The island of extreme sports
Many people recognize the Sicily as the home of art and culture, a destination of choice for the curious and history buffs. But this island hides a second personality, more in vogue certainly with the arrival of the new millennium. We talk about the affinity with which the territory allows the most reckless to practice some of the world’s most extreme sports!
Extreme sports in Sicily: adrenaline and geodiversity
We are well aware that Trinacria has a remarkable geodiversity. Those who have been frequenting this region for years know particularly well how the transition between volcanic, littoral, riverine or mountainous geological environments occur in the blink of an eye.
The morphology of the area varies significantly, moving from the reliefs, some of them dolomitic (
read article on the Dolomites of Sicily), to large watersheds, to the large beaches exposed to strong wind currents. All this facilitates the practice of adrenaline activities such as kitesurfing, paragliding, skydiving, climbing, canyoning, body rafting and more.
Where to kitesurf in Sicily?
L’incidence of wind in more exposed areas such as the Strait of Messina and the Mondello beach of Palermo make it possible to practice one of the most incredible sports: the kitesurfing.
Born from surfing, it makes use of a board and a kite to harness the wind propulsion and bring to life incredible stunts.
Among the best kitesurfing schools in Sicily we mention Kite Tour Stagnone, in the wonderful setting of the Stagnone of Marsala, a great place to learn this new discipline. The team of IKO certified instructors (International Kiteboarding Organization) offers courses of all levels, AITC, ITC and IKO, alternating between practice and theory classes. Learn more by clicking here.
Paragliding and parachuting in Sicily
Whether it is paragliding or parachuting, on the Island it is possible to live a truly incredible flying experience. Places like the Mount Venus of Taormina or the Piana degli Albanesi in Palermo are suitable for extreme activities such as paragliding.
Who wants to indulge in the thrill of jumping off a cliff o learn how to fly a paraglider, can contact the National Sport Flying School Etna Fly. For 30 years with passion has been bringing people closer to the magical world of free flight. The school of the world champion Angelo d’Arrigo, offers tandem flights with licensed instructors to transport passengers from many Sicilian destinations: Taormina, Letojanni, Gioiosa Marea, Calavà, Piraino, Cefalù, Caltagirone, Gallodoro, Castelmola, Patti, Pollina, Niscemi and Mirabella Imbaccari. See all the info by visiting their site.
Those who prefer to experience the thrill of jumping from a plane at an altitude of 4,300 meters., with 50 seconds of free fall, can only turn to Skydive Sicily Syracuse. Skydiving courses, Enac-accredited instructors and excellent safety and performance equipment. The aviation club also has the option of “give a gift of a launch” to give a loved one a chance to to touch the sky with one finger, clearly accompanied by a certified instructor.
Free climbing in Sicily, the world from another perspective
Sicily, with its walls of tuff, sandstone and basalt, is the kingdom of free climbing. There are about 50 crags with thousands of routes ranked by level and difficulty. One example is the crag Salinella of San Vito lo Capo, 5 kilometers long, has more than 600 sport routes, a climber’s paradise! In addition, the mild temperatures of the winter period make it a perfect destination even in the colder months.
We find other crags in Custonaci, Monte Pellegrino of Palermo, a Syracuse and in the lava canyons near Linguaglossa. On theEtna, in addition to numerous really striking basaltic walls, on the western slope there is abouldering area with sandstone blocks dedicated bouldering, that is, a style of climbing at low altitudes (usually 4-5 meters) without harnesses.
But the one to definitely impress the most is the deep water a San Vito lo Capo, a type of coastal climbing without equipment Who uses the sea to protect themselves from accidental falls. In fact, it is an activity that generally takes place at Firriato Cove in the province of Trapani, with a spot that is not too high, suitable even for beginners.
How to organize your own climber’s vacation? Mapo Tapoplans trips around the world for climbing enthusiasts and experts. It proposes some tours geared according to the traveler’s preferences (photography, hiking, bouldering, yoga, etc.) and especially looking for the best crags to climb. The team organizes some of the best climbing routes in Italy, including four around Sicily!
The adrenaline rush of being pulled by the power of a river
Flying experiences, rock climbing and kitesurfing, there is no shortage on the Island. But if someone wanted to plunge into cold water e be swept along by the rapids of a river? At Tiberius Gorge in the Madonie Mountains and to the Alcantara Gorges (read the article on the Alcantara) is certainly possible. I basaltic rock canyons, formed by the corrosion of mountain streams, are a suitable place for sports such as canyoning o body rafting. The latter consists of hurtling through waterfalls and rapids having only your own body and a lot of adventurous spirit!
The perfect place to indulge in some of this healthy adventure? Definitely the Alcantara Botanical and Geological Park, a place where fear and laziness are absolutely put aside. Nordic walking, bike tours, body rafting, river trekking And many other new activities to try. In addition, the park is equipped with glamping where to stay, while through its affiliations with accommodations and restaurants it allows you to a 360° experience° in the river park in the province of Catania. Here is the downloadable map with all services.
Ziplines and much more!
La Zipline in Sicily is definitely an exclusive novelty in the world of Sicilian extreme activities. It is a sliding ropeway on a 1.6-kilometer rope suspended 170 meters above the ground, with which it is possible to fly over the valley of San Mauro Castelverde, in the province of Palermo (see video). You can choose different types of launches, including single and tandem, with the possibility of even giving one as a gift.
So we can say that in terms of “extreme” Sicily has so much to offer. Also unmissable are the numerous ATV or off-road vehicle tours around the Sicilian mountains or sessions of surfing along the best coastlines of the island (read the article on where to surf in Sicily).
This confirms that the biodiversity of the area also makes it a perfect destination for a niche of more daring and adventurous tourists!
Luca Russo
Credits opening photo: Mapo Tapo