Holiday apartment in Sommariva: culture, landscapes and discoveries

Hills, pine trees and a watercourse

Sommariva reveals its character in a landscape where Villaggio Sommariva lies at the foot of the long Pizzo Muletta hill. The houses of the village, with their red, pitched roofs, stand among tall pine trees. The red roofs give the place a distinctive appearance.

The landscape also includes the Torrente Ciachea. It reaches the sea after crossing the short plains of the Sommariva and Ciachea contrade.

Culture at Villa Africa

A notable cultural site is the Casa museo Villa Africa. It is located in Villaggio Sommariva in Capaci. The Casa museo Villa Africa displays traditional African art, including statues, masks and everyday objects.

The Villa Africa collection also includes fetishes, weapons, paintings, statuettes, stringed and percussion instruments, finely crafted ivory works, Arab and Abyssinian weapons, naïve paintings and rare Benin bronzes. The writer Emanuele Cavallaro assembled this collection over the course of 50 years during his numerous journeys across the African continent.

Grotta Lunga and the landscape around Pizzo Muletta

A geological feature near the village of Capaci is Grotta Lunga. It is a cave opening in Aptian–Cenomanian limestone, which forms the lower section of Pizzo Muletta. In its western wall, about 10 metres from the entrance, a dinosaur bone discovered in 2005 is still present.

Near Grotta Lunga, short paths offer views of the valley of the Torrente Ciachea and nearby Grotta Za Minica. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Sommariva can give these themes different emphasis when planning their days: cultural discoveries at Villa Africa, the cave opening on Pizzo Muletta or short paths with views of the valley and Grotta Za Minica.

Nature in the surrounding area

The Riserva Naturale Isola delle Femmine nature reserve is located nearby. It is home to resident animal species; during migration, additional bird species arrive. There are also five reptile species and an endemic land snail.

Choosing your location for a holiday apartment in Sommariva

When choosing a holiday apartment in Sommariva, the question is therefore: should your stay focus primarily on cultural discoveries at Villa Africa, the landscape around Pizzo Muletta and the Torrente Ciachea, the views at Grotta Lunga or nature in the Riserva Naturale Isola delle Femmine? This allows you to structure your holiday days around art, geology, the watercourse, landscapes and wildlife.

Directions to Villa Africa

If you approach Villa Africa via the SS 113, leave the centre of Capaci in the direction of Carini and continue to the first roundabout. Turn left there and follow the SP 3 towards Torretta until you reach Villa Africa.

Other places to include in your travel plans

Other places you may wish to consider when planning your trip include Gratteri, Corleone, Roccapalumba, Valledolmo, Malpasso, Montemaggiore Belsito, Castellana Sicula and Isnello.

To the main travel overview: Palermo.