Contrary to the image of Sicily as a region defined solely by the sea and its beautiful coastline, the island is actually home to around thirty lakes spread across all its provinces, from the small mountain reservoirs of the Nebrodi Mountains to the coastal wetlands along the Ionian coast. Most lakes in Sicily are artificial, created by dams built between the 1950s and 1980s for irrigation and water supply, while natural lakes are fewer and owe their existence to karst basins, volcanic craters or lava flows that blocked the course of a stream.

Reservoirs managed by land reclamation consortia often have inaccessible shores and water levels that fluctuate considerably between spring and late summer, sometimes dropping enough to expose large areas of the lakebed. Nature reserves, on the other hand, are equipped with trails, birdwatching hides and visitor centres, and in some cases require an admission fee. Only a few offer lakeside accommodation, canoe rentals or designated swimming areas.

The time of year can completely change the experience. Between October and November, and again from March to May, the lakes become populated with migratory birds taking advantage of Sicily’s position along the route between North Africa and continental Europe. In July and August, however, many lakes shrink considerably, while high temperatures make daytime walks less practical. Let’s discover together the most beautiful and interesting lakes to visit in Sicily!

Natural lakes to visit in Sicily

In the Erei Mountains basin, just a few kilometres south of Enna, the first natural lake worth visiting is Lake Pergusa, which occupies a depression with no tributaries or outlets. Its water supply depends on rainfall and groundwater, while water is lost solely through evaporation. Over thousands of years, this process has concentrated dissolved salts, giving the lake its brackish waters. The area is protected as a special nature reserve, the first to be established on the island, and is also included among the Special Protection Areas of the European network.

The phenomenon that makes this lake particularly famous concerns its colour: under certain conditions of salinity and sunlight, the water takes on a reddish-purple hue due to the proliferation of a copepod, Arctodiaptomus salinus, which produces a carotenoid pigment to protect itself from solar radiation. As a curious historical detail, classical tradition associates the abduction of Proserpina with this lake, an episode that Ovid places precisely in these meadows.

Very different is the case of the Mirror of Venus, located in the Bugeber district on Pantelleria. This is an endorheic lake set within a volcanic depression, fed by rainfall and underwater springs that release warm water along the southern shore. Visitors can choose where to bathe according to their preferred temperature, as the water is warmer in the south and cooler in the north. The presence of clay sediments traditionally used as natural mud treatments also makes it a thermal destination as well as a place of natural beauty.

Mountain lakes in Sicily: the Nebrodi Mountains and Mount Etna

Among the most beautiful lakes to visit are the mountain lakes of Sicily, located in the Nebrodi Mountains and on Mount Etna. At an altitude of 1,498 metres, on the slopes of Monte Soro, which at 1,847 metres is the highest peak in the Nebrodi Mountains, lies Lake Maulazzo. Covering around five hectares within the territory of Alcara Li Fusi, it was created by an earth dam built in the 1980s. However, the surrounding beech forest has transformed it within just a few decades into an important habitat for local birdlife, with regular sightings of grey herons, mallards and kingfishers, as well as endemic plant species such as the Valdemone thistle growing along its shores.

Not far away, reached via a detour from the road connecting Cesarò and San Fratello, lies the Biviere di Cesarò, the natural counterpart to Lake Maulazzo. This glacial lake sits at an altitude of 1,278 metres and is fed by springs. Its shores are frequented by free-roaming Sanfratellano horses, while on clear days it offers magnificent views of Mount Etna.

On the north-western side of the volcano, in the territory of Randazzo, lies Lake Gurrida, which owes its existence to a sixteenth-century lava flow that blocked the course of the Flascio stream. During winter, the water level can rise above four metres, flooding the surrounding land on the plateau at an altitude of 835 metres. In summer, the lake recedes, leaving behind wet meadows. One of its most unusual agricultural features is the presence of vineyards that remain submerged for months without suffering damage. Visiting this lake offers the opportunity to follow a nature trail with observation points in the only wetland area of the Etna Park. Further downstream, between Francavilla di Sicilia and Castiglione, the Alcantara River forms the gurne, sixteen consecutive pools of icy water set between basalt walls.

