Cavagrande
Cavagrande
They call it the Grand Canyon of Sicily!
Well, its size isn´t really a match to its much much much bigger “brother” but regarding the scenery, the nature and hiking through it is – I think – nearly as much fun as you can get in the U.S. Grand Canyon.
Cavagrande del Cassibile is a protected area since 1990, the so called Riserva Naturale Orientata Cavagrande del Cassibile.
The big gorge of Cassibile creek, is located in eastern Sicily, south of the town of Siracusa in the Monti Iblei . It is a west – east running canyon, about 10 km long, carved into the plateau by the Cassibile creek which runs all year round and is dammed at the beginning of the gorge to gain some electricity.
The gorge provides an unique flora, some of the plants are endemic. Their splendour enfolds in early spring until june and some flowers might blossom after the first autumn rains in october / november.
The creek created two wonderful sinuosities and the path meanders with them. The second one, a sort of a natural amphitheatre is just beautiful. There is a path down to the creek and to the “Laghetti”, some wonderful bathing ponds with cascades between them where you can take baths.
Cavagrande is worth while a visit the whole year round – the most interesting season surely is springtime with all the flowers and orchids blossoming.