In the southernmost part of the province of Trapani, west of Mazara del Vallo, lies one of the last surviving wetlands in Sicily, a place listed among those of community importance that deserve special protection.

The Capo Feto Protected Area consists of approximately 453 hectares of sand dunes and small bodies of water. It is a wide depression, separated from the sea by a sandy cordon, which is almost completely submerged in the winter and drier in the summer.
From 1999 to 2002, the marshes of Capo Feto were involved in a Europe Community project, Life- Natura, for the reintroduction of species that have disappeared in their historical ranges.

Prior to these interventions, unfortunately, the area had suffered from the senseless exploitations of man who, not understanding the importance of theecosystem in question, was irreparably undermining its existence.
In 2006 the area underwent a campaign of underwater archaeological excavations that brought to light the wrecks of some boats probably dating back to the 4th/3rd centuries BC.

Getting there

The way to reach Capo Feto is not marked, and it is necessary to go into unpaved roads with a detour to the right from SS 115 (Petrosino)

Managing body
Regional Province of Trapani
Via Vito Carrera 23
Tel. 0923 873678

FLORA & FAUNA

Flora
The Capo Feto area is dominated by Posidonia oceanica, an endemic Mediterranean plant that evolved from the terrestrial to the marine environment. Posidonia has roots, stems, leaves and flowers. The latter constitute its reproductive system that differentiates it from common seaweeds.

During the winter, the dry leaves break away from the stem and go to pile up near the shore. Here they form those characteristic clusters, even large ones, which have created at Capo Feto a natural barrage that has closed off the stretch of sea closest to the shore, forming a kind of small lagoon.

Also characteristic of Posidonia are those small spheres that are formed from the dry leaves by the action of the sea and wind. If you are on a beach filled with lots of dark balls and don’t understand what they are, rest assured that there is a Posidonia meadow nearby.

The life and spread of this type of vegetation is closely linked to the conformation and salinity of the soil: in fact, it adapts well to sandy environments and silty-clay soils, which are high in salinity and desiccated in the summer.
Posidonia is very important for life in these areas: it protects sandy soils from erosion and is home to numerous marine organisms that find shelter there.

In the coastal area, the main species worth mentioning are: the Bulrush, also typical of marshy areas; the Sedge; the Salicornia, a perennial plant with an erect stem; the Inula with its yellow flowers; the Ravastrello, which forms beautiful rounded piles on the shoreline; the Salsola soda, a small plant with reddish leaves and stem; and the Salsola Kali, similar to the former but with spiny endings, the Sea Suaeda whose branches push upward, the Sea Lily with its white flowers that open like an umbrella, the Cliff Gorse with its yellow inflorescences, the Sea Scylla, an herbaceous plant with large leaves, the Barbosa, beautiful with those small, soft-colored flowers, the Yellow Ophrys, an orchid with yellow and reddish petals, and the Bumblebee flower with its short greenish inflorescences, Beach Santolina with its toothed leaves, Spiny Carrot with its white flowers, Horn Poppy with its beautiful yellow petals, and finally Limonium, endemic in the varieties Limonium vulgare subsp. serotinus, Limonium virgatum subsp. virgatum, and Limonium helophilum.

Fauna
Migratory birdlife in general greatly appreciates brackish areas such as this, which are humid and rich in bodies of water where they can find food and rest. The Capo Feto Reserve is on the route of all those species that move between Africa and Central Europe. Thus, a large number of anseriformes, caradriiformes, cyconiformes and pelicaniformes can be observed there.

There are many aquatic species including the Garganey, Mallard and Shoveler. It is possible to see specimens of Kentish Plover, a small riparian bird, the dark-feathered Moorhen and the very long-legged Grey Herons and Black-winged Stilts.

The marine fauna is that typically found among Posidonia meadows. Since, further offshore, these are interspersed with rocks, species characteristic of hard bottoms are also found there. On the Posidonia, shoals of Salps, beautiful in their green livery streaked with gold, Scorpion fish, very peculiar fish with a dark ochre coloration, and Octopuses, even large ones, find refuge.
At greater depths various species of Mullet and Sea Bass swim by. Palustrine Tortoise is also present in this area.