The Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra

The Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra

Below the village of Motta Camastra there are the Alcantara Gorges, one of the most beautiful canyon existing in Italy. For some years the area has been part of the Alcantara Natural Park, created to protect the local flora and fauna but also to try to regulate tourist flows so as to preserve the beauty of the place for a long time.
A visit to the Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra is not only a must but must also be organized with care: here's all you need to know.

History of the Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra

The Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra are also known by the name of Gorges of Larderia. It is a very vast territory which has extremely different characteristics but which can reach up to 25 meters in height and 5 meters in depth, while the minimum width is just 2 meters.

Their formation is linked to the erosion action of the water that dug into the rock that had formed from a previous transformation of the incandescent lava in contact with the icy course of the Alcantara river. All this work has led to the creation of asymmetrical rocks which in some cases have truly bizarre shapes.
Experts have calculated that the formation of the Alcantara Gorges dates back to about 300 thousand years ago but the form it has taken today is much more recent since we are talking about "only" 8 thousand years ago.

Architecture of the Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra

The Alcantara Gorges can be accessed from various entrances and today they are part of the Alcantara River Park which also includes many other points of interest. Before organizing your trip, remember that they are closed from November to March because there is a real risk of flooding due to the rains.
In the rest of the year the site is open and to reach the most interesting area you need to use the lift or walk up a steep staircase of 224 steps. The Alcantara water is particularly cold and for this reason to walk the more than 3.5 km of ford it is necessary to wear rubber boots and waterproof clothing to prevent the cold from causing the risk of hypothermia.

Along the canyon it is possible to admire the signs of at least three different lava flows on the left rock face which gave life to the Gorges as they are today. The oldest of these is that of Chief Schisò which probably reached the sea.

What you can do around or inside the Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra

The Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra are a unique landscape spectacle but in recent years visitors have also appreciated the possibility that the River Park offers to be able to carry out many different activities inside.
The area is much loved by fans of trekking which have different paths available with different degrees of difficulty, to be covered with or without a guide.
Similarly, even those looking for a particular area in which to go climbing will be able to identify what they are looking for in the Gorges, thanks to the rocky walls that reach considerable heights but this activity can only be done with an authorized guide.

Another activity much requested by the more adventurous is the quad tour which can concern exclusively the Alcantara Valley or also include the Monte dell'Alcantara.Etna. If physical activity and the landscapes of the Alcantara Gorges in Motta Camastra are not enough, then the advice is to reach the Convent of the Capuchin Friars Minor which currently host the Museum of Franciscan testimony which presents a beautiful collection of medicinal plants.

The area in which the convent is located has a historical anecdote linked to a very bloody battle, the one that took place in 1719 between the Austrian and Spanish armies: there is a description by the historians of the time which tells in detail all that it happened.

Recommended activities for a tour of the Alcantara Gorges

How to get to Motta Camastra

Visitors who decide to participate in the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra can reach the town in various ways. First of all, they can use their own car, taking the A18 motorway from both Messina and Catania, with the exit at Fiume Freddo or at Giardini di Naxos.
Those who prefer the train, on the other hand, will have to travel a more complex route since the town does not have a station and the closest ones are Taormina or Santa Teresa di Riva. In both cases it is then possible to take advantage of the local bus service to reach Motta Camastra.

© Catinella Cristian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Eleassar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons