The Capo Gallo Nature Reserve can also be entered from the Sferracavallo side, a lesser-known access you can reach on foot from the center of the village.
The reserve covers the headland between Mondello and Sferracavallo, and few people realize it has more than one entrance. The Sferracavallo side, under Pizzo Vuturo, is quieter and less visited. It offers wild scenery, a beautiful sea and some of the most striking stretches of coast near Palermo.
Sferracavallo is a fishing village that belongs to Palermo, set inside Zone C of the reserve, which is worth knowing. Zone C is a protected area with controlled use, and its rules are less strict than those of Zones A and B. Those two zones cover the small island of Isola delle Femmine, which looks lovely from Barcarello at sunset, and some areas further north that you can reach by boat from Sferracavallo.
In short, the reserve here lets inhabited areas and nature coexist, and the marine and plant life is remarkably varied.
How to reach the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve from Sferracavallo
The entrance is about a 20-minute walk from the center of the village and from Il Dammuso Palermo. By train, get off at the Sferracavallo stop on the Palermo–Trapani or Palermo–Airport line (about every 30 minutes) and walk from there. It is the easiest and most reliable way to arrive. If you come by car, there is public street parking near the entrance, with a pass payable to the City of Palermo (check availability in high season).
Trails: what to know before you set out
The protected mountain area has marked trails, but they are not meant for mass tourism. From the Sferracavallo entrance you will find two short paths climbing into the reserve. Some sections are prone to rockfall because the mountain is karst, and they remain, rightly, discouraged or closed, as signs at the entrance often say. Before you go, always check the current opening status on the official website of the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve (for the sea, the Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine Marine Protected Area).
This is not a drawback. It is the reason this stretch of coast has stayed almost untouched. That is why we do not go into trail times or difficulty here. We prefer to tell you about the other experiences this side of the reserve offers, which are often even more distinctive.
The sea and the Vermetid reef
Along the coast between Sferracavallo and the reserve entrance there is a rare vermetid reef, a formation typical of the central Mediterranean. I describe it in more detail, with practical tips for snorkeling, in Snorkeling in Sferracavallo: the vermetid reef of Capo Gallo.
If you prefer the sea in motion, Sferracavallo is also a good place to sail. A well-known sailing club here introduces children and adults to the sport: Sailing in Sferracavallo. And for divers, there is Diving in Sferracavallo: the Oil Cave and the Capo Gallo coast.
Climbing at the Capo Sferracavallo crag
Climbers have a crag of their own on the Sferracavallo side, the Capo Sferracavallo crag, which actually faces toward Mondello. Before you go, check the routes on official websites, in up-to-date guidebooks or with local climbing associations, so you can judge the difficulty and the condition of the bolts.
When to visit
- Spring (April–June): mild temperatures, a sea that is already inviting and fewer people. A good time for the reserve’s short trails too, once you have checked that they are open.
- Summer (July–September): swimming and snorkeling. In the heat, the coast is best enjoyed from the water.
- Autumn (October–November): the light and the sea are still lovely. It is the most “slow” season, for those who want calm and the chance to [dive].
At a glance
| Where | Capo Gallo Nature Reserve (Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine), Sferracavallo side, Palermo |
| Getting there | On foot from the center of Sferracavallo, or by train (Palermo–Trapani/Airport line, Sferracavallo stop) |
| What to do | Sea (swimming, snorkeling, sailing, diving), climbing at the Capo Sferracavallo crag, short reserve trails (check opening status) |
| Don’t miss | The vermetid reef, a rare biogenic formation in the Mediterranean |
| Best time | April–November |
I live a few steps from here and I love sharing this side of the Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine Reserve. That is why we opened our home to travelers who enjoy this kind of experience, back in 2009. If you are planning your trip to Sferracavallo, you will find where to stay and how to book on the [apartment], [rooms] and [prices] pages. The rest of the practical and scientific details we can go over together once you arrive.