Green areas of Messina, Messina:

1a Nature Reserve oriented Capo Peloro lagoon: established in 2001, it covers an area of ​​about 70 hectares where more than 400 aquatic species live. We recall that the Lago di Capo Peloro is a site of international importance, included in the UNESCO Water Project since 1972;

1b Villa Giuseppe Mazzini: originally called “the Flora”, it was designed by the Swiss engineer Enrico Fehr. Rich in Mediterranean and exotic vegetation, it is one of the favorite places of the Messinese for free time. Inside the Villa there are the Aquarium and an aviary that hosts exotic birds;

1c Villa Dante: built in the seventies, is the green lung of Messina. The Villa extends over a few hectares and also includes a large outdoor arena, a swimming pool, a center for the elderly, soccer fields and numerous play areas for children;

1d Villa Albert Sabin: large green space overlooking the Strait;

1e Colli San Rizzo (or Colli Sarrizzo): immense green area of ​​the city;

1f Pietro Castelli Botanical Garden of the University of Messina: located in Piazza XX Settembre, it includes plants from various parts of the world.

Nebrodi Regional Nature Park (Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Capizzi, Caronia, Cesarò, Floresta, Galati Mamertino, Longi, Militello Rosmarino, Mistretta, Raccuja, Sant’Agata di Militello, Santa Domenica Vittoria, San Fratello, San Marco d’Alunzio , Santo Stefano di Camastra, San Teodoro, Tortorici, municipalities of EN and CT): established in August 1993, with its almost 86 thousand hectares of land is the largest protected natural area in Sicily. The municipalities falling within the Park area are 24: 19 in the province of Messina, 3 in the province of Catania (Bronte, Maniace and Randazzo) and 2 in the province of Enna (Cerami and Troina). The Park is managed by the Ente Parco dei Nebrodi and is rich in oaks, chestnuts and holly and is populated by the peregrine falcon, wild rabbits, partridges and buzzards.

Nature reserve oriented Fiumedinisi and Monte Scuderi (Alì, Fiumedinisi, Itala, Monforte San Giorgio, Nice of Sicily, San Pier Niceto, Santa Lucia del Mela): established by decree of the regional council of the territory and the environment in December 1998, the Reserve covers an area of ​​about 3,500 hectares and houses beautiful specimens of tree heather and oak woods. Worth mentioning are the rivers, real outdoor geological laboratories where myriad pebbles of different mineral origins tell the natural and physical history of the Peloritani Mountains.

Bosco di Malabotta Nature Reserve (Francavilla di Sicilia, Malvagna, Montalbano Elicona, Roccella Valdemone, Tripi): located in the transition zone between the Peloritani Mountains and the Nebrodi Mountains, the Reserve stretches for a total area of ​​about 3,200 hectares and also includes the Argimusco plateau, famous for the presence of megalithic rocks. Finally, we remember that the Wood of Malabotta is one of the oldest in Sicily.

Nature Reserve The Mountains of the Ferns and Leeks (Leni, Malfa, Santa Marina Salina): established in 1984 on the island of Salina (Aeolian Islands), the protected air is characterized by mountain ranges and spontaneous vegetation consisting mainly of evergreen scrub. We report in the territory of the Reserve the presence of the dormouse, the hawk of the queen, the bertes and other pelagic birds.

Reserves of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari:

• Isola di Alicudi nature reserve: established in 1997;
• Nature Reserve oriented Filicudi Island and Canna cliffs and Montenassari: established in 1997;
• Panarea Island Nature Reserve and Neighboring Rocks: established in 1997;
• Stromboli and Strombolicchio Island nature reserve: established in 1997;
• Vulcano Island oriented nature reserve: established in 2000.

Isola Bella nature reserve, Taormina: established in 1998, the Reserve protects a marine environment of great variety with rich depths not only of flora and fauna but also of shipwrecks and archaeological finds. Recall that the Isola Bella has been included in the list of Sites of Community Importance (SIC) and declared a monument of historical and artistic interest of particular value in 1984.

Alcantara Fluvial Park, Motta Camastra-Castiglione di Sicilia (CT): regional park established in 2001 to replace the existing Reserve. The Park protects the entire territory of the Alcantara Gorges, the spectacular gorges that in some places are up to 25 meters high and between 2 and 5 meters wide. On the territory of Motta Camastra, in Fondaco Motta, lies the most impressive and famous gorge of the Alcantara, more than 6 km long but easily accessible only for the first 3.

Laghetti di Marinello nature reserve, Patti: established in 1998, the protected lagoon area covers an area of ​​about 400 hectares. Over time, the numerous morphological variations of the territory have modified the coast thus creating these marvelous salt lakes. Among the fish species present in the waters of the Reserve we point out the macrocephalic goby, the eel, the capoccione dairy, the bosega mullet, the black goby, the peafowl and the needlefish.

Integral nature reserve Vallone Calagna above Tortorici, Tortorici: it was created in 1993 to promote tourism and hiking in one of the largest protected regions of Sicily. A municipal branch deals with the signaling of mountain routes within the protected area and the coordination of the numerous folk initiatives promoted by the reserve’s managing body. Among the events organized, we report the Festival of the Musical Band of the Nebrodi which takes place in August with a section dedicated to the performance of the soloists.