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GOLE DELL'ALCANTARA

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In the mist of time, a small volcano north of mount Etna woke and poured forth an enormous quantity of lava which flowed down to the sea and beyond, to form Capo Schisò. The tortuous route taken by the lava flow was followed by a torrent of water which ploughed a channel through it, smoothing the lava and clearing away the aggregate. Towards the end of its journey, the water encountered more friable ground and, sweeping onwards, exposed two sheer cliffs of very hard basalt that had cooled and hardened into fascinating prism-like shapes. This is the gorge, only part of which is now accessible.

WHEN TO GO

The gorge is accessible when the water level is low, for a stretch between 50m and 200m. At the entrance to the gorge, waders can be hired to keep out the always freezing cold waters of the river. Normally, it is possible to walk up river from May to September. In the rest of the year, it is only possible to reach the entrance to the gorge. A lift can take visitors back up to the top of the gorge. Special camping facilities are available nearby. The river name, and valley’s, derives from Arabic Al Qantarah, dating back to the Arab domination, referring to the arched bridge built by the Romans that was capable of withstanding the force of the river in full spate.

THE GORGE

The descent of foot affords a spectacular view of the entrance to the gorge. The river-bed stone cliffs rise over 50 metres above the narrow tongue of water awkwardly stretching their cumbersome beauty. Black geometric forms seem to confront each other ominously as they surge skywards. Their axes intersect, forming pentagonal and hexagonal prisms, irregular shapes which interplay with the light, creating forms both graceful and monstrous. Their massive bulk exaggerated by shadow seems accentuated further up the gorge, where the world suddenly seems to be composed of three elements: rock, water and sky. All the while, the sun defines contour and profile by casting its bright light deep into the darkness; occasionally, this is refracted into a thousand tiny mirrors by miniscule droplets of water that have been ejected by the waterfalls, which then collect together into rivulets that stream down the sheer rock face.

LEGEND

At one time the Alcantara river flowed calmly along its course, without crags, rapids or sheer drops making the valley fertile. But people there were evil: they hurt each other and had no respect for nature. Two brothers lived in the valley and cultivated a field of wheat. One of them was blind. When the time came to divide up the harvest, the sighted farmer took the grain measure and began sharing out the wheat. One measure for himself and one for his brother. Then, overtaken by greed, he decided to keep most of the harvest for himself. An eagle, happening to fly overhead, witnessed what was happening and reported the incident to God, who hurled a thunderbolt at the cheat, killing him outright. The thunderbolt also struck the heap of grain that had unjustly been set aside, turning it into a mountain of red earth from which poured a river of lava which flowed down to the sea.

Legend from Al Qantarah by L. Danzuso and E. Zinna.

TOWNS

Messina
Acquedolci
Alcara Li Fusi
Alì
Ali' Terme
Antillo
Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto
Basicò
Brolo
Capizzi
Capo D'orlando
Caprileone
Caronia
Castel Di Lucio
Castell'umberto
Castelmola
Castelvecchio Siculo
Castroreale
Cesarò
Condrò
Falcone
Ficarra
Fiumedinisi
Floresta
Fondachelli-fantina
Forza D'agro'
Francavilla Di Sicilia
Frazzano'
Furci Siculo
Furnari
Gaggi
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Gallo D'oro
Giardini Naxos
Gioiosa Marea
Graniti
Gualtieri Sicaminò
Itala
Leni
Letojanni
Librizzi
Limina
Lipari
Longi
Malfa
Malvagna
Mandanici
Mazzara' Sant'andrea
Merì
Milazzo
Militello Rosmarino
Mirto
Mistretta
Moio Alcantara
Monforte San Giorgio
Mongiuffi Melia
Montagna Reale
Montalbano Elicona
Motta Camastra
Motta D'affermo
Naso
Nizza Di Sicilia
Novara Di Sicilia
Olivieri
Pace Del Mela
Pagliara
Patti
Pettineo
Piraino
Raccuja
Reitano
Roccafiorita
Roccalumera
Roccavaldina
Roccella Val Demone
Rodì Milici
Rometta
San Filippo Del Mela
San Fratello
San Marco D'alunzio
San Pier Niceto
San Piero Patti
San Salvatore Di Fitalia
Sant'agata Di Militello
Sant'alessio Siculo
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Santa Domenica Vittoria
Santa Lucia Del Melo
Santa Maria Salina
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Saponara
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Scaletta Zanclea
Sinagra
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Terme Vigliatore
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Tusa
Ucria
Valdina
Venetico
Villafranca Tirrena

INTRESTING LOCALTIES

Isole Eolie
Lipari
Salina
Vulcano
Stromboli
Panarea
Alicudi
Filicudi
Monti Nebrodi
Fiumara D'arte
Ganzirri
Gole Dell'alcantara
Tindari

Testi © Studio Scivoletto e Michelin Italia. Le foto sono di proprietà dei rispettivi autori. Ogni riproduzione non autorizzata verrà perseguita a norma di legge.


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