Monte Scuderi and Fiumedinisi (Natural Reserve)

At 1253 meters above sea level is this very mysterious mountain chain, the Peloritani. Getting there is quite a wonderful experience accentuated by the fact that you can make it by taking a long nature walk, in other words, a path squeezed into nature’s surroundings

You pass by many Fosse delle Nevi (photo), enormous holes in the ground that at one time were used for storing ice, that then was distributed to the underlying towns. After about two hours of walking you finally arrive at the top: a vast plane with mysterious traces of the past, from prehistory to the High Middle Ages.  It is thought to have been inhabited by the Byzantines of Mico. At the top there are traces of buildings constructed with the typical crystaline stone of the area. In the south-east part, near a big pile of stones, there is a large room called the Casa del Re (House of the King).

The mountain is part of the “Riserva Naturale Fiumedinisi e Monte Scuderi”, characterized, as previously noted, by many river. Especially in the lower part, it is very rich in minerals, among them: silver, gold, allum, copper, iron… that in the past constituted an important work resource. One of the most beautiful and enchanting places is certainly the Valle degli Eremiti (Valley of the Hermits) where the play of the river water, high rock walls, flora and fauna was (and still is) a place of “absolute peace”.
It was visited by many hermits (hence the name) that lived in the many caves that open into this valley. You can also see ruins of a shrine and a convent.