A Guide To Visiting The Incredible Gorges Of Alcantara In Sicily

Sicily has a landscape that is not only often breathtakingly beautiful but is also full of lots of surprises and magical hidden gems. One particularly special example of this is the Gorges of Alcantara. A wonderful protected area near Taormina, this landscape of black volcanic walls in the typical prism shape that is characteristic of rocks formed from cooling lava and cut through with channels of gem-coloured waters, is an incredible feast for the eyes and a perfect place for photographers and those who love the great outdoors and the endless wonderful forms of nature. Come to trek, explore, swim, have a little bit of an adventure, and wonder at the great beauty of the world around you. Just browse our luxury villas in Sicily and our vacation rentals in Taormina to get planning your trip to this astounding natural gem to see it with your own eyes!

Located between Messina and Catania, this 50km long river channel is full of unique and unusual natural features. There is actually no one agreed upon origin tale for the Gorges of Alcantara, though there have been many hypotheses throughout the years. What we know for sure is that an outstanding lava eruption from Mount Etna flowed into the area in prehistoric times but what exactly happened next is still subject to study and debate. According to one theory, the glowing mass split due to internal tensions during the consolidation phase, though the heterogeneous structure of the rocks does not back this up. Another theory posits that the two branches of lava flow were recombined at the site of the gorges and surrounded a mass of much colder soil, which caused an abnormal cooling of the flow and saw it lose heat so quickly that it would have given off the crystalline material present in the magma. The movement of the river Alcantara through the area over thousands of years would have then dug away at the earth in the area, giving rise to the incredible canyons of the Gorges of Alcantara.

Regardless of how exactly they were formed, the gorges and paths of the Park of Alcantara are open year-round and offer a whole host of different outdoor activities and pursuits to be enjoyed. Many visitors choose to trek the Gorge Trail, a path that leads along the top of the gorges from where they begin to the famous beach that can be found at the mouth of the Alcantara River. This affords great views down to the gorge and takes you through some of the botanical gardens and citrus groves in the area. Along the route are various viewpoints that have been built to allow those enjoying this incredibly picturesque hike to better appreciate the breathtaking views that abound in the locality. Only about 1.2km long and rated as easy, this is a nice way to experience the gorges even if you're not quite up for a serious trek or adventure. Once you have reached the shore, you can take a lift down to the beach. Another route, the Path of Venus, passes by various beaches, waterfalls, the Mitoggio Gorge, and the Arabic bridge, stretching for around 2km from the beach of the gorges and then continuing along the river. For a more difficult hike, the Alcantara Trail follows the river between Gorge Beach and Saje Beach for just under a kilometre, boasting amazing views over the gorges and taking you into the river at times, requiring water shoes as a result. These can be rented when you seek out the guide that is necessary to explore the gorge on this trail.

As you traverse any section of the Gorges of Alcantara, be sure to admire the rich Mediterranean flora of the area that includes prickly pears, citrus fields, hazelnut groves, chestnut trees, olive trees, poplars, birches, willows, violets, orchids, poppies, and anemones. Keep your eyes peeled, too, for the inhabitants of the gorges such as kingfishers, plovers, frogs, toads, weasels, martens, and, even, wild cats – though spotting any of these is more difficult.

Of course, given the landscape of the area, canyoning is a popular and characteristic activity for those visiting the Alcantara Gorges. The canyoning route through the Alcantara Gorges crosses the most important gorges, the widest gaps, and the most scenic parts of this rocky phenomenon. So, if you're looking for a more fun, active, and adventurous way to take in this unique landscape and to get very up close and familiar with a great swathe of it, then canyoning is very much the way to go. Kayaking trips down the river can also be arranged with local sports clubs and companies and there are various levels of difficulty available in the kinds of outings offered. Those beautiful beaches at the end of the paths through the gorges are also well worth setting aside time to enjoy and you'll find plenty of people splashing around in the jewel-coloured waters and lounging around to soak up the rays of the sun.

A great place for those looking to get active while in Sicily and for those looking to take in the most unique and beautiful of landscapes in Italy, this is the attraction of choice for the adventurous and outdoorsy types who have found a luxury villa in Sicily. If you have found a vacation rental in Taormina, in particular, and are spending time in the area, this makes for a great day out with plenty to keep families and groups of pals entertained.

Opening Hours:
Daily, 8am to sunset

Ticket prices:
Adults - €8
Age 65 and over - €6
Age 4-12 - €5
Under 4s go free.
Body Rafting - €30
River Trekking - €20