppo di Gangi”.
The hills on the northern side of the Madonie are
characterised by widespread plantations of ash trees
whose “manna” (sap) is used as an ingredient for the
production of local confectionary (www.parcodellemadonie.it).
Accommodation in the Madonie is to be found all year
round.
Given the heterogeneity of the territory, the protected
area is divided into four zones, each with its own
distinct characteristics:
Zona A or the integral reserve, where the
environment’s natural characteristics are totally
protected;
Zona B or the general reserve, characterised by
highly esteemed natural ecosystems where pre-existing
activities and buildings are allowed to remain, though
new projects are not allowed;
Zone C or the protected area, in which it is
possible to carry out activities aimed at improving and
promoting tourist activities in the territory;
Zone D or the control area, where all activities
are permitted as long as they are in conformity with
environmental regulations and the aims of the Park.
Equipped Forestry Areas
• Piano Zucchi (Isnello)
• San Focà (Castelbuono)
• Pianetti (Cefalù –Località Gibilmanna)
• Zappaiello (Gangi)
• Santa Maria (Lascari)
It is possible to make naturalistic excursions from
these areas.
Handicrafts / Majolica Ceramics Itineraries
Sport and Free Time
• Ski lifts, Piano Battaglia
• Snow bulletins, Rifugio Marini tel. 0921/49994
Mountaineering
• The High Madonne crossing (Km. 17 dsl. m. 1.500)
• Monte Cervi crossing ( Km. 17 dsl. m. 837)
Escursions
• Club Alpino Italiano – Petralia
• Club Alpino Italiano - Polizzi
• Club Alpino Siciliano – Palermo |
