The Zingaro oriented nature reserve is a protected natural area located in the municipalities of Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo, in the province of Trapani, and managed by the Regional State Forest Agency of the Sicily Region.

History

The coast of Zingaro is one of the very few stretches of Sicilian coast not affected by the presence of a coastal road.

The area was inhabited by the last family of farmers until around 1960, in the house that today is the Weaving Museum, restored in 2013. The inhabitants used mules to transport goods and water. Today mules are still used for transporting waste and goods, being the only possible means of transport.

In 1976 work had already begun on the construction of the Scopello-San Vito Lo Capo coastal road, but following a series of environmentalist initiatives, culminating in a highly attended protest march on May 18, 1980, the Regional State Forest Agency of Sicily committed to expropriating the Zingaro area recognized as having great environmental interest.

With Regional Law 98/1981, the reserve was officially established, the first nature reserve in Sicily, managed by the Regional State Forest Agency.

Territory

The reserve extends in the western part of the Gulf of Castellammare, on the San Vito Lo Capo peninsula, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea between Castellammare del Golfo and Trapani. The territory partly belongs to the municipality of San Vito Lo Capo and partly to Castellammare; it stretches along 7 km of coast and almost 1,700 hectares of unspoiled nature.

The coast is made of Quaternary calcarenites and Mesozoic limestone ridges of dolomitic nature, with cliffs that descend sharply to the sea from a maximum height of 913 m (Monte Speziale), interspersed with numerous small coves.

Flora

The reserve hosts about 670 plant taxa, some of which are endemic and rare. Among them, 502 are dicotyledons, 153 monocotyledons, 3 gymnosperms, and 10 pteridophytes. The lichen flora is notable, with 130 species recorded, and 35 species of mosses. 27 species of fungi (macromycetes) have also been recorded, with the most represented family being Tricholomataceae. Endemic phanerogamic species make up 6.3% of the reserve's total species and 1.6% of Sicily's flora.

Different Mediterranean ecosystems are present, partially modified by past agricultural activities.

Originally, the landscape was mostly evergreen Mediterranean forest (xerophilous forest), traces of which remain in holm oak woods hosting small ferns, cyclamens, butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), and, at the western edge, fragments of cork oak woods.

The most peculiar feature of the reserve is the dwarf palm garrigue, especially in contrada Zingaro, where Chamaerops humilis can reach 2–3 m in height.

Coastal areas are dominated by low scrub including Calicotome villosa, Spartium junceum, Thymus vulgaris, Erica multiflora, wild olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris), Euphorbia dendroides, and Euphorbia bivonae. Other species include Laurus nobilis, Malva sylvestris, Capparis spinosa, and Foeniculum vulgare.
Rocky areas host Ranunculus rupestris, Hyssopus officinalis, and the endemic Allium lehmannii. Cultivated species include almond (Prunus dulcis), manna ash (Fraxinus ornus), carob (Ceratonia siliqua), and grapevine (Vitis vinifera).

The high reserve areas are dominated by Mediterranean grassland with Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Hyparrhenia hirta, hosting endemic species like Thymus spinulosus, Iris pseudopumila, Romulea linaresii, Delphinium emarginatum, and Silene sicula, and rare species like Mandragora autumnalis.

Over 40 endemic species have been described, including the extremely rare Limonium todaroanum found at 750 m on Monte Passo del Lupo. More endemics include Limonium flagellare, Helichrysum rupestre var. rupestre, Dianthus rupicola, Centaurea ucriae, Brassica bivoniana, Helichrysum pendulum, Seseli bocconi, Brassica drepanensis, Hieracium cophanense, Minuartia verna subsp. grandiflora, Glandora rosmarinifolia, and Convolvulus cneorum.

More than 25 wild orchids can be found, including the endemic Ophrys lunulata and sub-endemics Orchis brancifortii, Ophrys oxyrrhynchos, and Neotinea commutata.

Fauna

39 bird species nest in the reserve, including Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), one of the last ten pairs of Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) in Sicily, Buzzard (Buteo buteo), and Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). The nesting of Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is uncertain. Migratory birds include Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). Other birds present are Raven (Corvus corax), Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus), Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Chukar Partridge (Alectoris graeca), Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Common Swift (Apus apus), Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), Magpie (Pica pica), Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), and Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos). Owls include Little Owl (Athene noctua) and Tawny Owl (Strix aluco).

Mammals include Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Weasel (Mustela nivalis), Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), and Porcupine (Hystrix cristata). Rodents include Savi's vole (Microtus savii) and Eliomys quercinus. Caves host 8 bat species, including Brown Long-Eared Bat (Plecotus auritus), Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Schreiber's Bent-Winged Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), and Kuhl's Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii). Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) was last seen in 1972.

Reptiles include Viper (Vipera aspis), Grass Snake (Coluber viridiflavus), Ocellated Skink (Chalcides ocellatus), Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica), Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata), and Wall Lizards (Podarcis sicula and Podarcis wagleriana).

Freshwater pools host Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus) and the rare freshwater crab (Potamon fluviatile).

Insects include Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta), and the flightless grasshopper Pamphagus marmoratus.

Marine life includes vermetid terraces formed by Dendropoma petraeum and Vermetus triquetrus, anemones (Actinia equina, Anemonia sulcata), corals (Astroides calycularis, Parazoanthus axinellae), and small fish like blennies (Lepadogaster lepadogaster) and Scorpaena scrofa.

Trails

Coastal Trail

Main trail, 7 km from Scopello (South entrance) to San Vito Lo Capo (North entrance), ~2 hours one-way. Features picnic areas, Visitor Center with Naturalistic Museum, Punta Capreria coves, Cala del Varo with summer shelter, Contrada Zingaro (dwarf palm scrub), Cala della Disa, Cala Berretta, Contrada Marinella, Contrada Uzzo (archaeological cave), and Museo della Civilta Contadina. Water points at Cala del Varo (summer only) and Contrada Uzzo.

Middle Coast Trail

8.5 km, ~4 h 30 min. From South entrance to Visitor Center, then steep ascent to 290 m. Offers panoramic views, passes Bosco di Scardina, Pizzo del Corvo, Contrada Sughero, Borgo Cusenza. Springtime features orchid blooms. Water points at Contrada Sughero and Borgo Cusenza.

High Trail

Most demanding, 17.5 km, ~7 h. From South entrance to Visitor Center, then steep ascent to Middle Coast Trail. Passes Marcato della Mennola, Marcato della Sterna, Pianello, Monte Speziale (914 m), Pizzo dell'Aquila (759 m), Portella Mandra Nuova (717 m), Monte Passo del Lupo (868 m, Limonium todaroanum). Includes historical shepherd villages and a 1696 watering trough.