Alcantara Gorge
The most fascinating attraction of the Alcantara Valley are the Alcantara Gorges. The gorges are located between Castiglione di Sicilia and Motta Camastra and it is a large gorge carved in lava rocks thousands of years old.
The canyon of the Alcantara gorges is about 25 meters deep and in the narrowest part, the gorge is only 2 meters wide up to about 4-5 meters in the widest points.
Origins of Alcantara Gorge
The gorge was created by the rapid cooling of the lava flow that created this type of lava called ‘Basaltic Lava’. This lava is rich in iron, magnesium and calcium but contains little silicon. Due to the rapid cooling, ‘pentagonal prismatic’ and ‘hexagonal’ have arisen.
Over the centuries, the lava has been smoothed by the flowing waters of the Alcantara river..
However, there are also people who think that the lava was a whole and split as the river flowed. However, this is invalidated by the fact that the two sides of the fissures have a completely different structure and therefore could not even fit together.
To visit the Alcantara gorges you have to get to Motta Camastra and you will find a parking where you can leave your car.
Then you can choose to go down the municipal stairs where you will pay an entrance fee and walk all the way down, or you can opt for the elevator which will always take you down (for a fee) without any effort.
Alcantara gorge excursions
If you want to visit the gorge in a unique way, you can choose one of the many excursions offered in this area, for example:
- Alcantara Canyoning
- Alcantara quad tour
- Body rafting Alcantara