Top 9 Natural Monuments around Riserva naturale orientata Cavagrande del Cassibile

We were here in March, and you can jump in and there's no one around. It's really beautiful here.

impossible not to stop for a swim

Beautiful corner, even if the descent from the car park is not easy, but they are apparently currently working on renewing the path (as of October 2024). Jumping in and lying around is allowed, it's a lot of fun. On the way back you can take a long walk and enjoy magnificent views down into the gorge, after another climb you then cross the road back to the car park. Entrance at the top: adults 2€, children 1€, parking 4€, worth it! Getting there from Syracuse approx. 45m

bike routes necessarily pass through this beach, but it is also "funny" to see people on the beach and those on bikes, even with shopping bags, who chug across the beach, careful not to get hit by a ball.

These natural pools, surrounded by a breathtaking gorge, offer a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the Sicilian landscape and cool off in clear, fresh water. However, the path to the Laghetti is demanding and requires good physical fitness. Many visitors point out that the way back, which leads uphill, can be particularly strenuous. Despite the challenge, the goal is undoubtedly worth it: clear water in a natural, pristine environment offers the perfect way to cool off on hot days. Visitors should definitely bring enough drinking water with them, as temperatures can be very high, especially at lunchtime, and shade is rare along the way. The best time for the hike is late afternoon, when much of the trail is in the shade. The Cava Grande is known not only for its water pools, but also for the historic necropolises - burial caves from the 13th to 8th centuries BC, which can be found on the opposite side of the valley. These offer an additional cultural incentive for the hike. However, visitors should be aware that routes through the terrain can be technical and potentially dangerous. Special equipment and prior knowledge may be required to complete the hike safely. Additionally, parts of the area may be closed due to safety concerns, such as unstable rock walls following fires.

The path to Cava Grande leads over high steps and a serpentine gravel path. You will be rewarded with great views! On the opposite side of the valley are so-called necropolis - burial caves from the 13th to 8th centuries BC. And down below you can enjoy the refreshment: the water is wonderfully cool! There are several water basins, connected by small streams or waterfalls. Be careful: where water flows over the rocks, it is slippery! We were there in the fall - there were a few people there, but it wasn't crowded! Be sure to take enough to drink with you!

The Iblei mountains, which dominate the landscape at the point where the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse converge, are a true wonder of nature. But it is in the province of Syracuse that these mountains reveal their most extraordinary charm, thanks to the deep fractures, known as "quarries," that run through their territory. These canyons are the result of the incessant artwork of erosion, shaped by the streams that flow between their walls. Among all the wonders of this area, the Cavagrande del Cassibile nature reserve stands out, a place rich in history and natural beauty. Here, millennia ago, our ancestors excavated over eight thousand rock tombs, creating an incredible archaeological heritage dating back to the 10th and 9th centuries BC. Founded in 1990, this reserve aims to protect native vegetation, restore the beauty of the Mediterranean forest and protect the precious fauna of this land. The reserve extends over a vast area of approximately 2,760 hectares, embracing the municipalities of Avola, Noto and Syracuse. At its heart lies a stretch of the Cassibile river, one of the most important waterways in south-eastern Sicily, which, digging among the majestic rocks of the Iblei, has created a canyon with walls that rise more than 250 meters above sea level. height, covered with lush and wild vegetation.

Quite steep but simple stepped path. Mostly covered by vegetation, if you go up during the hottest hours, it's best to do it here.