Piazzale Belvedere, Cavagrande del Cassibile Nature Reserve

The Iblei mountains, which dominate the landscape at the point where the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse converge, are a true wonder of nature. But it is in the province of Syracuse that these mountains reveal their most extraordinary charm, thanks to the deep fractures, known as "quarries," that run through their territory. These canyons are the result of the incessant artwork of erosion, shaped by the streams that flow between their walls. Among all the wonders of this area, the Cavagrande del Cassibile nature reserve stands out, a place rich in history and natural beauty. Here, millennia ago, our ancestors excavated over eight thousand rock tombs, creating an incredible archaeological heritage dating back to the 10th and 9th centuries BC. Founded in 1990, this reserve aims to protect native vegetation, restore the beauty of the Mediterranean forest and protect the precious fauna of this land. The reserve extends over a vast area of approximately 2,760 hectares, embracing the municipalities of Avola, Noto and Syracuse. At its heart lies a stretch of the Cassibile river, one of the most important waterways in south-eastern Sicily, which, digging among the majestic rocks of the Iblei, has created a canyon with walls that rise more than 250 meters above sea level. height, covered with lush and wild vegetation.