Itinerary to Etna feet
As
Giuseppe Cimbali wrote, only at Bronte
Etna "shows itself in all the
agreement, in all the purity, in all the harmony of his perfect and solemn
lines".
The brontese territory which falls down in the Park Of Etna (about
10.000 hectares) is rich of naturalistic wonders
that the following route shall try to show to you.
Is a mixed way to do it, in part driving and in part on foot.
For the part falling down inside the parks, it is advisable to contact a
gude; if required, it is possible to get in touch with the
C.A.I.
(Club Alpino Italiano) of Bronte.
Driving on the road that takes to the SS Christ quarter it is
possible to enjoy, after few kilometers, the sight of Etna and a true
immense plain of lava.
At the end of the asphalted road, before leaving the
characteristic road paved with lava squared slabs, park the car and go on
foot.
Going up the road, inside a wide area of the lava of 1651-53, are found the "lave
cordate" (lava ropes)
remarkably rich in the variety of patterns.
Further on, in the vicinity of the "Dagala Inchiusa" is
possible to see the emerging of sedimentary rocks, among the most ancient of the
"basement of Etna".
You can continue to drive along the characteristic road paved with roughly
squared slabs
made of lava stone as far as the "Piano dei Grilli" (
crickets' flat); the road is obstructed at this point by the gate of the
Foresters.
Having parked the car, it is possible now to continue on foot (or on a bicycle).
After crossing the gate, a nature path starts inside the zone
"A" of the Etna park.
Along
the way you come across: |
|
"Piano delle Ginestre"
(Brooms' plain): singular plain, at 1200 meters of height,
called so as impressive brooms, plant spread a little everywhere on the
volcano up to the maximum height of 1900 meters, they occupy a
wide area of the plain; in the zone you'll find also forest eco-systems
of particular value with kinds very rare or completely nonexistent in
the remaining part of the this territory.
"Monte Ruvolo" (Ruvolo mountain): (1.410 meters), it is
a little cone with two tops with mixed vegetation eText3aly
Brooms and big Oak trees.
To North of the small cone, near the "Mandre vecchie" (old
herds) is visible a
little wooded area, singular biological presence between the lava
of 1607.
"Monte Arso" (Burned mountain): it is a cone, at 1515
meters of height, shaped as a horse shoe, considered of
historical epoch, with presence of biological emergencies.
"Monte Nunziata"
(Nunziata mountain), to a height of about 1800 meters, where in
the vicinity there is the Grotto of Nunziata Mountain .
"Monte De Fiore"
(De Fiore mountain): it is a volcanic cone , at 1731 meters of
height, formed in 1974 during an eruptive activity which gave
origin to a singular "gashed dome".
Near the cone, between the lava of 1974, wooded eco-systems were formed
with mixed varieties of Pine, Poplar and others.
"Grotta Della
Neve" (Grotto of the snow), at about 1160 meters,
close to "Piano dei Grilli" (Crickets' Flat).
|
 |
In
the zone can be observed some
fauna species of value:
the Kestrel, the Porcupine, the Hoopoe, the Partridge, the
hares and the foxes.
In the area included
between " Monte Revolt", "Monte Leper" and
"Monte de Fiore" lives the Royal
Eagle re-introduced in the territory by the Park
authority some years back.
It is the ornithological presence more
spectacular and significant under the ecological aspect.
It
nests, unique case in the south of Italy, on Larch Pine. |
|
|
|
