{"id":1253,"date":"2023-02-23T19:14:22","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T18:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sikanihorsetrek.com\/?p=1253"},"modified":"2023-05-22T11:54:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T09:54:07","slug":"the-beauty-of-the-sicani-mountains-fauna-flora-and-much-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sikanihorsetrek.com\/en\/the-beauty-of-the-sicani-mountains-fauna-flora-and-much-more\/","title":{"rendered":"The beauty of the Sicani Mountains: fauna, flora and much more"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Monti Sicani <\/b> are a Sicilian mountain range, located between Agrigento and Palermo<\/i> and between Trapani and Caltanissetta<\/i>. These particularly beautiful mountains are located in the central-southern<\/i> area of the island and host a vast forest formation biodiversity<\/b>, with mainly oak<\/b> woods > and holm oak<\/b>. On the tops of the reliefs there are shrubs<\/b> and grassy surfaces,<\/b> often used for pastures. Along the watercourses<\/i> it is possible to observe willow trees<\/b>, oleander<\/b> and tamarisk<\/b>. At the Sosio river<\/b> is the extensive wood of Sant’Adriano, <\/b>where you can admire different varieties of pines<\/b>.<\/p>\n

On the Sicani Mountains it is possible to observe the flight of different species of birds<\/b>, typical of the mountainous and hilly areas, such as the golden eagle<\/b>, the kite<\/b> , the sparhawk<\/b>, the tawny owl<\/b>, the falcon<\/b> and the ghebbio<\/b>. Among the native mammals<\/b> found in the woods of the Sicani Mountains, there are the wildcat<\/b>, the marten<\/b>, the fox<\/b> b> and, moreover, it is also possible to find different amphibians and reptiles<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div>\"Sikani<\/div><\/div>
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The biodiversity of the Sicani Mountains\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Biodiversity<\/b> consists of the multitude of living organisms<\/i>: animals<\/b>, plants<\/b>, fungi<\/b> and microorganisms<\/b> that populate the earth and interacting with each other become essential for our life<\/i>, and for this reason they deserve to be protected from external threats. On the Sicani Mountains there is a high level of biodiversity protected through the establishment of Oriented Natural Reserves<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Also important is the geo-diversity<\/b> that distinguishes the different landscapes of the Sicani Mountains, made up of mountains, hills and rocky walls, populated by different varieties of flora and fauna<\/b> with their particular habitat.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>\"Sikani<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
<\/div>\"Sikani<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Monti Sicani Park\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Parco dei Monti Sicani<\/b>, covering 40,000 hectares, was a regional natural park of Sicily from 2014 until 2019, the year in which it was suppressed. The Park included 12 municipalities<\/b>: Bivona, Burgio, Cammarata, Castronovo di Sicilia, Chiusa Sclafani, Contessa Entellina, Giuliana, Palazzo Adriano, Prizzi, San Giovanni Gemini, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Sambuca di Sicilia <\/b>.<\/p>\n

These are 6 municipalities in the province of Palermo<\/i>, 6 municipalities in that of Agrigento<\/i> and four pre-existing nature reserves<\/i>: Riserva Orientata Monti di Palazzo Adriano and Valle del Sosio<\/b>, the Monte Carcaci Nature Reserve<\/b>, the Mount Genuardo Oriented Nature Reserve<\/b> and Santa Maria del Bosco<\/b> and finally the Riserva Orientata Monte Cammarata<\/b>, which were suppressed with the establishment of the park.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the Park<\/i> was to preserve nature<\/b>, increase biodiversity<\/b> and protect the activities carried out in the woods and in the countryside<\/b> , such as pastoralism, so that in the territory of the Sicani Mountains there may be many farms and livestock producers of typical and high quality products.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

The Sosio Valley and its Permian rocks<\/b><\/h3>\n

Did you know that the rocks of the Monti Sicani<\/b> are among the oldest in Sicily<\/i>? In particular, those of the Valle del Sosio<\/b> have come to be created and stratified over time since the Permian and inside they conceal something even more fascinating.<\/p>\n

