Riserva naturale orientata Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago, Nature reserve in Metropolitan City of Palermo, Italy.
The Riserva naturale orientata Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago is a large woodland protected area in Sicily featuring Mediterranean vegetation, steep limestone cliffs, and seasonal water pools. The area spans several connected forest zones with varied landscapes and different habitats for wildlife.
The woods of the Ficuzza, Lupo and Cappelliere estates escaped clearing until the early 19th century because the rocky, high-hill terrain suited farming poorly, and were used as a firewood reserve. King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies then acquired the area as his hunting reserve and had the Casina Reale di caccia built, around which the village of Ficuzza grew. In 1871 what remained of the former royal reserve passed to the Forest Administration and was declared inalienable; a 1901 law made the Bosco nazionale inalienabile di Ficuzza a climatic station, and in 1948 it went to the Azienda Foreste Demaniali of the Sicilian Region, which carried out reforestation. The reserve itself was established by decree no. 365 of 26 July 2000.
The name Ficuzza comes from the Arabic figūs, meaning fig trees, and the woodland was long exploited as a firewood reserve before becoming a royal hunting ground. The Gorgo del Drago, a seasonal pool near Gorgo Lungo, was turned into a fish pond in the early 1800s for King Ferdinand III of Sicily's amusement.
Access is via marked trails starting from several points, including a historic building in the area. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the paths are uneven and the terrain is hilly.
The Gorgo del Drago, a shallow pool a few hundred metres from Gorgo Lungo, was converted into a fish pond in the early 1800s for the amusement of King Ferdinand III of Sicily. Today it holds water only briefly, too short a time for most freshwater plants and animals. From the S. Barbara (Quattro Finaite) access it is about a 40-minute walk.
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