Emerald pools at the bottom of a canyon in the Hyblaean mountains
In the territory of Avola, the Cassibile river has carved into the Hyblaean plateau a canyon about ten kilometres long and up to 250 metres deep: Cavagrande del Cassibile, a nature reserve and one of the most spectacular natural sights in eastern Sicily.
At the bottom of the gorge the river forms a series of natural pools of emerald green water, the "laghetti", linked by small waterfalls and smooth limestone slides, where you can swim in summer surrounded by plane trees and oleanders. The canyon walls are dotted with prehistoric tombs and Byzantine cave dwellings. From the top, at the Belvedere, the view over the gorge is breathtaking.
Tip: the descent to the pools takes about forty-five minutes on a steep path, and the climb back is tiring in summer heat; check the reserve's opening, as access to the pools is sometimes closed for safety reasons.
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