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.
A Sicilian king established a royal hunting reserve in 1799 and built a manor house that later became the center of a village. The forest was protected as royal hunting grounds for centuries, which helped preserve it in its current form.
The reserve is deeply connected to local forest management practiced by families from nearby communities for generations. Visitors can still observe how this traditional stewardship shapes and maintains the woodland today.
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 area is known for reintroducing fallow deer populations that were previously absent, and their numbers continue to grow. This reintroduction demonstrates how protection efforts can restore animal species to their former habitats.
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