Valley of the Mistretta waterfalls

When you think of the Sicilia as a destination to spend the holidays, many places come to mind as beautiful as they are famous: think of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Scala dei Turchi and the eastern coast, from Syracuse to Catania. They are there though small jewels hidden and little known to the most hasty tourists: among these there is the Valley of the Mistretta Falls, naturalistic paradise pristine where the waterfalls until recently were known only to local shepherds.

History of the place

La Valley of the Mistretta Falls it is located at the gates of the namesake village in province of Messina, located in the heart of the beautiful Nebrodi Park. It is a territory that saw the very first human presence with the Sicani, of whom ancient vestiges and remains of ceramics remain. With the arrival of the Arabs, the fortress was born which still dominates the area today village of Mistretta: its citizens also actively participated in the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, after which Mistretta, with the Aragon, became state-owned city. Other dominations followed, for example by the royals of Castile and Austrians, by the Bourbons and the Piedmontese.

What to see in the surroundings of the Mistretta Waterfall Valley

Not far from the Mistretta Waterfalls, only 4 km away, stands one of the most interesting open-air museums of Sicily: it is the "River of Art" and develops on the banks of a stream that reached the ancient Halaesa. This original museum of the Nebrodi Park was created with the aim of enhancing the territory, making it known also through a series of installations of contemporary art, inserted perfectly into the naturalistic context.

Among the most iconic works of the "Fiumare d'Arte" the "Golden Boat Room", created by Japanese Nagasawa. It is a silent underground compartment that contains a minimal installation depicting a overturned boat, suspended in the air and connected to the ground by what appears to be the main mast. The work was created to be isolated from the rest of the world for a century, leading visitors to "see" the work only with their minds.

What to do in the Valley of the Mistretta Waterfalls

The Valley of the Mistretta Falls takes its name from the nine waterfalls immersed in the thick Montepiano forest: they reach heights ranging from 7 meters to 20 meters at the highest Pietrebianche waterfall. They are truly spectacular, hidden by vegetation and rocks, with small natural pools at the base that invite refreshing swims on the hottest days.
The route to reach them is not very easy, being steep and with sections that involve walking on stones and crossing the river bed. However, it is enough to equip yourself with trekking shoes, a windproof jacket, sun protection, insect repellent spray and a good supply of water.
You walk in a small naturalistic paradise, between yellowish quartzarenite rocks and centuries-old oak trees, with some ruins that can just be seen, linked to the presence of very ancient places of worship dug into the rock.
The excursion allows you to reach all nine waterfalls, up to the scenic one Zu Pardo stone bridge which, from its 20 m height, offers a beautiful view of the Valley of the Mistretta Waterfalls.

Returning to Mistretta, you cannot fail to visit the Arab-Norman castle which, from the top of the cliff on which it stands, dominates the valley below crossed by the Serravalle river. All that remains of the ancient fortress is a few ruins, which however exert great charm and fascination on visitors. You can still see the remains of the keep, a cistern, a church and some underground rooms.

How to get to the Valley of the Mistretta Falls

To reach the Valley of the Mistretta Waterfalls you must first get to the village of the same name, located between Messina and Palermo, a stone's throw from the coastal town of Santo Stefano di Camastra.
We must therefore travel, by car, the A19, i.e. the motorway that connects Palermo to Catania: continue until the exit for the A20 in the direction of Messina, and then turn at Santo Stefano di Camastra. From here, just take the SS117 until you reach Mistretta: the Valley of the Mistretta Waterfalls is only 4 km away.

Images of Francesco Saverio Modica, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons