Sicily’s most inspiring natural beauty spots are protected by numerous parks and reserves that dot the island. Walking trails abound in the parks, offering access to isolated beaches, pristine forests, and active volcanoes.
Moreover, you can spot a variety of local wildlife and visit traditional villages where life has remained unchanged for decades. Here are eight of our favorite parks for exploring the natural world in Sicily.
Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie
Best for traditional villages
The 400 sq km (154 sq mi) Madonie regional park is an outdoor paradise ideally suited for slow, culturally rich travel. The Madonie Mountains are crowned by Pizzo Carbonara, the highest mountain in Sicily after Mt Etna.
Springtime brings spectacular wildflower displays across the mountain slopes, while autumn offers wild mushrooms and richly colored foliage. Winter attracts snow sports enthusiasts, and summer provides a refreshing escape from the coastal crowds.
This is not merely a nature reserve; it is an area where people live and work, allowing for a combination of hiking and visits to historic hilltop towns. Castelbuono, the charming capital of the Madonie, is surrounded by ancient manna ash and chestnut forests, with a dominating 15th-century castle at its center.
Parco Nazionale Isola di Pantelleria
Best for isolation
One of Sicily’s national parks, Pantelleria, is located halfway to Tunisia. This volcanic outcrop is characterized by jagged lava rock formations, steaming fumaroles, and mud baths. Its unique agricultural traditions, featuring dwarf grapevines and olive trees laid out on terraces, earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Although there are no true beaches, the island’s secluded coves are perfect for snorkeling, diving, and boat excursions.
The park protects over 80% of the island, including the unique dammusi—lava rock houses with thick, whitewashed walls and shallow cupolas. Exotic and remote, Pantelleria has long been an escape for prominent celebrities. It can be reached by ferry and plane.
Parco dell’Etna
Best for volcanic drama
Dominating the landscape of eastern Sicily, Mt Etna is a massive, brooding presence. At 3357 m (11,013 ft), it is Italy’s highest mountain south of the Alps and the largest active volcano in Europe. The volcano is almost constantly active, with frequent eruptions, notably from the four summit craters and also from the fissures and old craters on the mountain’s flanks.
The volcano and its slopes comprise the Parco dell’Etna, which encompasses 580 sq km (224 sq mi) and includes approximately 21 towns. The park’s varied landscapes range from the severe, snow-capped mountain top to lunar deserts of barren black lava, beech woods, and lush vineyards.
Good bases for exploring Mt Etna include the gritty, medieval port city of Catania and the elegant summer resort of Taormina.
Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi
Best for solitude
Encompassing the Nebrodi Mountains of northeastern Sicily, the Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi is the largest forested area in Sicily. It is sprinkled with remote traditional villages that host few visitors.
This lovely, off-the-beaten-path park features an undulating landscape of diverse trees, including beech, oak, elm, ash, cork, maple, and yew, which shelter remnants of Sicily’s wildlife: porcupines, San Fratello horses, and wildcats, alongside a healthy population of birds such as golden eagles, herons, and peregrine falcons. The high pastures are home to farms that grow mushrooms and hazelnuts.
With a personal vehicle, you can explore the timeless villages and access trails that lead deep into the forest. Mistretta, located on the park’s western border, serves as a charming hilltop time capsule where the streets have remained largely unchanged for 300 years.
Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro
Best for nature lovers
The tranquil Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro is the prime attraction on the Golfo di Castellammare, appealing to nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It is a hiker’s paradise and home to around 40 bird species. Wild carob and bright-yellow euphorbia decorate the hillsides, complemented by 700 other species of Mediterranean plants, while hidden coves provide tranquil spots for swimming and snorkeling.
From the main coastal path, well-marked gravel tracks wind through aromatic scrub and meadows to picturesque coves with stunning beaches. Accessible only by boat or on foot, popular choices include Cala Capreria with its bright turquoise water, and family-friendly Cala della Disa. Snorkelers particularly favor Cala Marinella for its vibrant emerald-green waters, which can be accessed from rocky areas.
The park is reachable within an hour from Palermo.
Riserva Naturale Saline di Trapani e Paceco
Best for bird-watching
This vital bird sanctuary, administered by the World Wildlife Fund, protects 10 sq km of saline (salt pans) divided into two zones, stretching from Trapani’s southern outskirts to the hamlet of Saline Grande.
Furthermore, with a few weeks’ advance notice, WWF guides can sometimes offer free two-hour tours of the reserve, focusing on migratory waterfowl in spring and fall. In summer, they also provide insights into the salt harvest.
In addition to this reserve near Trapani, the salt pans are also protected by the Riserva Naturale di Stagnone to the south near Marsala, which includes San Pantaleo island, home to the notable Phoenician archaeological site of Mozia.
Parco Minerario Floristella Grottacalda
Best for history
The historic remains of sulfur mining that was active in Central Sicily until the mid-20th century are now interlaced within this beautifully verdant and forested park. The park’s compelling museum features poignant black-and-white photographs, showcasing the harsh realities faced by child miners forced to work under very dangerous conditions. This serves as a stark reminder of how poverty has shaped Sicily’s history.
The park is located approximately 15 km (9.3 miles) north of Piazza Armerina, an essential stop filled with medieval labyrinths and a great base for the region.
Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa
Best for walking
With your own transport, you can explore stunning beaches and beautiful spots west of Agrigento. This includes Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa, a picturesque 7.6 sq km (2.9 sq miles) nature park administered by the World Wildlife Fund.
The site offers considerable opportunities for walkers, with well-marked trails and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and coast. The long, deserted Torre Salsa beach, notably beautiful, remains peaceful due to its rough access road. This beach is reachable from the reserve’s northern entrance, located under 45 minutes from Agrigento. This city also makes for an excellent base to explore the rest of the region, including the world-renowned Valley of the Temples.
