Between Castellammare del Golfo and Trapani hides one of the most magical corners of Sicily: narrow, ancient paths guide us inside a dream oasis immersed in the typical Mediterranean environment, among evergreen trees and shrubs that climb over rocky ground.

The only thing possible when faced with the splendid landscape of the Zingaro is to be amazed at every step by the breathtaking views: walls of limestone rock rise above a rich and flourishing vegetation, eventually plunging headlong into a crystal-clear sea.

Perhaps they, too, are intimately enchanted by the beauty of those waters that fade from ultra-light blue to deep blue and green. A sea of which even the naked eye glimpses the seabed without difficulty, a sea that gently caresses the white beaches of the small coves, a sea that creeps between submerged caves to hide and reveal the life of the fish and plants that animate it.

The Reserve ‘s lush vegetation has become a favorite refuge for birds and mammals of many species, some even rare. And the small creeks scattered all along the coast are a summer pilgrimage destination for all those who want to restore body and mind in this unspoiled and jealously protected little paradise.

A land that has been there for millennia, defended and tormented by the rugged and bristling rocks, colored by the green of the characteristic local flora and the deep blue of the waters, loved by people and animals.
For a long time shepherds and farmers have worked it, exploited it but never destroyed it.
And this has meant that its 1,600 hectares of protected area and 7 km of coastline are still a true natural paradise.

Having fun at Zingaro

– The reserve’s long trails are perfect for hiking and trekking.
– The underwater caves and surprising seabed delight divers.
– The picnic areas are perfect for enjoying a day of total relaxation.
– The Maritime Activities Museum and the Museum of Peasant Civilization tell the story and ancient rituals of these places.
– And finally… birdwatching for enthusiasts.

Entrance-There are two entrances to the reserve:

– to the South: from Scopello – main entrance, equipped with accommodations
Take the A29 Palermo-Mazara highway to the exit for Castellammare del Golfo.
Follow the SS 187 in the direction of Trapani to the junction for Scopello.

– North: from San Vito Lo Capo
Arrive at SS 187 as indicated above and turn at the junction for San Vito.

In both cases it is necessary to leave your vehicle in the designated parking lots and continue on foot.

Rates

ticket cost: 3 euros
– children from 10 to 14 years: 2 euros
– groups: 0.50 euros
– visitors under 10 years: free

Pe more information Tel. 0924 35108

From October to March from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

April to September from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Routes – Within the Reserve, several walkable routes are provided. Some run along the coastline while others allow you to admire the natural beauty of the interior. It is possible to choose from alternatives of different difficulty and duration.

Refuges – In Contrada Sughero, also within the reserve, there are refuges where, with prior reservation, in the period between October and May it is possible to stay overnight.

FLORA & FAUNA.

Flora
The Reserve has the typical appearance of a Mediterranean landscape, ennobled by the presence of numerous species and important endemics.
We recommend a visit in the spring period, when you can enjoy the multicolored spectacle of plants in bloom: when irises, saffron, poppies, buttercups, carnations, Sicilian cornflowers, lion’s mouths and rock stars enchant with their beauty.

Scattered buildings, old farmhouses now turned into museums, hide among Olive, Ash, Almond and Carob trees.
About 40 endemic species have been identified, among which the Todaro’s Limonium is a must to be mentioned. Exclusive to the Zingaro, it is perched in the steepest parts, on the cliffs of Monte Passo del Lupo, at about 700 m above sea level.

The area itself is of great importance for being one of the last remnants of the Holm Oak and Cork oak forests, once very extensive in Sicily but now a rarity.
The inaccessibility of the sites means thatErba Perla, Vilucchio Turco, and Boccone’s Bead grow there undisturbed.
Small Ferns, Cyclamen and Butcher‘s Broom bushes also find a home here, along with specimens of low scrub such as Thyme and Broom.

The Reserve is home to many species typical of the Mediterranean basin that have wide distribution in Sicily: the Prickly pear, a fruit tree that has several varieties, the Caper, the Sea Fennel, Oleander, Laurel and Mallow.

In the upper part, the landscape takes on for large stretches the appearance of a prairie in which there is a strong presence of herbaceous plants that live well even in arid environments.
This is probably a formation that signals the previous existence of Mediterranean scrub.
We find there the Mediterranean Poodle, with its bright red flowers, and Disa, a high-growing herbaceous plant with a bushy habit.
In addition, numerous terricolous orchids such as the Ophrys and theBranciforti Orchid can be seen.

Downstream of Monte Acci, there is an area dominated by rushes and sedges, which create an ideal environment for the Discoglosso, a small Sicilian frog-like amphibian, and the River Crab. In fact, these are very similar environments to those on the banks of streams and are therefore home to their typical flora: pedicellate willow, canescent elm and marshy Trifoglino.

The undisputed mistress of the reserve is the Dwarf Palm, which dominates the entire landscape with its many solemn specimens.
It usually occurs as a shrub. But at Zingaro it has found particularly favorable conditions that have made it grow with arboreal bearing.
The only palm that grows wild on the island, it dates back to a time before the last ice age, when the climate was tropical.
In the past it was often used by the local population to make everyday objects such as brooms, baskets, and mats. This explains the reason for its dialect names: Giummara, Scupazzu and Scuparina.

