Sommariva: Landscape, Villa Africa and Grotta Lunga

Sommariva has a distinctive landscape setting: Villaggio Sommariva lies at the foot of the long Pizzo Muletta hill, among tall pine trees; the houses have red, sloping roofs. The Casa museo Villa Africa also offers a specific cultural attraction. When choosing accommodation for your stay, you can first decide whether landscape, geology or the art collection is the main draw for you.

Hills, pine trees and a watercourse

The red roofs and pine trees give Villaggio Sommariva a clearly defined character. The Torrente Ciachea reveals another side of the local geography: it crosses the short plains of the Contrade Sommariva and Ciachea before reaching the sea. The foot of Pizzo Muletta and the watercourse through the plains thus offer different landscape perspectives. Those interested in the surrounding area will find specific geographical points of interest here, rather than just a place name.

Villa Africa: Collection and history

The Casa museo Villa Africa is located in Villaggio Sommariva in Capaci. Its collection includes traditional African art, including statues, masks and objects from everyday life. The objects also include fetishes, weapons, paintings and statuettes, string and percussion instruments, finely crafted ivory works, and rare bronzes from Benin. Arab and Abyssinian weapons and naïve paintings are also mentioned. This breadth makes Villa Africa a distinctive cultural attraction: musical instruments, artworks and weapons are all represented in the same collection.

The collection is connected with the story of the writer Emanuele Cavallaro. He assembled it over the course of 50 years during numerous journeys across the African continent. Both the diverse objects and the collection’s long history therefore contribute to Villa Africa’s cultural appeal.

For directions by road, take the SS 113 out of the centre of Capaci towards Carini, as far as the first roundabout. Turn left there and follow the SP 3 towards Torretta to Villa Africa. If you plan to visit the Casa museo, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

Grotta Lunga and short walks

Grotta Lunga is located in the area around the village of Capaci, a cave opening in Aptian-Cenomanian limestone. This forms the lower part of Pizzo Muletta near the village. One notable detail is on the western wall: a dinosaur bone discovered in 2005 remains there, about ten metres from the entrance. Its geological setting and the find give Grotta Lunga a different character from Villa Africa’s art collection.

Short walks near Grotta Lunga offer views of the Torrente Ciachea valley and nearby Grotta Za Minica. Check the trail conditions locally. This lets you distinguish this landscape experience from a museum visit without inferring difficulty or walking time from the stated distance.

Nature watching and choosing accommodation

The Riserva Naturale Isola delle Femmine is nearby. Resident animal species live there, and other bird species join them during migration. The reserve is also home to five reptile species and an endemic land snail. Bird migration adds a seasonal dimension to the nature experience, which you can take into account when choosing your travel dates.

Choose based on the places and experiences you actually plan to include.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: San Nicola l'Arena, Villafrati, Trappeto, Paterna, Palazzo Adriano, Castronovo Di Sicilia, Isola Delle Femmine, Gangi.

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