Imagine this: A mighty river carving its way through ancient volcanic rocks, creating dramatic lava canyons and crystal-clear pools.
Welcome to the Alcantara River Park, Sicily’s only river park, stretching over 1,927 hectares of wild, untamed beauty.
If you crave outdoor adventure, stunning landscapes, and a dash of history, you’ve found your paradise. 🌄💧
Long before Sicily was the Mediterranean hotspot it is today, Mount Etna had a fiery idea 💥— send molten lava toward the Alcantara River.
But the river fought back! Its cool waters shaped the lava flows into breathtaking basalt canyons, cliffs, and columns, forming one of Earth’s most spectacular natural artworks. Nature 1 – Lava 0.
🌸 Flora Parade: Wander through lush Mediterranean vegetation, wildflowers, and ancient olive trees. Think aromatic herbs perfuming the air as you hike along winding trails. 🍃🌺
🦅 Fauna Fans Rejoice: Spot birds of prey, river otters, and even colorful kingfishers darting through the skies. Keep your eyes peeled – wildlife sightings are frequent here! 🦊🦜
The park isn’t just about nature – it’s Sicily’s living history book! From prehistoric settlements to Greek sanctuaries, this valley has been home to ancient Sicilians for thousands of years.
Walk through the ruins of Francavilla Castle, discover archeological sites, and follow the paths once used by ancient farmers.
History feels better with a view. 📜🏰
Dive into a magical world of lava-sculpted pools, medieval castle ruins, and ancient “saje” irrigation channels. This easy walk winds through Francavilla di Sicilia, offering panoramic views of Castiglione di Sicilia and Motta Camastra.
Ready for some epic geology? This path leads you inside the Alcantara Gorge, where ancient basalt walls tower like stone cathedrals. 🌋 Walk along the river, marvel at lava-carved canyons, and listen to the soothing river rapids echoing through the cliffs.
Ever walked through time? This historic trail takes you past ancient watermills, some dating back to medieval Sicily. Follow the sound of flowing water through enchanting forests and wildflower-strewn meadows.
Nature lovers, this one’s for you! Stroll through the park’s botanical wonderland, home to rare Mediterranean plants, birds, and butterflies.
Looking for a volcanic thrill? Trek this dynamic trail where Mount Etna’s fiery past meets the cooling embrace of the Alcantara River.
Looking for unforgettable experiences in one of Sicily’s most stunning natural parks?
The Alcantara River Park offers unique activities that cater to thrill-seekers, families, and nature lovers alike.
Best of all? You can book these experiences directly online through the park’s official website: golealcantara.it.
Feel the river beneath your feet as you trek through cool waters, exploring hidden canyons, basalt formations, and waterfalls carved by ancient lava flows. This immersive adventure offers breathtaking views and close encounters with nature. Good to know: You’ll need sturdy water shoes, a swimsuit, and a spirit of adventure!
Ready for adrenaline-pumping action? Navigate the rapids and natural rock slides of the Alcantara River using only your body! Adventure seekers will love the thrill of riding through volcanic rock channels in the heart of this spectacular gorge. This activity requires good physical fitness and a sense of adventure.
The Spray Park is perfect for families looking to cool off and relax. With fountains, water games, and interactive splash areas, it’s a refreshing break after a day of exploring. Tip: Kids under 14 need parental supervision for a safe and fun experience.
To secure your adventure, visit the park’s official website at golealcantara.it. You can book all activities online up to 24 hours before your visit, ensuring a hassle-free experience when you arrive.
Whether you’re craving adventure, a nature escape, or a family-friendly day out, the Alcantara River Park has something for everyone.
