Gurne dell'Alcantara, Natural pools in Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara, Italy

Gurne dell'Alcantara consists of sixteen natural pools carved into rock by ancient lava flows and water erosion, with some reaching depths up to 10 meters (33 feet). These pools sit along a river valley and create a series of swimming spots separated by stone walls and natural pathways.

The Gurne lie in the territory of Francavilla di Sicilia, behind the hill with the ruins of a castle; the sources do not name its builders. Near Francavilla are remains of a Greek city, and a mill on the river supplied electric lighting to the town as early as 1896. In 2006 the Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara completed and secured a guided trail to the pools.

The name gurne comes from the Latin gurna, meaning a small basin or pool. The 2006 guided trail by the Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara passes the ruins of a mill that already supplied electric lighting to Francavilla di Sicilia in 1896, and the remains of a Greek city near Francavilla.

Access is from Francavilla di Sicilia via the S.S. 185 road, with the main trail running about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) through natural landscape. Wear sturdy shoes because the rocky paths can be slippery, especially after rain or when wet from the river.

The Ciappa Mill from 1896 was one of Italy's earliest hydroelectric power plants, harnessing the river's force for electricity. The remains of this facility are still visible along the riverbank and show how industrial innovation came to this remote area.