The Cavagrande del Cassibile, Siracusa

The protected area is a stretch of the Cassibile River, a river in Southeastern Sicily, about 10 km long, which has formed steep valleys and caves over time following the phenomenon of water erosion. The spectacular landscape dug by the river is characterized by micro- and macrokarst formations, deep stepped cuts, numerous circular basins that form small lakes with real fresh and very clear water, waterfalls created by the cracks in the unique rocks that intersect the axis of the river. From a floristic point of view, the banks of the Cassibile River are home to a coastal forest where willows, white and black poplars, tamarisks and ash trees find fertile soil, accompanied by magnificent specimens of the oriental plane tree characteristic of the reserve. The plane tree is in fact a majestic deciduous tree native to Southeastern Europe, which in the karst mines of Southeastern Sicily acquires a particularly important ecological value because it represents the extreme western limit of its distribution area. The plateau is characterized by the presence of garrigue, where dwarf palms and aromatic essences such as thyme, rosemary and heather predominate, while on the slopes there are small oaks and ash, downy oaks and elms. The reserve, rich in fauna, is home to countless species of insects, reptiles (grass snake, leopard snake, green lizard, viper, tortoise), mammals (hedgehog, porcupine, dormouse, red fox), birds such as duck, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, lancelet and kestrel.