Those interested in learning in depth about the flora of the Gypsy Nature Reserve can consult the herbarium that is kept at the Visitor Center inside the Reserve.

Fauna
The Reserve is teeming with life: it thrives on its tiny inhabitants and allows them to live.
On a quiet walk, you might happen to meet some of them. In fact, the environment of the Reserve, with its rock walls, grasslands, trees, shrubs and a wealth of plants of all kinds, is an ideal place for many animals that find food and protection here.

Along with numerous specimens of typical local fauna, the Reserve has the pride and burden of being home to some endangered species that this inviolate corner of Sicily still allows to survive.

Birds – About 40 different species of birds nest within the reserve, not counting those that pass through it during their migrations. Great pride of the reserve is theBonelli’s eagle, the protection of which was among the main reasons that influenced the establishment of the reserve itself. But progressive disappearance of its natural habitat and the increasingly scarce presence of food have in fact seriously endangered its existence.

But theBonelli’s Eagle has found everything it needs here: it nests permanently in the highest areas of the reserve, on cliffs and rock faces, and above all it has at its disposal its favorite food, the Wild Rabbit, of which the reserve abounds. The Sicilian Partridge also enjoys ideal conditions for its survival here, while hunting activities and environmental changes are endangering its existence almost everywhere.
It is an endemic phasianid of Sicily, small in size, recognizable by the black collar that distinguishes it from the continental species. It lives in the most hidden areas, among steep rocks and scrubland.

Walking along the paths of the Reserve it is possible, without much difficulty, to see flying the Kestrel, that small bird of prey with pointed wings and narrow tail, the Peregrine Falcon swooping down on its prey, and the large-winged Swifts, very skilful in flight but unable to perch on the ground, or even the acrobatic nuptial flights of the Imperial Crow and the Buzzard.

All this while the Wren cheers us with his energetic and lively song or while theNightingale amazes us with the complex melody of which he alone is capable. And resting on a branch we may recognize the distinctive blue plumage of the Lonely Sparrow or the Bunting, a small passerine bird with a slender beak.
And then again we may hear moving around us Cornacias, Gazes, Gulls and Wild Pigeons.

Keeping watch over the Gypsy at night are the Tawny Owl, with its large black eyes and soft plumage, and the Little Owl, with its brownish-white plumage and characteristic large, flattened head.

In the more open areas it is easy to find the Stonechat, a small passerine that has also been drastically reduced as a result of the disruption of its natural habitat; the Goldfinch, a protected species with a pleasant song and cheerful plumage; the Wheatear, an insectivore with a variable livery depending on season and sex; and the Monak, a small fawn-colored passerine.

In shrubby areas, the Little Eared Eye is sedentary, an elegant insectivore with gray plumage and a black head that is easily recognized by the red circle around its eye.

Mammals – If while walking along the less traveled paths of the Zingaro you happen to find spines, you should know that they belong to one of the many Porcupines that populate the Reserve: a solitary and quiet animal, it especially loves the quietest and most bushy corners.

Other inhabitants of the Reserve are the Fox and the Weasel, which specialize in hunting small mammals and rodents.
The role of these predators is crucial to the balance of the Reserve: as indeed is the case in nature, the excessive reproduction of some species, especially the Rabbit and Snakes, is curbed by the proper establishment of the well-known food chain.

Reptiles- Prominent among them all is the Sicilian Lizard, a species exclusive to the island, about 7 cm long, with a large head. It can be recognized by its green back with lighter lateral streaks. It generally lives on grassy ground and is not in the habit of climbing slopes, which are instead favored by the Gecko and Hemidactylus.

The numerous pads the Gecko has under its legs allow it to climb easily anywhere, even taking itself upside down. Very similar to the lizard, it can be distinguished by its fuller body and darker color.

The Ocellated Gongulus is a small insectivorous saurian with a very elongated body from which the head is barely distinguishable.
Its name is due to the dark border surrounding its eyes.

Amphibians – In the wet environment of small surface rivulets, live the rare River Crab and the Painted Discoglossus.
The River Crab is much less well known than its marine counterpart, partly because it is becoming increasingly rare due to pollution and the gradual disappearance of the small streams in which it lives. It is a sizeable crustacean with powerful claws and large eyes.

The Painted Discolossus is found nowhere else in Italy.
Similar to a frog, it has an average length of 5 cm and a rounded free-margined tongue posteriorly from which it got its name.
It is part of the species requiring strict protection listed in the European Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats.

At the bottom of the sea – The gaze remains enchanted in front of a water that does not conceal but allows itself to be crossed by the reflections of the sun and then reveal all the secrets of the Sicilian sea. And so it gets lost, in this intricate seabed, among anemones, madrepores and sponges in search of colorful fish, small red coral formations and a thousand, small other indescribable wonders.