with his 25
thousand hectares is one the largest of Catania's province.
It extends up to Etna' central crater with an altitude from 380
to 3350 meters.
Represents surely one of the most interesting natural landscapes in
the province as much for its various and elevated biological diversity
as for the quality of the things there by represented.
Shows yet a suggestive and uncontaminated nature.
Is the land of the pistachio
but also a territory rich of admirable forests and of inexhaustible itineraries along the slopes of
Etna and the sides of the Nebrodi mountains.
That is how Bronte concurs notably to the protection, conservation and defense of
landscape and Sicilian natural environment.
It has given over
one half of its territory
to two wonderful Sicilian
parks, the Etna Park and
the Nebrodi Park and
also to the protected zone of the Lava
grottos of
the Simeto (291,2 hectares).
Among the twenty municipalities whose territories fall in area of
the Etna
Park, Bronte gives 10.000 hectares,
over a total of 58.000
(the 18%);
among
the twenty one of the
Nebrodi Park contributes with 3.871
hectares of which 1.495 in zone A of integral reserve and 2141
in zone B, over a total of 85,587 hectares.
Practically over 14.000 hectares
of the 25.000 that compose the territory of Bronte are
integral and very important part of the Sicilian parks.
The territorial surface
extends mostly mostly along the line north-south, with a maximum expansion (Etna
comprised) of about 33 Km and a difference in height from the
lower point (380 meters) to that highest
(3.350, the Etna) of 2.970 meters.
This explains the elevated degree of biological diversity, the quality of the things represented in
the territory and the number of possible economic solutions both for agriculture and husbandry.
The territory that extends with ample green valleys from the top of the
central crater (3.350 m.), up to that of Mount Soro (1847 m.), on
the Nebrodi, is distinguished by centenary forests, orchards that produce
fruits of elevated quality, extensive cultivations of pistachio, cereals
and citrus fruit, vineyards, olive groves, chestnut groves and plants of
prickly pears that live together with arid volcanic ground, large extension
of lava and verdant pasture land.
The environmental characteristics
of the bronte's territory, the beauty and the
uniqueness of the areas, the many vegetation elements that follow one
another to the various quotes offer all the necessary
ingredients for whoever wants to get close to nature and to the woods in
particular.
Besides the shelters, the forest authority and the park administrators have
placed in the most beautiful and striking spots, many "equipped
receptive areas" where, in a natural environment are provided green
spaces for amusement.
In the small oasis, base points for possible excursions, you can get a
respected rustic recreation, being able to find ample green spaces,
barbecue, fountains, tables and benches and may other useful services.
You can enter in bicycle or on foot and, for particular forest and park
needs, with due permission by the authorities, even in motor vehicles.
Striking and interesting the excursion to the
Nelson
Obelisk, erected on the highest and most northern part of the
Duchy territory in district Sierra Mergo over the Nebrodi
(1553 meters a.s.l.).
ASPETTI DEL TERRITORIO BRONTESE
My Horizon
So the poet Luigi Margaglio describes the horizon of his
Bronte.
The poem is taken from the volume “Symphony in black and white” Lyrics edited in 1939 at Bronte by the Stabilimento
Tipografico Sociale.
Diffusa tenerezza di celeste
senza fiocchi di nuvole bambine.
Lontano, agli orli, bruno di foreste.
Quà e là, paesi a fior’ de le colline.
Azzurra ai fianchi e, in cima, ancor nivale,
- forza velata dalla sua bellezza -
l’Etna, con la sua mole, il cielo assale:
miracolo d’aerea leggerezza.
E sembra, se il candore s’invermiglia,
nei tramonti purissimi d’inverno,
altare che s’imporpora e s’ingiglia
per offerirvi un sacrificio eterno.
Al deserto d’innumeri colate,
- flutto nero d’immobili marine -
fa riscontro riposo di vallate;
musica ondulazione di colline.
Una gramaglia di sconforto appare
la lava, a oriente: impero della noia.
Giù, nella valle che declina a mare,
l'acqua e le piante esultano di gioia.
E come il fiume, visto dai Poeti,
nell'aer cieco senza mutamento,
il Simeto, tra laviche pareti,
torce profondo il suo chiuso tormento.
Ma sortito dall'alveo tremendo,
ecco spianarsi in ceruli sorrisi:
vigne, aranceti e pascoli radendo,
opulenze a specchiar di paradisi.
Terra in travaglio, sterile e ferace,
è questa. Con un lievito di fiamma.
Che insieme accoglie, ne la verde pace,
luci di idillio e balenìo di dramma.
