L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026 L'Italo-Americano O n e m i g h t s a y t h a t t h e A l c a n t a r a G o r g e s were born from the meeting of fire and water, b u t t h e i r s t o r y i s w o r t h telling in a little more detail. Around 300,000 years ago, d u r i n g a n e r u p t i o n o f M o u n t E t n a – E u r o p e ' s highest active volcano, locat- ed in the province of Catania and visible for miles because of the plume rising from its summit – a lava flow reached the bed of the Alcantara River. When the lava came into contact with the water, it cooled slowly and formed the distinctive basaltic rock f o u n d t h e r e t o d a y . T h i s meeting of lava and water produced the unusual pris- matic formations that make the gorges so recognizable. O v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s , t h e river continued to shape the r o c k , i t s r e l e n t l e s s w o r k c a r v i n g o u t a c a n y o n a n d smoothing the walls of the gorge into the form we see today. The gorge extends for more than 3.7 miles, or six kilometers, although only the first 1.8 miles, around three kilometers, can be explored easily. In some sections, the walls rise to a height of about 82 feet, while at their nar- rowest points they are sepa- rated by barely six and a half feet. The Alcantara River rises a t a n a l t i t u d e o f a r o u n d 4,100 feet above sea level on Mount Musarra, within the municipality of Floresta in t h e s o u t h e r n N e b r o d i Mountains. After flowing for approximately 30 miles, or 48 kilometers, and receiv- ing water from numerous tributaries, it reaches the Ionian Sea. For long stretch- e s , t h e r i v e r m a r k s t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n t h e provinces of Messina and Catania. The dramatic and equally famous Alcantara Gorges lie in the Larderia- Sciara district, within the m u n i c i p a l i t y o f M o t t a Camastra. As already men- t i o n e d , t h e i r f o r m a t i o n began in prehistoric times and developed gradually as a result of lava flows produced by eruptions of Mount Etna. The slow cooling of the lava, together with the constant erosive action of the river, e x p o s e d t h e d a r k E t n e a n basalt and the characteristic vertical prismatic fractures created as the rock face split apart. These formations are k n o w n a s c o l u m n a r basalts. T h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e canyon walls changes along the course of the river. Some formations, arranged verti- c a l l y , a r e d e s c r i b e d a s r e s e m b l i n g o r g a n p i p e s , harps, or fans. Horizontal f o r m a t i o n s a r e k n o w n a s " s t a c k s o f w o o d , " w h i l e t h o s e w i t h o u t a c l e a r l y d e f i n e d s t r u c t u r e a r e d e s c r i b e d a s " c h a o t i c a l l y fractured." Beyond the physical for- mation of the gorges, the o r i g i n o f t h e n a m e A l c a n t a r a i s a l s o w o r t h exploring. Here, once again, it is impossible to overlook the lasting traces left in Sici- ly by Arab civilization and r u l e , a s t h e n a m e c o m e s f r o m t h e A r a b i c a l - Q a n - tarah, meaning "the bridge," a r efer ence to an ancient stone bridge that once stood along the river. A comparable natural for- m a t i o n c a n b e f o u n d i n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d a t t h e Giant's Causeway, a land- scape of basalt columns sim- ilar to those of the Larderia Gorges, another name by w h i c h t h e S i c i l i a n s i t e i s known. These formations, t o o , w e r e c r e a t e d b y t h e cooling of lava. T h i s n a t u r a l w o n d e r , which received the Euro- pean Destination of Excel- lence, or EDEN, designation i n 2 0 1 0 , c a n b e r e a c h e d from several access points. One entrance is located in the Sciara district of Motta Camastra. In Francavilla di Sicilia, there are two more: one directly from the town a n d a n o t h e r f r o m S t a t e R o a d 1 8 5 . B o t h l e a d t o a stretch of the river known by t h e e v o c a t i v e n a m e o f L e Gurne. The trail runs along- side the gorges and passes close to the ruins of Rufo Ruffo Castle. A further pub- lic entrance can be found along Provincial Road 7i, w h i c h l e a d s t o w a r d C a s - t i g l i o n e d i S i c i l i a . F r o m there, visitors can cross the river by means of a recently built wooden bridge. Simply crossing the river t o e x p l o r e t h e g o r g e s i s already an enjoyable experi- e n c e . T h o s e l o o k i n g f o r something more adventur- ous, however, can try body r a f t i n g , w h i c h i n v o l v e s descending a watercourse using the body almost like a raft, alternately swimming a n d s l i d i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a p i d s . T h e A l c a n t a r a Gorges are among the best- known places in Italy for this activity. Canoeing also has its appeal, while canyon- i n g , d e s c e n d i n g o n f o o t through gorges and canyons, is another option. Visitors who prefer to explore qui- eter corners of the area can instead choose a quad-bike tour. T h e A l c a n t a r a R i v e r P a r k l i e s n o t f a r f r o m Taormina, and the gorges are among its most impres- sive attractions. It is one of Sicily's most interesting pro- tected natural areas, thanks in part to its biodiversity, which constantly adapts to the changes caused by the river's shaping action. The l o c a l f a u n a i s v a r i e d a n d thrives among rocks, tun- nels, and narrow passages. Among white willows, olean- ders, and broom, visitors m a y s p o t h e r o n s , g r a y herons, great white egrets, peregrine falcons, and even the occasional golden eagle. The wildlife of the area, of course, extends well beyond these bird species. Yet the name Alcantara a l s o b r i n g s t o m i n d t h e w e l l - k n o w n m a t e r i a l composed of 68 percent polyester and 32 percent polyurethane. Given that it shares its name with the r i v e r , i t s h i s t o r y i s a l s o w o r t h t e l l i n g . M i y o s h i Okamoto, a Japanese sci- entist and researcher, want- ed to create a synthetic alter- native to natural suede; his aim was to develop a materi- al that looked and felt like suede while also being more durable. He succeeded in p r o d u c i n g a n e w , s o f t microfiber with a texture similar to chamois leather but greater resistance. The name Alcantara was regis- tered by an Italian company that began producing the material in 1972 and trans- formed it into a luxury prod- uct. Its connection with the Arabic meaning of al-Qan- tarah, "the bridge," made it an apt symbol of the link between Eastern technology and Western craftsmanship and luxury. The company h a s t w o s i t e s i n I t a l y : i t s headquarters in Milan and its factory in Nera Montoro, in the province of Terni. It c o n t i n u e s t o i n v e s t i n research and development and operates in the fields of f a s h i o n , a c c e s s o r i e s , t h e automotive industry, and consumer electronics. Returning to the river, some local legends describe the gorges as a magical place inhabited by nymphs and w a t e r s p i r i t s . W e p r e f e r , however, to remember that t h e w a t e r r e m a i n s c o l d throughout the year, gener- a l l y b e t w e e n 4 6 a n d 5 4 degrees Fahrenheit, even in summer. In this summer of 2026, with temperatures in Sicily particularly high and wildfires continuing to affect every province of the island, all that remains is to dream of immersing ourselves in the exceptionally cool waters of the Alcantara River, not in the company of nymphs or water spirits, but with a sense of gratitude toward the generosity of nature. TERESA DI FRESCO Alcantara is more than the evocative name of a river, it tells a story shaped by fire, water, and time LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Visitors wade through the cold waters of the Alcantara Gorges in Sicily, between the striking basalt walls shaped by ancient lava flows and centuries of river erosion (Photo: Mantvydas Drevinskas/Dreamstime.com)

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