A microcosm under the sun…

Suggestive and sensual, the Stagnone Oriented Nature Reserve extends, within the territory of Marsala, for a long stretch from Cape Lylibeo to San Teodoro.

We are talking about a very special place: from a zoological point of view, it represents a natural laboratory in which new organisms form and evolve before confronting the open sea. The only European environment to have this privilege, it deserves special respect for this.

The name of the Reserve refers to the fact that the large stretch of sea involved is separated from the rest of the Mediterranean by a large natural breakwater, Isola Grande, which makes its waters placid and calm.

Within the lagoon is a small archipelago of small islands: Isola Grande, Mothia, St. Mary’s, and the small rock of Schola, so named because of the popular belief that there was a school of rhetoric there in Roman times.

The sea here remains very shallow to the extent that it is possible to walk along it for long stretches without its level exceeding knee height. At its deepest points the water reaches 3 m. but from S. Teodoro it is also possible to reach Isola Lunga on foot, and until a few decades ago carts and horses plunged into the water to reach Mothia.

In summer it is easy to see someone windserf or canoeing there, precisely because of the fact that the shallow, calm waters ensure total safety even for beginners. Some people also bathe there: this body of water, with its high salinity, becomes pleasantly warm in summer, with temperatures unusual for other parts of the area.

You will only have to look at the Stagnone from the shore to fall in love with it: the road runs right next to the water and a walk by bicycle, or if you prefer by car, will allow you to observe the islands, all beautifully displayed next to each other, the shallow and calm water, the clumps of wild vegetation growing here and there and, finally, the salt pans with their windmills.
The Stagnone Reserve is indeed a wonderful combination of nature, history and human action that have merged together to create a unique and breathtaking landscape.

The island of Mothia holds numerous archaeological finds from the time when its Mediterranean location had made it such an important Phoenician trading port that it harmed Dionysius of Syracuse, who destroyed it in 397 BC.

The salt pans are one of the oldest and most productive activities in this area to which nature has bestowed a perfect climate for collecting salt from its waters, letting it dry with the heat of the sun and the strength of the wind, so that passersby are given the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of those huge white mountains behind which the sun goes to sleep while, just beyond, the silhouettes of small islands peep out.

To reach Mothia there is a special service several times a day that leaves from the special landing stage in C/da Spagnola in Marsala.

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

FLORA & FAUNA

Flora
The spontaneous vegetation that enriches the reserve is quite varied and owes its survival to the tidal motion thanks to which the effects of shallow depth and high summer temperatures are weakened, which, in itself, would make all forms of animal or plant life impossible.
Its protection is of considerable importance because it is part of a larger project to safeguard the entire triangle between Trapani, the Egadi Islands and Capo Feto, i.e., the marine belt where Posedonia oceanica, an underwater palmetto that lives only in extremely clean waters, is found. In some stretches, it forms small atolls that are home to numerous other animal and plant populations. Other species of Posedonia are found only in Australia.

The Stagnone also possesses a rare peculiarity: in its waters strangely enough, species that outside of here would be incompatible, that would struggle with each other for survival, or that simply belong to different ecosystems can coexist.

Areas with higher salinity are home to Suaeda maritima, Salicornia, Salsola soda, and Limonium saline: all halophilic species, able through very specialized physiological mechanisms to withstand high salt concentrations. On accumulations of Posidonia deposited by the sea along the coast, Calendula maritima, an herbaceous seedling with yellow flower heads found exclusively in western Sicily, can be found.

Where brackish water makes its effects felt less, Rush andInula develop.
In the innermost parts of the islands, Mediterranean scrub develops with thermophilic species such as Lentiscus, Dwarf Palm, Red Cistus, and Prickly Asparagus. OnIsola Grande and St. Mary ‘sIsland, groves of Aleppo Pine were planted several decades ago.

Vines are still grown in Mozia, and on the tiny Schola it is common to see Ferula, a tall herbaceous plant with feathery leaves and large yellow flowers.

Fauna
When migratory birds return from Africa to Europe, they take advantage of the wet, and therefore food-rich, environment of the Stagnone to refresh themselves a bit.

Birds-The Stagnone reserve and that of the Trapani and Paceco salt pans have now remained among the few oases of well-being to be found on the path of the Great and Little Corsairs, the Fratino that hides its eggs among the Posidonia leaves, the Black-winged Stilt and Avocets that breed here.

As early as July, the Stagnone is home to autumn migrants: curved-billed Curlews and Nightingales with their dark plumage. Then with the cold weather come flocks of Ducks with Marsh Harrier waiting in ambush, Moriglioni, Teal, Coots, Mallards, Pintails and Garganeys.

Splendid is the image of the Herons, superb and haughty, intent on searching for food among the salt ponds. It will not be difficult for you to catch a glimpse of Grey Herons, snow-white Egrets, Cormorants, elegant Spoonbills that will leave the Stagnone only in spring, and even Kingfishers that when they open their wings show all the beauty of their sky-blue livery.
There is also no shortage of Kestrels, famous for their swooping flights over prey, and the Osprey, skilled in diving into the water. Finally, brackish littoral environments allow the survival of a small butterfly, the Phoenician Lycena.

Fish – The fish fauna of the Stagnone is different depending on the area under consideration.
In particular, we distinguish between two areas: the first, to the south, has more possibilities of communication with the open sea while the second, to the north, is home to life forms more closely related to lagoon environments.
That is why in the former live Saraga, Bream and Mullet and in the latter only smaller fish with short life cycles.