Artificial lakes: from Lake Rosamarina to Lake Santa Rosalia

At the foot of the town of Caccamo, in the province of Palermo, lies Lake Rosamarina, the largest artificial reservoir in Sicily. It was created by damming the San Leonardo River and supplies water for domestic and agricultural use across much of the Palermo area. The shores remain largely wild and undeveloped, with the exception of the eastern side, where a multifunctional facility offers a campsite, refreshments, a swimming pool and a water sports centre with canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals. Combining a visit to the lake with Caccamo Castle makes for an even more enjoyable day out, particularly in spring or summer.

In the Sicani Mountains, between Sambuca di Sicilia, Santa Margherita di Belice and Sciacca, you can visit Lake Arancio, which covers 3.7 square kilometres and was created in the early 1950s by damming the Carboj River. Rising waters partially submerged the Fortino di Mazzallakkar, a fortified structure dating back to the Islamic period. Today, its ruins emerge from the water when the level drops, a condition that usually occurs in late summer. The area is managed for conservation purposes by LIPU, the Italian League for Bird Protection, which has established a nature oasis here. The lake lies along the migratory routes of spoonbills, northern shovelers and curlews, while great crested grebes, Eurasian coots and common moorhens breed there regularly.

In the countryside around Ragusa, set within a basin in the Hyblaean Mountains, lies Lake Santa Rosalia, created by damming the Irminio River for irrigation purposes. It covers 1.45 square kilometres and has an irregular shoreline that provides shelter for numerous breeding species, including kestrels, red kites and common ravens. Nearby, visitors can also explore Donnafugata Castle and the nature reserve at the mouth of the Irminio River.

Lakes in Sicily and birdwatching: Vendicari and Biviere di Gela

Along the coast between Noto and Pachino lies the Vendicari Wildlife Oasis Nature Reserve, which protects around 1,500 hectares of brackish and freshwater marshes, abandoned salt pans, rocky stretches of coastline, beaches and Mediterranean scrubland. Its position along the migratory route between Africa and Europe means that, within just a few hours of observation, visitors may spot greater flamingos, black-winged stilts, herons and storks. Bird populations change considerably between the autumn and spring migration periods. Pantano Grande preserves traces of the area’s ancient salt pans, while the remains of the nineteenth-century tuna fishery and the Swabian tower stand out along its shores. The beautiful Calamosche cove is also located nearby. The internal route follows mostly flat trails with birdwatching hides and is suitable for families with children, provided visitors avoid the hottest hours of summer days. Admission is charged, and the car parks are located along the main road, several hundred metres from the access points.

On Sicily’s southern coast, just a few hundred metres inland from the shoreline, Biviere di Gela is the island’s largest coastal lake and one of the few environments of its kind remaining in the central Mediterranean. The reserve, managed by LIPU, offers daily opening hours and guided tours for groups, but it can also be explored independently thanks to its equipped trails and birdwatching hides overlooking the water. Species that can be observed include purple herons, common pochards, Eurasian wigeons, Kentish plovers and glossy ibises, the metallic-hued birds that have become a symbol of the protected area.

Escursioni

VIVI LE PIU’ BELLE ESPERIENZE IN SICILIA, ABBIAMO SELEZIONATO PER VOI LE PIU’ BELLE ESCURSIONI PRESENTI IN SICILIA. 

Alloggi

CERCHI UN HOTEL DI LUSSO, CASALI ESCLUSIVI,  VILLA CON PISCINA O B&B? SCEGLI L’ALLOGGIO PIU’ ADATTO A TE

Noleggio auto

IL NOLEGGIO DI UN’AUTOMOBILE IN SICILIA È IL MODO MIGLIORE PER SCOPRIRE LE PRINCIPALI BELLEZZE DELLA REGIONE SENZA ALCUN VINCOLO