Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara, Regional park in Francavilla di Sicilia, Italy.
Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara is a protected park in eastern Sicily where the river has carved through layers of volcanic rock over countless millennia. The landscape features river gorges bordered by steep basalt cliffs and flat farming areas in the valley bottom.
The park was established in 2001 to protect an ancient river system that has worked through volcanic rock for thousands of years. The river's name comes from an Arabic word used in medieval times when the region had strong cultural ties to North Africa.
Local farming families work the fertile valley floors, where hazelnuts and olives grow in terraced groves that have shaped this landscape over time. The agricultural rhythm of planting and harvest remains visible throughout the year.
The park has multiple entry points with visitor centers offering information about trails and local geology. Plan to wear sturdy footwear and bring water, as paths can be uneven and shaded areas are limited in the gorges.
The river has exposed hexagonal basalt columns up to 30 meters tall where the lava once cooled naturally into geometric shapes. These formations create an unusual visual pattern that appears nowhere else in Sicily in quite the same way.
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