t The setting sun bouncing off the blue waters on the rocky coast of Lo Zingaro
Spoiled with nature’s gifts, Lo Zingaro is an outdoor lover’s oasis, where fields of brambly scrub give way to a profusion of springtime wildflowers and salty beaches are kissed by crystal blue waters.
t The setting sun bouncing off the blue waters on the rocky coast of Lo Zingaro
EXPERIENCE The Egadi Islands and the Northwest
t Lo Zingaro’s lush green hills sloping down to an isolated beach
Situated some 20 km (12 miles) from Erice, along the coast going towards Palermo, Sicily’s first nature reserve was instituted in 1980 to protect 7 km (4 miles) of pristine rocky coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo.
Dotted with tiny white pebble bays and backed by steep mountains sloping down to the sea, the Lo Zingaro reserve is a fantastic place for a day’s hiking. Make a pit stop at one of the many bars and cafés along San Vita Lo Capo’s main street, Via Savoia, to pick up snacks and water before hitting the nature trails. The reserve doesn’t have much in the way of facilities or services, and be sure to wear appropriate footwear at the very least.
Marked trails of varying levels of difficulty traverse the steep interior, or creep along the cliff above the sea, occasionally forking down to small coves with pebble beaches. The shortest trail (6 km/4 miles) travels along the coast (heading north) from Scopello to Tonarella dell’Uzzo, taking around 2 hours. The longest and most challenging explores 19 km (12 miles) of the reserve’s mountainous landscape, taking in the peaks of Mt Passo del Lupo, Mt Speziale and Mt Scardina, and takes about 9 hours. The reserve can also be explored on horseback.
Lo Zingaro protects some 650 species of flora such as wild orchids, limonium, wild carnations, dwarf palms, iris, once widespread ilex and cork oak forests, lichens and ferns. It is also a paradise for birds, especially raptors such as the rare Bonelli’s eagles, peregrine falcons and kites, and even, on occasion, golden eagles. You may also spot porcupines and foxes.
The variety of plant species on Lo Zingaro is thanks to its humid microclimate.
EXPERIENCE The Egadi Islands and the Northwest
Capua Wreck, Coast of Scopello
During WWII, a British cargo ship carrying arms for Italian troops sank. Mysteries still linger, making this 38-m (125-ft) dive all the more intriguing.
Grotta dell’Acqua Dolce, Uzzo Bay
One for experienced divers, this cave gradually decreases in depth, leading to a 60-m- (197-ft-) deep chamber of glassy water teeming with marine life.
Grotta del Camino, Park entrance
An awe-inspiring experience, this cave has two entrances: one at 18 m (59 ft) and the other at 35m (115 ft). A rock wall divides the cavity, where divers can discover troupes of red-and-white-striped shrimp.