Marinello lakes in Tindari

The history of the Marinello lakes in Tindari

Along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, near Tindari famous for the historical and architectural beauties of the archaeological area, another beauty of this land rises, an all-natural beauty: it is the Marinello Lakes Nature Reserve, an uncontaminated and protected area since 1998, the year in which the Reserve was established.
The Marinello lakes are brackish formations born between sand and sea, of which the first news dates back to two centuries ago, when the first news from this area arrived in 1877.
During the XNUMXth century the territory underwent various transformations, such as for example in the XNUMXs, when massive deforestation in the surrounding areas paved the way for large masses of debris which went to be deposited in sandy formations, altering the morphology of the lakes.

The transformation of these places still continues today in the opposite direction, leading the sandy formations to become thinner and thinner.
The Marinello lakes a Tindari they are natural formations, whose conformation evolves over time, but this fascinating phenomenon has also given rise to several legends, to explain the formation of the lakes in metaphysical terms: the legend says, in fact, that the tides have traced a lake with well-defined contours, in which the figure of a woman can be identified holding her child on her lap. A strong image, which brings to mind another fascinating and mysterious place in the area, namely the Sanctuary of Tindari, where is the statue of the Virgin and Child adored in the Sanctuary.

Geography of the Marinello lakes in Tindari and what to admire

The Marinello lakes in Tindari are natural formations, which derive from the movement of the tides and therefore give rise to temporary phenomena, but they are also the result of human activity, the consequences of which always have repercussions on the environment.
What most impresses those who come to visit the lakes in different seasons of the year is precisely the transformation of the local morphology, which changes at different times of the year based on the movement of the tides, leaving now a smaller number now a greater number of lakes to admire , for a constantly changing show.

The lakes, at sea level, are of an intense blue colour, sometimes spotted with green and it is possible to identify even from afar the assemblies of sand and gravel that delimit the stretches of water. The areas closest to the rock are the oldest ones and among these, Marinello is the oldest lake, from which the entire reserve took its name. Further away from the rocks, there are the lakes born following the deforestation of the thirties.
The Marinello lakes in Tindari are the perfect habitat for numerous animal and vegetable species: here you can observe sea hay or helichrysum, while the lakes are populated by many fish and where the water reaches greater depths, also live marmora and sea bass, saltwater fish.

What to do at the Marinello lakes in Tindari

Visiting the Marinello lakes in Tindari is an outdoor activity suitable for the whole family; those who want to spend a few days of vacation in Sicily to discover all the natural beauties of the island can stay at Patti along the Tyrrhenian coast and immediately reach the Reserve, where there is also a beach where you can lie down and sunbathe after walking in nature.

Here you can admire the lakes, but also the numerous animal and plant species that populate them and birdwatchers can wait to see the peacocks or water birds pass by.
The paths in the reserve are in close contact with nature and, as we know, walking in nature can whet your appetite: in these parts you can recharge your batteries with a stop at an agritourism or restaurant, where you can taste local products such as cured meats and cheeses, or taste the typical dishes of the area such as linguine with seafood or swordfish, stockfish and the delicious desserts of Sicilian cuisine.

After a stop to taste the typical dishes, the tour can continue towards Tindari, where the Greek Theatre (from the XNUMXth century), the Sanctuary of Tindari and the Archaeological Area, unmissable destinations for all history lovers.
Those who don't want to go too far from Patti, a hamlet where the Marinello lakes are located in Tindari, but want to spend a few hours at the beach, can go to the Marina di Patti, where the beach is among the best along the Tyrrhenian coast.

How to get to the Marinello lakes in Tindari

The Marinello lakes in Tindari can only be reached by car, traveling on the State Road 113 which connects Oliveri with the Reserve.
To get to Oliveri by car, take the A20 motorway and take the Facolne exit. The journey from Oliveri to the Reserve is marked by signs and road signs that allow motorists to easily reach their destination.

© Boogeyman93, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Effems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; gmrichards.t21, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Effems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons