Reserve ”Vendicari” (Riserva della Vendicari) description and photos - Italy: Sicily island (Topic)

Nature reserve "Vendicari" (Riserva della Vendicari) description and photos - Italy: Sicily Island. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Riserva della Vendicari.

Photo and description

The Vendicari Nature Reserve, located in the province of Syracuse between the cities of Avola and Pachino, covers an area of 1,500 hectares. This is the southernmost swamps of Europe and a place unique in its ecological importance - dozens of species of migratory birds stop here during their seasonal migrations. The best time to watch birds is December, when birds fly from the hot Sahara to their nesting sites in northern Europe. There is a great chance to see plovers, gray herons, flamingos, wild ducks, gulls, cormorants and stilts here. Among the animals of the reserve there are hares, foxes, freshwater turtles, hedgehogs, various frogs and numerous snakes.

In addition, the reserve has several interesting archaeological sites, on which vessels from ancient fish farms and the remains of a small necropolis were found. A watchtower, erected in the Middle Ages, and several buildings from the ancient Greek and Roman periods have also survived. In the western part of the reserve, near the town of Noto, you can see a small Roman villa decorated with mosaics.

The Vendicari, taken under protection in 1984, also boasts an incredible variety of ecosystems: rocky and sandy coasts, scrublands, salt and fresh swamps, salt lakes, moorlands and cultivated fields are found here. In the past, salt lakes were of prime economic importance and undoubtedly provided the developed tuna fishing that existed on the territory of the reserve in the 15th century.

You can get here in different ways: one entrance is in Eloro, the other is not far from Cava delle Mosque with its famous Cala Mosque beach, another access point is located in Cittadella dei Maccari, the site of an ancient Byzantine settlement, where the ruins of a small temple and necropolis are still visible. Finally, the main entrance to the reserve is at the Torre Zveva tower with a wonderful beach surrounding it.

Topic: Reserve ”Vendicari” (Riserva della Vendicari) description and photos - Italy: Sicily island.