Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro

Between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo, the Zingaro Nature Reserve protects about seven kilometres of Sicilian coastline. Limestone cliffs descend to pebble coves, while Mediterranean scrub and dwarf palms cover the slopes. Established in 1981, it was Sicily's first nature reserve.

Why it matters

The reserve preserved one of Sicily's coastal stretches from a road project and protects a varied landscape of cliffs, coves, woodland and mountain ridges. It covers roughly 1,600 hectares and forms part of a wider Natura 2000 site. Around 700 plant species have been recorded, alongside a range of birds and other wildlife.

What to notice

Along the coast, coves such as Capreria, Disa, Berretta and Marinella open between pale limestone walls. The dwarf palm, emblematic of the reserve, grows among the scrub. Peregrine falcons and Bonelli's eagles use the cliffs, while the Grotta dell'Uzzo is an important archaeological site. At the shoreline, the vermetid reef platform is a distinctive living formation.

Context and history

Road works began in 1976 on a coastal route between Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo. Naturalist associations and local supporters campaigned against the project. A protest march took place in May 1980. Regional Law 98 of 6 May 1981 established the reserve, the first in Sicily. An implementing decree followed in 1988. The caves of the reserve preserve evidence of human presence reaching back thousands of years.