Epiphany in the Nisseno area between Monte Formaggio and the Trabia-Tallarita Mine

January 06-07, 2018
A long weekend to rediscover the Nisseno area, rich in mining archaeology and excursions featuring trails that are as fascinating for their natural beauty as they are for their historical and traditional significance.
We will recover the memories of our Sicilian territory, accompanied by the stories of the local people.
In the late afternoon on Saturday, a dear friend will join us for a tour of Mazzarino. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay in the evening.

Fee: € 30.00, includes guide service, RCT insurance, and excursion organization.
Other expenses: € 50.00 - Includes: overnight stay in a B&B, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast.
Expenses do not include: fuel for travel to/from the location, packed lunches for Saturday and Sunday, and any unspecified extra expenses.
Meeting point: Saturday, January 06, 2018, at 08:00 AM at Contrada Coffa SS 514, Lukoil gas station, Chiaramonte Gulfi. Alternatively, at 09:30 AM at the roundabout between SS 190, SS 191, and SP 126, approximately 4 km from Mazzarino (CL).
End of excursion: Sunday, January 07, at 04:00 PM at the Mining Museum, Trabia-Tallarita (CL)
Travel: own car
Difficulty: moderate.
Routes: loop trails
Booking deadline: December 28, 2017
Required equipment: hiking clothing, k-way (rain jacket), small backpack, hiking boots, sweater, hat, windbreaker, 1.5 liters of water, and personal toiletries.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

PROGRAM

January 06, 2018 – Monte Formaggio (639 m a.s.l.)
Monte Formaggio is a sandstone relief with a characteristic conical-pyramidal shape caused by wind erosion. The mountain's vegetation consists of ampelodesmos grasslands, dwarf palm and rockrose scrub, and Eucalyptus reforestation. The mountain is also the locus typicus for two rare orchids endemic to Sicily: Ophrys mirabilis and Ophrys subfusca flammeola. In the afternoon, we will visit the town of Mazzarino, a Baroque pearl of the Nisseno province.

January 07, 2018 – Excursion among the mine ruins and visit to the Museum
This is the largest sulfur mine in the Nisseno territory and today represents one of the most fascinating examples of industrial archaeology on the island.
The mine, which currently stretches from the territories of Riesi to those of Sommatino and Tallarita, dates back to 1730 when the Solfara Grande was opened, to which the Tallarita mine was later annexed in 1823.
The presence of 3,000 miners working incessantly underground led to the creation of a small village attached to the facilities, complete with a police station, a chapel, post offices, grocery stores, and housing for employees and their families.
In the 1950s, American competition brought the production system to its knees; to this, we must add the loss of many lives caused by the collapse of the Scordia shaft following a firedamp explosion. The mine was closed in 1975.