Riserva naturale orientata Monte Genuardo e Santa Maria del Bosco, Regional nature reserve in Contessa Entellina and Giuliana, Italy.
The Monte Genuardo and Santa Maria del Bosco reserve is a mountainous protected area in western Sicily with a peak reaching about 1,180 meters high. The terrain features steep slopes and forested valleys spread across several thousand hectares with varying landscapes and vegetation zones.
The reserve was established in 1997 as a protected natural area. It was temporarily incorporated into Monti Sicani Park in 2012, but returned to its independent status in 2019.
The Santa Maria del Bosco Abbey within the reserve reflects the spiritual traditions that shaped this Sicilian landscape. Visitors can sense the religious significance of the place through its architecture and setting among the trees.
The area is best explored on foot, as the mountainous terrain includes steep sections and marked trails of varying difficulty levels. A visitor center in a stone building provides information and guidance for those wanting to learn more about the local nature and environment.
The vegetation shifts notably between different slopes: northern sides feature holm oak and downy oak forests, while the southern slopes are dominated by maple and mountain ash trees. This unexpected variety across short distances makes the reserve botanically distinctive.
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