Fortresses of Ciminna
Type of site: SIC - Site of Community Interest ZSC - Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA020024 - Hectares: 1139
Description:
It is a biotope of significant naturalistic and environmental interest, which extends as a whole
for an area of about 625 hectares, involving the territory of the municipalities of Caccamo, Mezzojuso, Ciminna and
Villafrati (province of Palermo). The area of the SIC includes the cliffs that develop sinuously through
about seven kilometers, starting from Pizzo Avvoltoio (747 m), near Villafrati, up to the summit of Il Pizzo
(825 m), east of Ciminna; among the other peaks we should mention the Serra Capezzagna (768 m), Cozzo Rocca
Cavallo (695 m), Cozzo Bordaro (695 m), le Serre (777 m), the Balze della Chiusa (745 m), Pizzo Monaco (m
872), Castelluccio (556 m); on the southern side there is also the outcrop of the Balzo Rosso (358 m) ed
a short stretch of the river bed of the San Leonardo River. From a geological point of view it is a massif
outcrop of crystalline gypsum from the Messinian, a rocky-evaporitic formation, with widespread phenomena of
karst - with sinkholes, closed valleys, sinkholes, etc. - which highlight the existence of a hydrographic basin
underground. In particular, it is worth mentioning the Inghiottitoio delle Serre, with about 150 m of overall development,
somewhat rich in concretions of a prevalent chalky nature (stalactites and macro-crystallizations of the walls); between
the cavities of karst and tectonic nature, located on the south side, the Grotta dell'Acqua should be noted
Crowded, resurgence characterized by an underground lake. Under the bioclimatic aspect, the territory falls within
between the thermo and mesomediterranean belts, with varying ombrotype between the upper dry and the subhumid
The plant landscape denotes a somewhat bare and monotonous physiognomy, affected by it
notably of the intense uses of the past. It is mainly to be referred to the following series of
vegetation: - Olivastro (Oleo-Euphorbio dendroidis sigmetum), on the ledges and the driest rocky ridges
of the south side; - of Leccio and Lentisco (Pistacio-Querco ilicis sigmetum), in the upper part of the plateau; -
of the Virgilian oak (Oleo-Querco virgilianae sigmetum) on clayey substrates, with deep and
evolved. The micro geoseries linked to edaphic conditions must also be added to the aforementioned series
details, as in the case of the rocky walls, the river bed, ect.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Ministerial data: Ministerial Map Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
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