The main mountain ranges in Sicily are the Madonie, Nebrodi, Peloritani, Monti Sicani, Erean Mountains (Monti Erei) and Hyblaean Mountains (Monti Iblei).
Sicily has 6 active vulcanos. The most important are Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano.
Sicily has 1 national park, 5 regional parks, 5 Marine protected areas and 76 nature reserves covering a total of 10.5% of the region’s territory.
Vendicari Nature Reserve
Location: Noto – Google maps
The Nature Reserve covers approximately 1512 hectares where you can find different natural environments, areas of fresh water, salt flats, coastal dunes and over 13 kilometres of beaches. you can also encounter pink flamingos, herons and cormorants.
Zingaro Reserve
Locations: Castellammare del Golfo, San Vito Lo Capo – Google maps
One of the very few stretches of coast of Sicily not contaminated by the presence of a coastal road. It stretches along 7 km of coastline and almost 1,700 hectares of unspoiled nature.
Nebrodi National Park
Locations: Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Bronte, Capizzi, Caronia, Cerami, Cesarò, Floresta, Galati Mamertino, Longi, Maniace, Militello Rosmarino, Mistretta, Raccuja, Randazzo, San Fratello, San Marco d’Alunzio, San Teodoro, Sant’Agata di Militello, Santa Domenica Vittoria, Santo Stefano di Camastra, Tortorici, Troina, Ucria – Google maps
Covering almost 86,000 hectares of surface it is the largest protected natural area in Sicily. It will amaze you with its ecosystem where wide forests, green high-altitude pastures, silent lakes and flowing streams find space along its steep slopes
Pantalica Reserve
Locations: Buscemi, Cassaro, Ferla, Palazzolo Acreide, Sortino – Google maps
The reserve covers 3,700 hectares, it is a naturalistic and archaeological site located on a plateau surrounded by canyons formed over the millennia by the Anapo and Calcinara rivers. Inside the reserve there are also two karst caves.
Cavagrande Del Cassibile Reserve
Locations: Avola, Noto, Syracuse (Siracusa) – Google maps
The Reserve extends for 2,700 hectares where the Cassibile river has carved deep canyons creating a system of lakes and small waterfalls in the valley which can be reached by an ancient and suggestive staircase known as La Scala Cruci.
Torre Salsa Nature Reserve
Location: Siculiana – Google maps
The reserve is one of the few examples of dune environment still surviving in Sicily. it covers more than 750 hectares and its coastline extends for about 6 kilometres.
Alcantara Gorges
Locations: Castiglione di Sicilia, Motta Camastra – Google maps
This natural canyon has been carved out over thousands of years by the Alcantara River. The lava stone gorges are up to 25 meters high and 2 meters wide in the narrowest points and 4-5 meters in the widest points.
Trapani Salt Pans
Location: Paceco, Trapani – Google maps
The 910 hectare reserve, in which the ancient activity of extraction of sea salt is still carried out, is an important wetland “Ramsar”, which offers shelter to more than 200 species of migratory birds including the avocet. The reserve is also famous for the presence of numerous windmills.