Monte Scuderi

Monte Scuderi At 1253 meters above sea level stands this mysterious mountain in the chain of the Peloritani. Getting there is quite an experience enhanced by the fact that you can do so on a long nature trail, in other words: a long walk tucked away in nature.
Between valleys, oak trees, rivers,  hollies, hawks, buzzards, the train glides in these iron mountains (because they are rich in mineral deposits) that were formed 250 million years ago. It goes through various Fossa delle Nevi (photo), huge holes in the ground from which at one time came the ice that was distributed to the closest towns.
The view is certainly a big reason to take this hike, alongside Etna and opposite Italy, with the sea that serves as the absolute master of this lovely picture.

After nearly two hours of walking we finally arrive at the top, a huge plateau with mysterious traces of the past, from prehistory to the early Middle Ages.

 

It is believed that this was the Byzantine town Mikos.
Whether on the south side, where the paths converge coming from Ali and from the valley of Fiumedinisi, or at the Porte del Monte, on the northern side, where the paths converge coming from Itala, Pezzolo, and Altolia, there still exist traces of a massive wall defending access to the plateau. At the top are the ruins of several buildings with typical rock crystals of the place. In the southeast, near large piles of stones there is a huge room called the King’s House.

The land around this area is littered with fragments and shards of various types from the Byzantine era. Also found have been coins of the time (8th century BC). Finally, one can not but recall the most significant fact about this valley: the legend of “truvatura”, which is a treasure that for centuries has been repeatedly looked for, not only by the population but even by nobles and king of Sicily. Maybe something is really there!