Tyrrhenian Coast - Sicily - page 248

PARCO REGIONALE
DEI NEBRODI
The Nebrodi Regional Park ( www.parcodeinebrodi.it ) was established in 1993 and constitutes the
single largest forested area in Sicily. In fact, this is Sicilian author Gesualdo Bufalino's real
'island within an island', dotted with remote and traditional villages that host few visitors.
The forest ranges in altitude from 1200m to 1500m, and is an undulating landscape of
beech, oak, elm, ash, cork, maple and yew trees that shelter the remnants of Sicily's wild-
life: porcupines, San Fratello horses and wildcats, as well as a healthy population of birds
of prey such as golden eagles, lanner and peregrine falcons and griffon vultures. The high
pastures have always been home to hard-working agricultural communities that harvest de-
licious mushrooms and hazel-nuts, churn out creamy ricotta and graze cows, sheep, horses,
goats and pigs.
The highest peak in the park is Monte Soro (1847m), and the Lago di Biviere is a lovely
natural lake supporting herons and stilts.
There are visitor centres in Alcara Li Fusi ( 0941 79 39 04; Via Ugo Foscolo 1) , Bronte ( 338
2993077; Castello di Nelson) , Cesarò ( 095 773 20 61; Via Bellini 79) , Mistretta (Via Aversa 26) and Randazzo
( 095 799 16 11; Corso Umberto 197) and smaller information points in several other towns includ-
ing Floresta (Via Umberto I) , but all keep irregular hours and most staff speak Italian only. For
more information, see www.parks.it/parco.nebrodi or www.parcodeinebrodi.it .