Riserva naturale orientata Torre Salsa, Protected coastal reserve in Siculiana, Italy

The Riserva naturale orientata Torre Salsa is a protected coastal reserve on Sicily's southern shore featuring white limestone cliffs and sandy coves. The site covers around 761 hectares and supports typical Mediterranean scrubland vegetation adapted to dry conditions.

The reserve was established in 2000 by the Region of Sicily, which entrusted its management to WWF Italia. The protected area covers 761.62 hectares in the municipality of Siculiana, over 300 of them privately owned. Within it stand the ruin of the Torre Salsa, built in the second half of the 16th century to defend the Sicilian coast against Saracen raids, the remains of Torre Pantano, four Byzantine-era tombs and a small calcara, a kiln once used to produce gypsum.

The reserve takes its name from the ruined Torre Salsa, a watchtower built in the second half of the 16th century to guard the Sicilian coast against Saracen raids; its remains stand on the Salsa promontory. Along an abandoned mule track visitors can also find a small calcara, a kiln where gypsum was once fired.

The reserve office is at via Roma 156/D in Siculiana, the access point for the 6 km of coast between Siculiana and Eraclea Minoa. Paths cross the Cannicella and Eremita streams on natural terraces below the cliff, so expect uneven, rocky ground. The Pantano depression floods in winter and its groundwater turns saltier when rain is scarce.

On the promontory of Salsa stand the ruins of the Torre Salsa, built in the second half of the 16th century to defend the Sicilian coast against Saracen raids. The reserve also holds the remains of a second tower, Torre Pantano, and four tombs from the Byzantine period.