Where the curved sides of the Gulf of Bonagia and the Gulf of Cofano meet, a promontory stretching out toward the sea is born, and on it rises, 659 m high, Mount Cofano.

La Mount Cofano Oriented Nature Reserve, in the territory of Custonaci, covers an area of 537 hectares in a very special location. It deserves to bear the title of nature reserve for its great value from all points of view: naturalistic, speleological, historical, folkloristic and, of course, landscape.

Rich, typically Mediterranean vegetation interrupts the rugged, wild forms of the Dolomite massifs, while caves, inhabited since Paleolithic times and now the scene of the lovely Living Nativity of Custonaci.

Further downstream, watchtowers recall the time when the coasts had to be defended against pirate raids, and the remains of an ancient tuna fishery testify, here as throughout the surrounding area, to the importance that tuna fishing had in the past for the local population.

And finally, what perhaps touches the visitor’s heart most of all, the beautiful landscape that opens to the view.
From the top of the mountain, for those who have the patience and the will to reach it, the sea, caught in all its immensity, looks even bluer in comparison with the green that closes it over the gulf.

The Caves
Numerous and of considerable geological and paleontological interest, the caves on the walls of Mount Cofano have allowed the discovery of fossils, tools and graffiti that testify to their human habitation since the Upper Paleolithic. Of all of them, the most famous is surely the Scurati Cave, near the village of the same name, which hosts the famous Living Crib where every year the local people revive the atmosphere of the Nativity.

The trails
– A pleasant trail that follows the coast will allow you a relaxing walk along the entire circumnavigation of the headland. The trail, which does not necessarily have to be completed in its entirety, takes about 2 hours to walk in total.

– An inner path reaches the top of the mountain. From here there is a splendid view of the gulf. The climb, however, requires agility and good physical condition given the necessary passages between the rocks. It can take about 3 hours of walking, depending on the starting point.
It is recommended to avoid it during the hottest hours of the summer season.

How to get there

To reach the Reserve, from SS 187 turn at the junction for Custonaci and continue to Scurati.

FLORA & FAUNA

Flora
Thanks to its dense vegetation, 325 species of which 19 are endemic, the promontory of Mount Cofano is a place of great naturalistic-environmental interest.
The landscape of Mount Cofano is mainly made up of grasslands of Disa, one of the most representative herbaceous plants of the Mediterranean landscape, sometimes interspersed with low scrub or garrigue with Palma nana, another characteristic species of these areas.

There remain remnants of pre-existing Mediterranean scrub consisting of Lentisk with its dense irregular foliage, Terebinthus, a small resinous shrub, Erica arborea and multiflora, Holm Oak, capable of reaching up to 20 meters, and the Cork Oak with its thick oval foliage.

Endemic species include Erica sicula, a shrub with woody branches and soft pink flowers now reduced to a few specimens throughout the island, Helichrysum rupestre var. cophanense , the Phagnalon metlesicsii, a small perennial plant with white flowers; the very rare Mount Cofano Sparrowhawk, an endemic species located only on the north-facing limestone cliffs of Mount Passo del Lupo(Zingaro Reserve) and Mount Cofano; the Trapani Cabbage, an endemic perennial plant that has few specimens here and in the Egadi, the Turkish Vilucchio.

The shoreline is affected by such vegetation features as Limonium bocconei, Crithmum maritimum, Astericus maritimus, Lotus cytisoides, Silene sedoides, Ferula, and Big yellow-flowered Horned Poppy.

Fauna
The Mount Cofano Oriented Nature Reserve is a refuge for many species: the avifauna is rich and varied. More than 50 nesting species have been counted on the Mount, among which are rare species such as a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles, a shy and solitary bird of prey at risk of extinction, and the Red-backed Shrike, recognizable by the red stripe on its head.

The imposing rock faces of the Mount are home to the Peregrine Falcon known for the speed with which it pounces on prey, the Imperial Crow, splendid with its large wings, the Herring Gull, the Lonely Sparrow, several Swifts, the Cormorant and the Sicilian Partridge-an unfortunately increasingly rare species that enjoys the nature reserve status of this area.

On the other hand, nocturnal raptors are common: the Owl and the Bearded Owl nest mainly among tree vegetation while the Barn Owl and the Tawny Owl prefer the hollows of rock walls. A note of credit is due to the Tawny Owl for the special adaptation it has developed. Here, as in other parts of Sicily, it has managed to exploit the ecological niche constituted by the rocky environment rather than seeking the woods more usual to it.

Birdwatching can provide pleasant experiences given the abundance of migratory species that, in spring and early autumn, transit and stop in the environments of the Reserve and the sea areas in front of it.
These include, for example, Kingfishers and Waders.
The presence of numerous birds of prey is determined by the richness of their prey, invertebrates, insects and especially reptiles and small mammals.

Mammals – Among the mammals present prevails the Porcupine, among insectivores the Mustiole, which is the smallest mammal in Europe, and the Sicilian Crocidura, another endemic species of the Sicilian-Maltese island complex. Among amphibians, the Discoglossus, an endemic Sicilian species also at risk of extinction, deserves special mention.

Managing Body
Regional State Forestry Company
Via Libertà 97 – Palermo
Tel: 091 7906811 – Fax: 091 7906801