Riserva naturale orientata Monte Altesina, Regional nature reserve in Leonforte and Nicosia, Italy.

The Riserva naturale orientata Monte Altesina covers the slopes of Monte Altesina, a 1,192-metre peak in the Erei mountains of central Sicily, in the municipalities of Nicosia and Leonforte. The reserve is managed by the Azienda Foreste Demaniali di Enna and is entirely covered by dense forest, chiefly a holm oak (Quercus ilex) wood, with downy oak, service trees, mastic and areas replanted with eucalyptus. Six nature trails cross it, and the old Altesinella farmhouse is being converted into a visitor centre and ethno-anthropological museum.

Mount Altesina, called Mons Aereus by the Romans for its slender, pointed profile, rises to 1,192 m. Its summit still shows traces of ancient settlement, perhaps Greek, and excavations linked to a sanctuary of the chthonic deities Persephone and Kore. A 10th-century Kufic inscription on the rock face, a sciadda or testimony of faith, marks the Saracen period.

The mountain's name comes from the Latin Mons Aereus, given for its slender, pointed profile. A Kufic inscription carved on the rock face in the 10th century, called a sciadda, marks the Saracen period. The summit also holds traces of ancient settlement and excavations linked to a sanctuary of Persephone and Kore.

The best paths run through forest areas and require sturdy footwear, as the mountain is steep and uneven. A good starting point is near the old farmhouse where visitor facilities are being developed.

An old Arab inscription from the 10th century remains carved into the rock face, bearing witness to the Islamic period of the island. This rare inscription is a direct record of the different peoples who passed through this region.