Serre della Pizzuta Nature Reserve
The Oriented Natural Reserve Serre della Pizzuta insists on an area of 414 hectares in the territory of Piana degli Albanesi.
The reserve is made up of a mountainous complex in which oak woods, caves and native plants are nestled. The highest peak is that of Pizzuta, which gives its name to the entire complex. Geologically, these are hills of carbonate origin dating back to the Mesozoic period. The calcareous surface bears the signs of the reactions caused by the continuous crossing of water and the action of atmospheric agents.
Interesting from a geological and environmental point of view are the Grotta del Garrone, or of the Ladroni, and that of the Zubbione, born thanks to a marked karst, a chemical activity exerted by water, both underground and superficial.
La < b> Grotta del Garrone has inside two small lakes fed by dripping waters. Thanks to its particular microclimate, inside the cave it is possible to observe two types of ferns that are very rare in Sicily: the hemionitid scolopendria and the cervina tongue. The cave is easily accessible through a window in the vault and a slide of collapsed material through which you enter a horizontal room where you can admire the two lakes.
The Grotta dello Zubbione is one of the most deep cavities of the Sicilian territory and is characterized by the presence of beautiful limestone deposits present in the Sala delle Conche, rich in stalagmites, and small ponds in which the rich walls of the vault are reflected creating a suggestive show present in the Sala dell'Obice . The opening of the cave is located on the eastern side of the reserve and its development is vertical.
The neviere della Pizzuta are of historical interest. These are artificial basins dug at the highest altitudes and on the coolest slopes most suitable for accumulating and maintaining winter snow. Next to them was built, with local stone, a building known as the "neviera house", which served as a shelter for the workers during the working days and for the custody of tools and work materials.
The landscape of the Reserve is characterized by large prairies and rocky environments which have however allowed the proliferation of endemic herbaceous species. The woods of the reserve are inhabited by porcupines and foxes, nightingales, blue tit, creepers and owls, vipers, rat snake and Aesculapian colubers. The caves, on the other hand, have become a refuge for a particular species of bat, the Greater Horseshoe.
The Reserve is easily visited thanks to the six paths that cross it: The Path of the Thief , which leads to the Grotta del Garrone through the southern part of the reserve; the Norina path , which crosses a fascinating chestnut wood; the Pizzuta path which reaches high altitudes; the path of the Neviere , which runs through the northern valley passing through the neviere; the Pozzillo path, of high naturalistic and landscape value.
