Riserva naturale integrale Grotta di Santa Ninfa, protected area in Italy (EUAP1150)
The Riserva naturale integrale Grotta di Santa Ninfa is a protected nature reserve in Sicily covering about 139 hectares of karst landscape with caves and sinkholes formed by water erosion over centuries. The area features steep hills, rocky surfaces, and underground passages managed by Legambiente to preserve its geological and ecological value.
The reserve was officially established in 1996 to protect the geological formations and biodiversity of the area. Since then, speleologists have explored and documented numerous underground passages and cave formations that reveal Sicily's natural history.
The name Santa Ninfa refers to the large cave in this area, sculpted by water and wind over millennia into distinctive limestone shapes. Visitors today can walk through and observe how the natural forces continue to shape this landscape.
Visitors can use the walking paths freely but should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as the terrain is rocky and can be dry in some seasons. Large groups should arrange their visit ahead of time to avoid overcrowding and ensure a better experience.
The Castello di Rampinzeri, a castle built in the 1600s, sits nearby and serves as a visitor center with the Esplora Ambiente exhibition space where people can learn the geological story through models and videos. The site has historical significance as King Vittorio Emanuele III visited there in 1937 during military exercises.
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