The Spectacular Alcantara Gorges

The Alcantara gorges

One of the best known and most wonderful places in Eastern Sicily. Their formation took place thanks to the jume that uncovered the canyon in basaltic rocks.

Al qantarah

The name of the river has Arab origins and refers to an ancient bridge that crossed it; in fact, the Arabic word “ Al qantarah ” means “bridge”. The Alcantara river originates in the Nebrodi mountains and has its mouth in the Ionian Sea; it extends for more than 600 km² between the metropolitan cities of Messina and Catania, and crosses several villages united in the Alcantara River Park Authority.

Alcantara Canyon

alcantara Seeing the Gorges , one is immediately led to think that these incredible gorges are the result of the incessant flow of the river, instead they were originated by the cooling of basaltic lava flows. The lava, cooling down quickly, has created these particular shapes, so strange that you will feel like you have landed on another planet.
The gorges are real canyons, up to 25 meters high and 5 to two meters wide.

Alcantara River Park

gole alcantara The territory of the Alcantara River Park falls in part in the Alcantara catchment area. The Alcantara river rises from the eastern sector of the Nebrodi Mountains.

The territory that falls into the Alcantara river catchment area is marked by an important hydrographic network consisting of numerous torrential watercourses that wedge into narrow and steep valleys separated by hilly and mountainous ridges (Petrolo, San Cataldo, San Paolo, Fortino, Roccella, Favoscuro ).The water is freezing , you will not be able to resist that much. Fortunately, there are small beaches that will allow you to catch your breath and warm your feet during your exploration. You will feel like you are in fairyland, in a fantastic world.

Cathedral of Taormina

body-rafting-gole-alcantara- Inside this park, in addition to the entrance to the gorges, various activities are offered and the ascent and descent to the gorges by lift.

Among the proposed activities are:

Canyoning : you go up the path of the Gorges on foot, the return is carried out by letting yourself be carried away by the waters of the river between waterfalls, rapids, … ..

Body rafting : you go up the river against the current, when you arrive at the source you return letting yourself be carried away by the waters of the river wearing a life jacket. Cost about 40 euros, duration 2 hours.

River trekking : wearing waterproof dungarees you go up the river. Cost about 30 euros, duration about 1 hour and 30 minutes.