Falling within a protected area under the State Forestry Service, today it hosts a eucalyptus grove planted toward the late 1950s. The use of eucalyptus was linked to the remarkable rooting capacity of the species employed, their rapid growth and soil coverage, the assumed absence of biotic adversities, the application of very simplified planting procedures, and their ability to regrow after fires occurring post-plantation. All these factors made it possible to achieve tree cover in relatively short times, even across large areas. The afforestation of extensive areas of Sicily’s inland hills was encouraged not only by the need for hydrogeological defense of the slopes, but also with the aim of creating a paper and cellulose industry on the island, supported by the construction and operation of a paper mill in Fiume Freddo di Sicilia (CT). However, errors soon became evident in both uses, due to ignorance of the ecological needs of the eucalyptus species employed, which led to abandoning both the hydrogeological defense and productivity projects. Today, the forest, also populated by pines and cypresses, offers pleasant hiking trails that cross ridges, green patches, and ancient mining structures, creating a highly fascinating landscape.
Geologically, the area lies within the great Sicilian gypsum-sulfur basin, a supramiocenic complex particularly rich in salts and minerals. This natural wealth fostered the development of numerous sulfur mines between the 19th and 20th centuries. At least a dozen mining concessions were active, transforming Mount Gabara into a Dantesque inferno when the smelting furnaces were in operation to separate sulfur—the devil’s gold—from the gangue, specifically formed by gypsum rock. Today, a virtuous recovery and enhancement activity has made two of the many sulfur mines accessible to visitors: Persico and Giunta, offering the opportunity to immerse oneself in the history of mining civilization. The adits (two of which are safely visitable), the smelting furnaces, and the remains of the winch and living quarters tell anthropological stories rich in emotion.
A few steps from the forest flows the Salito River, a watercourse that winds through the gentle hills of the Caltanissetta area and has played a fundamental role in the historical and agricultural development of the region. The medieval toponym Casale Chaliruni, which indicated the first settlement nucleus of San Cataldo, derives precisely from the river’s presence and from the Greek term Kalyroon, meaning “to flow gently.” Fed by seasonal and clayey springs, the Salito has for centuries sustained vegetable gardens, orchards, and pastoral life, enriching the territory’s biodiversity.