The gole (gulleys) dell'Alcantara located between Messina and Catania were formed by ancient flows of basalt lava. The icy Alcantara river flows through the canyon. In some parts, the cliffsides reach up to 50m high. The landscape on the banks alternate, from prickly pears and euphorbias clinging to the rockface to little forests of willow, poplar and ash.
It is likely that a prehistoric river flowed here over clay sediment. When powerful volcanic eruptions spewed fluid magma down the riverbed, this sank into the most clay-filled areas creating the present-day basalt colonnades. The best example of these spectacular natural sculptures can be found at Motta Camastra in contrada Larderia (ME).
Sicilia Film Commission
Via Emanuele Notarbartolo 9 — 90141 Palermo
Phone: +39 091 7078008; +39 091 7078264; +39 091 7078133; +39 091 7078145
Email: filmcommission@regione.sicilia.it
