Simeto River Ravines

The Simeto river lavic ravines are at the boundary between the towns of Adrano (Catania) and Centuripe (Enna). Here the river is not only the border between two provinces, but it also divides two differents geological worlds.

On the west side, Enna with the Nebrodi mounts and their white sedimentary rocks. On the east side, Catania with the Mount Etna and its black lavic stones: along the path, we are fascinated from this sharp difference. Our path begins at the "Saraceni" bridge: here the river was not able to separe Mount Etna from Nebrodi mounts and decided to carve a sharp canyon on the lavic stone.

We walk on the dirt road on the right, looking at the river and some waterfalls until we reach a clearing: here is possible to go closer to the banks in order to see the gorges closely. We also want to walk a bit in the wood, so we keep going on among an olive grove, some enormous brooms and a nice mediterrenean vegetation. Somewhere we manage to look at west river bank, but is not possible to go further.

Although this site is expected to become a nature reserve, currently is not protected at all, for further information look at Legambiente Catania website (Italian language). We suggest you to come back, we just took this nice picture showing black and white stones inside the river. Let's go to the previous clearing, we can walk on the stone banks looking at the point where the Simeto river falls inside the canyon, cutting the lavic stones in two. The roar of water, the waterfalls, the strange shapes digged by the river and the Saraceni bridge makes this place as charming as the celebrated Alcantara gorges.

Spring is the best season for this path, due to the water flow and also for the scents in the wood. We also remind you to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL approaching the river: near the bridge there is a plaque commemorating two boys who lost their lives in the river some years ago.