Place: Territory of Randazzo and Maletto / Etna West on State Road 120 towards Randazzo-Maletto.

Journey time: 2 h

Length of the trail: 6 km (internal circuit).

Quote of origin and destination: Maletto 960 / lake 835 m.

Starting from the Castle Nelson continue along State Road 120 towards Randazzo.

Along the way you will observe the plan of Santa Venera; in this country we were found the remains of a hut ellipsoidal Bronze Age and remains of a Roman wall in the fourth century. After a few kilometers a sign indicating the turn to get to Lake Gurrida. 

Lake Gurrida represents a unique element in the Etna park. It is the only wetland on the volcano and is a place where you can observe many species of migratory birds, especially in winter and spring. The lake is fed by the river seasonally Flascio. It is a river that over the centuries has been tributary alternately Simeto or Alcantara, until an eruption (in 1536) not barred definitively the road leading him to form the lake Gurrida. In the past they were made of the reclamation works, to prevent the area was at the mercy of the flooding of the river; It has therefore created a permanent reservoir (lake) and a surrounding area that is flooded in a controlled manner during the flooding of the river.

In this context one can also admire the rare aquatic plants like Junncus and Carex well as note the peculiarity of the lake, which is to be both a very special and unique "grape".

In fact, in the summer months and during the harvest, the lake is completely dried up, and in the winter the river water Flascio the cover allowing the vine to buy particular organoleptic qualities.

This unusual technique was introduced in the nineteenth century by a wine expert who worked at the Duchy of Nelson, and it seems to be able to give the wine indisputable and special qualities.

The strawberry production Maletto made famous in the world: taste a strawberry Maletto means to fill up a scent and taste that only these lands are able to infuse the red and pulpy fruit. Maletto is a small town in the province of Catania, located on the northern slopes of Etna between Bronte, Maniace and Randazzo a territory rich in history, rich in historic farmhouses of old tastes, a picturesque area rich in forests and soils sciarosi, virtually yet almost untouched. Since 1950 in this land they were planted the first fragoleti in lava soil certainly very fertile, so fertile that it was never necessary to use synthetic fertilizers. Then, when these lands began to be impoverished by chance were discovered several underground springs rich in minerals. The climate and the ground give these fruits a unique flavor. Taste a strawberry Maletto today means making a sensory experience the fruit is particularly red, fleshy, fragrant and sweet. There are three varieties of the cultivated strawberries Strawberry, Fragraria Vesca, widely used in confectionery, the Madame moutho a strawberry very big and juicy, and the flourishing allowing producers harvesting the fruit, eleven months a year.

The seedling of strawberry that is born spontaneously in the woods is transplanted open field without other artificial processes of maturation that can alter the organoleptic characteristics .This gives the Maletto strawberry extraordinary delicacy and fragrance. Today this product is present in the Italian and foreign fruit and vegetable markets and is highly sought after. Taste a strawberry Maletto means doing a taste that only these lands are able to infuse the red and pulpy fruit. Strawberries are particularly rich in ascorbic acid or vitamin C (it contains about 50% more than oranges). Contain fructose, a sugar low glycemic index, which has a relatively constant blood sugar and therefore can also be consumed in moderation by diabetics. Strawberry nutritional, laxative, diuretic, bactericidal, anti-uric, mineral and cleansing. It contains an active ingredient called acid metilsalicilico that exerts anti-rheumatic (practically the same active ingredient nell'aspirina). Strawberry also benefits from a potent thirst-quenching and refreshing due to its high water content.

information:

Visit the company

Tasting confectionery

Lunch in a local agreement

Visit the Duchy of Nelson