Sommariva

Villaggio Sommariva lies at the foot of the long Pizzo Muletta hill. Tall pine trees shape the surroundings, and the houses have red, sloping roofs. The Torrente Ciachea crosses the short plains of the Contrade Sommariva and Ciachea before reaching the sea. For orientation, these are distinct landmarks: Pizzo Muletta marks the hillside setting, while the Torrente Ciachea marks the plains and its route to the sea. The red roofs add an architectural accent to the pine-covered surroundings.

Casa museo Villa Africa

The Casa museo Villa Africa is located in Villaggio Sommariva in Capaci. The collection includes traditional African art and everyday objects. Its groups include statues, masks, fetishes and statuettes; string and percussion instruments, finely crafted ivory works, and rare bronzes from Benin are also part of the collection. Weapons, including Arab and Abyssinian examples, and naïve paintings are also included. The range thus extends from everyday objects and instruments to sculptures, paintings and finely worked materials.

The collection’s origins are tied to the collecting history of the writer Emanuele Cavallaro: he assembled it over the course of 50 years during numerous journeys across the African continent. If you are planning a visit, check the current access arrangements in advance.

Directions to Villa Africa

From the SS 113, after leaving the centre of Capaci, drive in the direction of Carini until the first roundabout. Turn left there and follow the SP 3 towards Torretta to Villa Africa. The sequence of the town centre, roundabout and turn provides concrete guidance for this road route.

Grotta Lunga and nearby natural sites

Grotta Lunga is located near the village of Capaci. Its cave entrance is in Aptian-Cenomanian limestone, which forms the lower part of Pizzo Muletta. A dinosaur bone discovered in 2005 is still in the western wall, about ten metres from the entrance. The cave therefore combines a geological feature with a specific palaeontological find site.

Short paths near Grotta Lunga offer views of the Torrente Ciachea valley and the nearby Grotta Za Minica. If you plan to take these paths, check their condition on site.

The Riserva Naturale Isola delle Femmine nature reserve is nearby. It is home to resident animal species; additional bird species arrive during migration. The reserve is also home to five reptile species and an endemic land snail. For a sense of timing, bird migration makes a difference: additional bird species join the resident animal species then.

The natural attractions have different points of focus: at Grotta Lunga, limestone, the bone find and the views take centre stage; at the Riserva Naturale Isola delle Femmine, the focus is on animal species and seasonal bird migration. This lets you explore the area through both its geology and landscape and its wildlife.

Discover more destinations: Prizzi, Villabate, Roccapalumba, Cerda, Collesano, Ginestra, San Nicola l'Arena, Piana Degli Albanesi.

For the main travel overview: Palermo.