Riserva naturale orientata La Timpa, Regional nature reserve in Acireale, Italy.

Riserva naturale orientata La Timpa is a protected area established in 1999 in Acireale, Sicily. It covers 225.34 hectares along about 6 km of steep volcanic coastline between Acquaranni and Murtara, near Santa Maria degli Ammalati. The reserve is a massif of irregularly terraced volcanic rock and faults, with dense vegetation growing in the fissures. It is divided into Zone A (140.20 ha) and Zone B (85.14 ha).

The cliffs at La Timpa were formed by lava flows from Mount Etna that shaped this stretch of coastline over thousands of years. The area was declared a protected reserve in the late 20th century after forests and native vegetation had been greatly reduced by centuries of human use.

The name Timpa comes from the steep drop itself, and the reserve runs about 6 km from Acquaranni to Murtara, below Santa Maria degli Ammalati. From Acireale, a zig-zag stairway called le chiazzette, built from 1687, descends through the central cliffs to the fishing village of Santa Maria La Scala. The promontory above it held the Fortezza del Tocco, a defensive post against pirate raids.

Sturdy shoes are recommended since paths can be rocky, uneven, and steep in places. The cooler months make walking more comfortable, as the summer heat along these south-facing cliffs can be intense.

The reserve's name comes from the Sicilian word for the steep cliff face itself, and the whole territory is split into a 140.20-hectare reserve zone and an 85.14-hectare pre-reserve zone. Access is deliberately difficult, which has kept the strip largely untouched despite the built-up coast around it.