When we planned our holiday in Western Sicily to visit Selinunte, we also had to look for a place to stay overnight. We chose a hotel in Marinella di Selinunte, which is about 500 meters from the beach. The beach we are talking about is part of the Belice River Nature Reserve and Neighboring Dunes. The Reserve extends for 4 km and develops between Marinella di Selinunte, in fact, and the headland of Porto Palo. It is crossed by the Belice, which is one of the largest rivers in Sicily, which has been navigable and rich in fish for millennia, but its flow has decreased because of the changing climatic conditions.
To be honest, we found out that we were only a stone’s throw away from the Reserve when we arrived at the hotel … 😀
The same day it was too late to discover the Reserve, and we were too tired after four hours of travel, so we postponed to the following morning.
The beach of the Belice Nature Reserve
Sunglasses, swimwear, and slippers. Ready for adventure! 😎 We walked along a staircase immersed in the pine forest, and we could immediately see the sea. It was impossible to resist the tropical warmth, so we checked the temperature of the water. An experience that we will never forget, I think. Are you wondering why? Well, that’s simple. As soon as we soaked our feet, we began to feel shooting pain. The water was much more than cold. It was freezing !!! The reason, of course, is that the Belice River flows into those waters. But we still didn’t know it …! Having given up the idea of swimming, we decided to take a walk on the beach.
The show you don’t expect
Keeping on walking, we saw a unique and suggestive show. We had arrived at the point where the river, between the dunes, joins the waters of the Mediterranean. If we have to tell you the truth, seeing the water flowing at speed was a bit intimidating, so we didn’t cross the river 😀 We took some pictures and went back to the hotel.
Locals told us that the caretta caretta turtle lays its eggs in some areas. We weren’t lucky enough to attend this event, but maybe you will be more fortunate!
Bye!
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