Capo Murro di Porco, Maddalena Peninsula and Pellegrino Cave (ITA090008)
Site type: SAC - Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA090008 - Hectares: 172
Description:
The site is limited to a part of the coastal strip of the Maddalena Peninsula, located south of the urban area of Syracuse. It is a purely area
rock made up of Miocene limestone strongly influenced by marine factors (wind, aerosol, salinity). The bioclimate is part of the dry lower thermo-Mediterranean
superior. The vegetation is purely coastal and is represented by halophilous cliff communities in Crithmum and Limonium, from garighe to Thymus
capitatus and Helichrysum siculum and from the scrubland to Chamaerops humilis and Sarcopoterium spinosum. In some more depressed sections some areas are found
periodically submerged in which a hygrophilous vegetation settles, having its optimum in the summer period.
4.2Quality and importance
The interest of this area lies above all in the presence of purely coastal vegetation aspects that are still well preserved and well typified floristically. In
particular and its naturalistic value should also be highlighted as in this site there are communities that in the rest of the Syracusan coast have become
rare due to anthropogenic degradation. Here there are also various entities that in the regional area are rare or considered to be of significant phytogeographic interest, a
mentioned in the list in section 3.3 (D). The geographical position of this peninsula, protracted on the Ionian Sea, makes it a site of great
importance in the migration of passerine birds. Some bird species are known only for this area and a few others in Sicily. It is also a privileged site
for the observation of sea birds. It is one of the most important coastal sites on the island for the study of migrations through the Sicilian channel. A
small natural wetland, present near the Cape, represents an environment of extreme interest and marked fragility. For this habitat it would be
special protection is required
Protected marine area of Plemmirio, Capo murro di Porco lighthouse
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
