| Simeto lava gorges | |
 | |
| Area type | Site of community interest |
|---|---|
| State | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Territory | Catanese, Ennese |
| Surface | 1,217,052 ha |
| Foundation year | 2000 |
Simeto lava gorges is a protected area located in Sicily.
To know
The Simeto lava gorges are gorges, with walls of variable height between 5 and 15 meters, dug by the Simeto river in the basalt formed as a result of lava flows coming from theEtna.
Geographical notes
The Gorges comprise a territory that belongs to the municipalities of Bronte, Randazzo, Adrano, is Centuripe.
The area relates to the bed of the Simeto river from the Santa Domenica district, in the Adrano area, to the gorges in the Cantera district, near Bronte.
In these places there are areas where the river digs deep gorges, called ravines, in the volcanic rock with meanders, that is, areas where the river widens and slows down its course.
Flora and fauna
On the lava ridges that make up the banks, various species typical of the woods and Mediterranean scrub can be observed such as the olive (Olea europea sylvestris), ilex (Quercus ilex), hackberry (Celtis australis), etc. The sandy shores are home to tamarisk (Tamarix africana, Tamarix gallica), defined species important in the form presented by the Region, oleander (Nerium oleander) and tree spurge (Euphorbia dendroides). Near the Bridge of the Saracens you meet a ripale scrub with willows (Salix alba, Salix purpurea) and black poplar (Populus nigra). Also noteworthy is the presence, always near the Ponte dei Saraceni, of plants typical of the coastal and brackish areas such as Sauce verticillata, Atriplex halimus is Atriplex portulacoides.
Among the mammals you can see the fox (Vulpes vulpes), porcupine (Hystrix cristata), the Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the hare (Lepus europaeus).
Poultry species include sedentary and migratory birds. The presence of habitual migrants such as Falco peregrinus is Charadrius dubius. The gray heron has sometimes been sighted (Ardea cinerea), which stops in migration for the wealth of amphibians to prey; the water rail hides in the vegetation (Rallus aquaticus), not very suitable for flight and with a body suitable for living in the reeds, some species of diurnal birds of prey including the buzzard (Buteo buteo), the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), and, in the areas affected by pastures and low vegetation, the beautiful rock partridge can still be seen today (Alectoris graeca), once widespread. Among the nocturnal birds of prey are reported the barn owl (Tyto alba), while in the more wooded areas frequent are both the scops owl (Otus scops), that the owl (Athene noctua). Finally, the wood pigeon nests in the rocky walls (Columba palumbus).
Among the amphibians in the riverbed you can meet the green frog (Rana esculenta), the tree frog (Hyla arborea), the painted discoglossus (Discoglossus pictus) and some species of toads (Bufo bufo spinosus is Bufotes viridis).
The presence of several species of reptiles was also detected: the grass snake (Natrix natrix), the snake snake (Natrix maura), the leopard snake (Elaphe situla), several species of lizards (Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis sicula) that hide in the Mediterranean scrub and lava ravines; the presence of the Sicilian marsh turtle was also detected (Emys trinacris).
Fish fauna is rare and almost completely absent. Finally, the presence of the river crab deserves a mention Potamon fluviatile.
Background
In 2000, the Ministry of the Environment included the territory in the list of Sites of Community Interest, the so-called Natura 2000 sites, with the aim of conserving natural and semi-natural habitats, as well as the local wild flora and fauna.
Subsequently, in 2005 the Sicilian Region implemented the Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of 2000 by issuing a formal provision. In 2006 the Department of Territory and Environment of the Sicilian Region approved the maps.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Catania airport (Catania Fontanarossa Airport "Vincenzo Bellini"; IATA: CTA), Via Fontanarossa, 20, Fontanarossa, ☎ 39 0957239111.
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights. 
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights.
By car
The Forre can be reached by taking the provincial road at the bottom of the valley 
that connects Adrano is Bronte and the provincial for Cesarò.
Permits / Rates
Access is free.
How to get around
Simeto lava gorges: full screen map.The best way to visit the park is to use the car to leave near the point where you want to visit.
What see
- 1 Norman bridge (Serravalle bridge) (from
to turn onto the SP 17III, crossing the Ponte della Cantera sul Simeto and then going straight to the crossroads instead of continuing along the main road). This bridge crosses the Serravalle River which flows into the Simeto and flows into a gorge which is partially carved into the lava rock and can be explored on foot with some effort. It is located in the nearby Serravalle farm with the former Church of San Francesco di Paola and the confluence with the Simeto located a short distance away. - 2 Church of S. Francesco di Paola (church of the Placa di Serravalle).
- 3 Passopaglia Bridge (from
turn towards the Simeto). From this bridge you can see another area of the Simeto - 4 Ancient Arab paper mill (Grangia della Ricchisgia). An ancient agricultural-industrial nucleus.
- 5 Panoramic point (along the near a clearing). From this point you can easily see the Simeto and the ravines
- 6 Pietrerosse Bridge, Paglia Pass (turn from
). Further down the river valley, the Simeto winds its way into a gravel plain where this bridge is located. Near the bridge you can admire the quartzarenite rocks of Pietrerosse, along the left bank of the river towards the mountain up to the Barrili district there is a lava wall over 1 km long covered by dense Mediterranean scrub.
- 7 Bridge of the Saracens (or Carcaci). In the further course of the river, the Simeto bed is again cut into the basalt with basaltic prisms originating from the first basaltic effusions of Etna (between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago). This 12th century bridge was originally part of an important link between the cities of Troina, first capital of the reign of Roger I of Altavilla, and of Catania.
- 8 Biscari Aqueduct Bridge (from it takes place in 2 this road).
- Caves of the Saracens, Saracen stream.
- Masseria Lombardo (Museum of the ancient peasant civilization).
- 9 Mendolito.
- Chapel of Santa Domenica.
- Sources of the Favare.
What to do
Shopping
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Simeto lava gorges
Commons contains images or other files on Simeto lava gorges
