RISERVA NATURALE ORIENTATA BOSCO DI SANTO PIETRO

Situated between Caltagirone and San Michele di Ganzaria, and between the ridges of the Erei Mountains, the Ganzaria mountain rises in the middle of this magnificent natural park, rather unknown to tourists. The massif creates a Y-shaped island called the Hermit Valley. It is a primary Mediterranean forest, as it was once found. To preserve it, this place was consecrated as Ganzaria Natural Park and San Pietro Woods in 1999. Here, natural treasures await you: centuries-old cork oaks(Quercus Suber, some of which are over 3 metres in circumference), eucalyptus, majestic oaks and Mediterranean pines. Here you can walk along the many paths that criss-cross the park, the best known of which are Valle dell'Eremita, Masseria Cutuminello and Monte Scala. Don't miss the Natural Museum of the park, which explains the geological, anthropological and biological formation of the territory. Also worth seeing: the wildlife recovery centre specialising in turtles (about a hundred specimens are on display). Water springs form fountains such as those of Le Chasseur, Molare or Ficuzza. The fauna is not lacking in richness either: porcupines, hares, weasels, wild cats, foxes.... Among the birds, you can listen to the songs of chickadees, jays, red woodpeckers, etc., among others. In autumn, the thirty or so species of orchids in bloom offer an unforgettable spectacle to those who can spot them in this green setting.