Inside, these rocks (carbonate blocks<\/i>) hold a precious treasure, the oldest fossils in Sicily<\/b>: they are ammonites, brachiopods, sponges, foraminifera , trilobites, bryozoans and ostracods<\/i>, or marine organisms that lived in the ancestor of the Mediterranean, or Tethys<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Among the rocks present in the ancient Sosio Valley, the so-called Solomon’s Stone<\/b> stands out. It is the largest block<\/b> present along the Valle del Torrente San Calogero<\/i> \u2013 in fact it reaches a height of about 30 meters \u2013 and the fossils present inside were discovered by the paleontologist Italian Gaetano Giorgio Gemmellaro<\/b> in 1887.<\/p>\n

In addition to the Solomon’s Stone<\/b>, there are also two other rocky blocks, namely the Pietra dei Saraceni<\/b> and the Rupe del Passo di Burgio<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Flora of the Sicani Mountains<\/b><\/h2>\n

All this richness and complexity of flora and fauna<\/i> has made it possible to make the Monti Sicani Park a reserve of biodiversity<\/b>. The flora<\/b> in the mountains includes various species of herbs, shrubs and hydrophytes<\/b> mainly belonging to the Mediterranean species<\/b>, but not only, because the climate permits engraftment also of Asian species<\/b>, Caucasian <\/b> and Siberian<\/b>.<\/p>\n

At lower altitudes, in the areas of gullies<\/i>, we can find bushes, steppes, meadows, scrublands and pastures,<\/b>while at higher altitudes<\/i> and on the peaks there are holm oaks, <\/b>the olive trees,<\/b> the downy oaks, <\/b>the strawberry trees<\/b> and also the laurels, the viburnum and daphne<\/b>.<\/p>\n

In river areas<\/i>, which are more humid, river species<\/b> such as oleander<\/b>, tamarisk<\/b> and willows<\/b>. In the undergrowth<\/i> there are several varieties of mushrooms<\/b>, the most common being the ferla mushroom.<\/b> Furthermore, cereal crops are frequent , fruits, olive trees, citrus fruits and vineyards.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Fauna of the Sicani Mountains<\/b><\/h2>\n

On the Sicani Mountains there are many varieties of autochthonous mammals<\/b>: the wild cat<\/b>, the fox<\/b>, the weasel<\/b>, the marten<\/b>, hedgehog<\/b>, porcupine <\/b> and hare<\/b>. There are several amphibians<\/b> such as the toad<\/b> and the tree frog<\/b> and many reptiles and insects<\/b>. Of particular importance are the many species of birds<\/b> that inhabit the Sicani Mountains, above all birds of prey<\/b> \u2013 more than one hundred species that nest on the mountains \u2013 such as the falcon<\/b >, the Egyptian vulture<\/b>, the kestrel<\/b>, the golden eagle<\/b>, the kite<\/b>, the lanner< \/b> and many nocturnal predators, such as the barn owl, the owl <\/b> and the owl<\/b>.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Along the course of the rivers<\/i> it is possible to observe the dipper<\/b>, the river nightingale<\/b>, the raven<\/b>, the Crag Swallow<\/b>, the cuckoo<\/b>, the spotted woodpecker<\/b> greater<\/b> and the tit<\/b>. The mallard<\/b> and birds of prey such as the osprey and marsh hawk<\/b> nest in the wetter areas and near the artificial reservoirs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Horseback riding among the Sicani Mountains to discover biodiversity<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Monti Sicani<\/b> can be visited by making various types of excursions such as trekking and mountain biking<\/b>, but it is the horseback excursions<\/b>, which with slow and relaxed pace<\/i>, will allow you to discover, through the mountain paths, the biodiversity<\/b> that characterizes these spectacular Sicilian mountains surrounded by nature.<\/p>\n

What are you waiting for? Whether you are nature lovers, beginners or expert riders<\/i>, we at Sikani Horse Trek<\/b> have several proposals available, suitable for everyone, to discover pristine places <\/b>, surrounded by mountains, along the rivers or towards the towns between Palermo and Agrigento.<\/p>\n

It is up to you to choose among our offers: simple walks lasting from one hour to up to three<\/b>, with various stops for those who are beginners with horses, medium difficulty with excursions on horseback a day<\/b> and for those who are more experienced trips from 4 days to a week<\/b>. Contact us to find out more, for information or for any curiosity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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