Its stunning landscapes, thrilling activities, and easy online booking make it the ultimate destination for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
EXCELLENT Based on 74 reviews Anne Fenton22 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Antonio was a delight to deal with. He was knowledgable, friendly and very patient when we changed our plans several times! His choices of hotels were exceptionally good and he was very responsive when we had a little hiccup with the car rental. Highly recommend his services. Teresa Oliveira25 August 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ExpertoItaly to help us with our two-week holiday in Sicily. We had a couple of interactions with Antonio, and were very fast to close on our itinerary and hotels. Everyting was very well organized and suitable to our requirements. Antonio chose very good accommodations: small beautiful, full of character and well located. He also booked our bus trips as we did not want to rent a car. That worked really well. It was a great help and gave us great confidence for our trip. We strongly recommend ExpertoItaly if you want customised holidays in Italy. We will use it again for future traveling in Italy! IzzieD21 August 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Antonio is an expert on Italy so if you are planning a trip then you should definitely use ExpertoItaly. He helped us plan the perfect family trip and we cannot fault any of his recommendations. From car hire, to the perfect hotels and apartments, he is highly knowledgeable and it doesn't stop with planning. He was on hand to be available if we needed his help while on the trip. His customer service is first class. Thank you so so much and we look forward to planning our next trip with you. David Wise12 August 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Antonio was really helpful in planning our trip to Italy. We wanted to visit 3 locations, he provided recommendations on accomodations which were great - really good locations for each booking. He also coordinated taxis and trains and provided a load of suggestions for each location for places to eat and sites to visit. He was readily available to answer any questions we had by email or WhatsApp. His assistance really helped us in planning this trip and saved us a lot of stress in trying to coordinate this ourselves. All in all we had a great holiday Simon Tanner8 July 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Antonio organised a wonderful two-centre trip for us. He listened to our requirements and designed an itinerary that fulfilled our needs perfectly. All the arrangements (hotels, transfers, bike hire, train tickets etc.) went smoothly and Antonio was available before and during the holiday to answer any queries. He is helpful and charming. The pricing was very competitive and the holiday good value for money. I would recommend ExpertoItaly to anyone looking for knowledgeable, excellent customer service and look forward to using Antonio’s services again in the future. Paul Bowtell2 July 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Would recommend ExpertoItaly to anyone. Antonio's expertise and great customer service combined to make our Sicily holiday a 100% hit. We had a rough idea of where and what we wanted to do, but Antonio fine tuned our ideas into a fabulous itinerary (Syracusa and Savoca based). He helped smooth any problems, gently reminded us to fill in the needed forms/provide info and made sure all was going well. Can't praise him enough, especially as he is a very small operation. Anna Connor24 June 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Would not hesitate to recommend Antonio - who planned our perfect honeymoon. I got in touch asking for advice on Italy 3-week itineraries, he sent a few options and I picked one and we worked together to adapt and perfect the locations we wanted to visit. Antonio then booked accommodation in each place, even being so specific to choose exact rooms he thought were the best in each hotel. He reserved cars, ferries and private transfers throughout the trip and took all the stress away and everything went seamlessly. His knowledge of every place and the activities to do / restaurants to visit was so helpful too. We ended up experiencing such a varied and beautiful Italy and visited places we would not have known about if not for Antonio. He is always available on whatsapp or for a phone call and was so helpful in changing our plans slightly when our flight got cancelled, and always available whilst we were away if we had any questions. If you are thinking of an Italian holiday do it! Who better to help plan than an Italian that is passionate about all his country has to offer? Adam R20 June 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From the moment we were introduced to Antonio, we knew we were about to embark on a fabulous holiday. We simply told him that we wanted a week away in Sicily. He did the rest.. from arranging top quality transfers to planning the trip incorporating two fabulous hotels. Focused on the minute detail, to setting up a WhatsApp group so that we could keep in touch whilst we were away, his service was impeccable. Without doubt, when we next venture to Italy, he will be our first call and I suggest you do the same! Mike Girling (No nickname)31 May 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just back from 10 wonderful days in Sicily a fantastic trip made possible by the sheer expertise of Antonio. We had considered going to Sicily on 3 separate occasions but it was only when we spent time talking to Antonio that the magic of a trip to Sicily became a reality. His choice of accommodation has enabled us to experience genuine Sicilian hospitality at its best in fantastic locations and with expert guides to ensure we fully appreciated our surroundings. We didn't want to drive so Antonio organized drivers to transport us between locations. We have had a memorable experience and will use Antonio again to ensure we have further great times in Italy. Thank you Antonio Mike & Diane Elaine Yeoh8 November 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We engaged Antonio Cresce to plan and manage our 2.5 week holiday in Italy - covering regions around Turin, Lake Maggiore and Verona. He was amazing from the planning stages, helping us to pick towns as bases, according to our needs and interests . We had video calls with him where he listened to what we wanted and we planned the details together. When we were in Italy, he kept in close contact and was readily available for any questions or issues we came across . The hotels he chose were incredible , and the excursions from the towns we stayed in were interesting and great experiences. His contacts, his experience and his professionalism made our holiday in Italy seamless and a truly wonderful experience! We would highly recommend Antonio from Expert to Italy !
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