Description of the attraction
The Vendicari Nature Reserve, located in the province of Syracuse between the cities of Avola and Pakino, covers an area of 1,500 hectares. This is the southernmost swamps of Europe and a place of unique ecological importance - dozens of species of migratory birds stop here during their seasonal migrations. The best time to watch birds is December, when birds fly from the hot Sahara to their nesting sites in northern Europe. There is a great chance to see plovers, gray herons, flamingos, wild ducks, gulls, cormorants and stilts here. Among the animals of the reserve there are hares, foxes, freshwater turtles, hedgehogs, various frogs and numerous snakes.
In addition, there are several interesting archaeological sites on the territory of the reserve, where vessels from ancient fish farms and the remains of a small necropolis were discovered. The watchtower, erected in the Middle Ages, and several buildings of the ancient Greek and Roman periods have also survived. In the western part of the reserve, near the town of Noto, you can see a small Roman villa decorated with mosaics.
Protected in 1984, Vendicari also boasts an incredible variety of ecosystems, with rocky and sandy coasts, scrublands, salt and fresh marshes, salt lakes, moorlands and cultivated fields. In the past, salt lakes were of prime economic importance and undoubtedly provided the developed tuna fishery that existed on the territory of the reserve in the 15th century.
You can get here in different ways: one entrance is in Eloro, the other is not far from Cava delle Mosque with its famous Cala Mosque beach, another access point is located in Cittadella dei Maccari, the site of an ancient Byzantine settlement, where the ruins of a small temple are still visible today and necropolis. Finally, the main entrance to the reserve is at the Torre Zveva tower with a wonderful beach surrounding it.
