Want to take a good bowl of air in the heart of Sicily Island? Here’s how to make the most of your stay by discovering the nature reserve of Zingaro, one of the most beautiful natural spaces in southern Europe!
The nature reserve of the Zingaro is one of the must-see places to visit when you visit the west of the Sicily . It is located in the splendid province of Trapani . The reserve covers nearly 1,700 hectares and runs 7 km of coastline. This protected area was Sicily's first natural reserve.
Zingaro offers great opportunities for unforgettable hiking. The hiking trails lead the visitor to discover steep cliffs, splendid wild coves and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.
We have prepared a guide that will allow you to survey these great expanses serenely!
Ready to get your legs down? Andiamo !
History of the Zingaro Nature Reserve
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Let's go back in the 1970s: the north of the country is ahead of the south, which reveal still very poor areas very few connected to the rest of the country. The Italian government wants to move to higher speed and modernize the country. A large road infrastructure construction plan is launched. It is supposed to dislocate all of these remote areas since, in the end, no Italian is supposed to live more than 20 kilometres from a highway.
In the future Zingaro nature reserve, the construction of a coastal road was to begin in 1977. But the project is facing the inhabitants, eager to maintain an authentic landscape. The inhabitants of the province of Trapani are pressure groups. Thanks to their solidarity, the area was classified as a "natural reserve" in 1981. It’s a first of Sicily!
Even today, tourists who have come to visit the Zingaro Nature Reserve still benefit from this mobilization. No one shall pollute the sector. Landscapes and the environment are completely free from industrial and architectural pollution.
What to see and do at the Zingaro Nature Reserve?
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This protected natural area is home to rich and unique flora and fauna! Since some species are endemic, it is very important to preserve them. In addition to the 650 species of plants, including several types of orchids and rare species, wildlife is also part of the game. Ornithology enthusiasts will be able to admire about forty species of birds such as the pilgrim falcon, the fastest raptor in the world, or the Bonelli eagle!
To get a chance to admire them, just follow the three main paths: the coastal path, the central path and the altitude path.
The central path
The central path consists of many paths sinking into the land. They lead to small gardens where olive trees, palm trees and herbs typically Mediterranean seem frozen in time. But also in deep, dark caves or hills overlooking the Sicilian coast.
The altitude path
For the altitude trail, it allows you to reach - at the price of a few efforts - the highest point of the Zingaro nature reserve: the Speziale Mountain, 900 meters high!
The coastal path
The coastal path runs along the magnificent Sicilian coastline for nearly seven kilometers. This one has a low denial and offers optimal security for tourists who come to visit the Zingaro Nature Reserve! This hike leads you to sumptuous views and beautiful coves. You can swim in crystalline water and admire many species of multicolored fish. Throughout your journey, small beaches are accessible for a few efforts but these, tiny, are quickly crowded during the summer season!
The coastal path
If you only had to choose one, it is no doubt the coastal path we recommend. This allows you to access sublime, wild, coves:
- The Cala della Disa, the largest reserve. It offers walkers crystalline water and wave protection. These, sometimes violent, come to break on the rocks.
- Right next door, Cala Berretta seems to be the miniature copy of Cala della Disa.
- Cala Capreria is less than a kilometre from the southern entrance of the park. This pebble beach is an appropriate place to indulge in the joys of snorkelling and swim in the middle of the fish.
- The Cala dell’Uzzo, all north of the reserve, is certainly more pleasant to photograph than to swim! In the wind, it can present strong waves that can represent a serious risk in the event of imprudence.
- Finally, Cala Marinella is our heartfelt. This is the least frequented since it is far from the main entrance. To reach it, you will have to walk for a while!
Be careful, however, that you walk on a steep slope or swim: the Zingaro nature reserve is wild and unattended. It would take very long minutes or even hours to rescue services in case of problems. Take all your precautions to avoid any unhappy incident!
How to go to the Zingaro Nature Reserve?
The reserve is less than twenty kilometres from the Castellamare del Golfo motorway exit. The car is essential to reach the area, not economically developed!
You can access the Zingaro Nature Reserve by the North and the South:
- By the North : it is by car park located 12 kilometers from San Vito Lo Capo (to reach it, take Strada Provinciale 63).
- South : it is by parking located two kilometers from the village of Scopello.
The car parks are large enough, and it is possible to park many cars there. However, tourist attendance during the high summer season makes access difficult. Places become rare: make sure to arrive very early in the morning!
Go to Zingaro by plane
There are many air links with Sicily. Ideally, we recommend landing in Palermo, just a few kilometers from Zingaro. Our partner Ulysses you will find a plane ticket for Sicily.
Where to sleep in Zingaro?
As for the accommodation, you can book a hotel in Zingaro . You can also rent accommodation via Airbnb in Zingaro Park . The surrounding cities are also a good option. Please note: the wild campsite is not allowed in Italy!
Schedules & Rates of the Zingaro Nature Reserve
Visiting the Zingaro Nature Reserve can be done every day from 7am to 7:30pm. With regard to the access price, both North and South parking lots are free of charge. However, an entry ticket of €5 per person will be requested to enter the reserve. The price of the child is reduced to €3 for children between 10 and 14 years of age and becomes even free for children under ten years of age.
Good to know.
- Violent fires are episodic in Sicily during the summer season. Beware of these and, of course, try not to inadvertently trigger one during your visit!
- Apart from your arrival in the car parks, where snacks are present, it is impossible to salvage in food and drink in the park. So, make sure you get the necessary, and especially water during the summer canicles.
- To visit the reservation on the part, count a minimum of six hours walk.
- To visit the Zingaro nature reserve, and to avoid the canicular temperatures of the summer season while enjoying nature leave in the spring. For it is from April to June that we enjoy the best of this splendid protected space!
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