| Floristella-Grottacalda mining park | |
 | |
Location  | |
| Area type | Natural reserve |
|---|---|
| State | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Territory | Ennese |
| Surface | 400 ha |
| Foundation year | 1991 |
| Institutional website | |
Floristella-Grottacalda mining park is a protected area located in Sicily.
To know
Geographical notes
The park is located in the heart of Sicily between the cities of Enna North, Piazza Armerina to the south and Valguarnera Caropepe East. Nearby is also the Pergusa lake.
Flora and fauna
The park is surrounded by a wood.
When to go
The best seasons are spring and autumn, when temperatures are ideal. But even in the middle of winter, when the weather is good, a walk in the park is very pleasant.
Background
This area was once used for the extraction of sulfur. The activity was already present in the mid-nineteenth century, so much so that it then constituted the ideal background for the novel by Luigi PirandelloCiaula discovers the moon. In the early twentieth century the mines owned by Agostino Pennisi di Floristella underwent further development, giving work to many sulfur miners who worked there in precarious conditions.
The mines went on until the seventies of the last century and then closed definitively and be transformed into a mining park in 1991.
How to get
By car
The park can be reached by car:
- From Enna taking the
which passes near Lake Pergusa and then takes the 
for Piazza Armerina. - From Catania taking the highway
exiting at the Dittaino industrial area junction (next to the Outlet Village) then taking the 
you follow the direction Valguarnera Caropepe and you take the . - From Aidone along the
and then take the 
and finally the towards Enna. - From Piazza Armerina along the and finally the towards Enna.
Permits / Rates
L'1 main entrance is located along the 
following a dirt path.
The park is always accessible, however for guided tours the hours are from 8:00 to 14:00 from Monday to Saturday excluding holidays. Visits for groups must be arranged by sending an email to [email protected] or by sending a fax to 39 0935 958105. The guides are generally carried out by forest rangers who only accompany you on site.
How to get around
Floristella-Grottacalda mining park: full screen map.To make the visit you can move by car along the dirt paths, it would be better to go on foot although the distances lead to longer times. At the 2 park offices you can watch a video on the mines, individual visitors should be equipped with a tablet to make the visit using the GPS location, but this is more likely not to happen.
Next to the Palmento there is a first 3 parking area.
What see
- 1 Pennisi Palace. The old palace of Baron Pennisi, former owner of the mines. Today the building is in a poor state of conservation but inside you can admire a small museum made up mainly of images and texts (only in Italian), which traces the history of the area, the revolutionary upheavals and the ancient link with the mines. .
- 2 New well (Well 3). This is the last well built for extraction around the 1970s. It is 222 meters deep with a diameter of 3.5 m, at the end of its function it was filled with material mixed with stones and closed. Next to the well there are the trolleys with the relative tracks for the transport and the overturning of the material in the vicinity. Local neighbors are reused for other educational functions.
- 3 former railway station. This former building was part of the Dittaino-Piazza Armerina-Caltagirone railway. A narrow gauge line built in the early twentieth century and closed in the seventies of the last century. It was used to transport sulfur.
- 4 former railway station.
- 5 Maccalube by Floristella. They are a muddy emission rarely with explosive phenomena (as for the maccalube of Aragon). Those of Floristella are rather static and devoid of particular charm.
What to do
The place is perfect for long excursions but also for a mountain bike ride.
Shopping
It is not possible to shop inside the park.
Where to eat
You can find some restaurants in Enna or a Piazza Armerina, or have a picnic inside the park where there are tables and benches for this function.
Where stay
You can find good accommodations in Enna or a Piazza Armerina
Safety
Some inland roads may not be suitable for a normal car as there may be mud or the road is quite bumpy. There are no signs inside the park except at the entrance, therefore it is advisable to have an Openstreetmaps map with you for better orientation.
How to keep in touch
Telephony
The telephone signal is present although not in all areas of the park. In any case, do not rely on it.
Around
- Enna - Provincial capital and highest capital municipality in Italy.
- Piazza Armerina - In addition to being the city where you can visit the famous Roman villa of the Casale, along the central Via Garibaldi you can visit the small museum of the mining civilization managed by the Zolfatai League where it is possible to collect the testimonies of those who worked in Floristella.
- Pergusa lake
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Floristella-Grottacalda mining park
Commons contains images or other files on Floristella-Grottacalda mining park
