The Marine Protected Area “Isole Ciclopi”, established in 1989 and officially recognized in 2004, safeguards one of the most fascinating stretches of Sicily’s eastern coast, between Aci Trezza and Aci Castello. At its heart lie Lachea Island and the iconic Cyclopean stacks, striking basalt formations born of ancient underwater eruptions and steeped in Homeric legend—said to have been hurled by the Cyclops Polyphemus at Ulysses.
The underwater landscape is shaped by pillow lava and prismatic columns, hosting a vibrant marine ecosystem with Posidonia oceanica, calcareous algae, sponges, starfish, octopuses, moray eels, and a rich variety of fish and invertebrates. The protected area is divided into three zones:
-Zone A, a strict nature reserve for scientific research only;
-Zone B, allowing regulated activities like diving and selective fishing;
-Zone C, open to recreational and bathing activities.
Lachea Island, estimated to have emerged 500,000 years ago, is the cultural and scientific heart of the reserve. Managed by the CUTGANA research center of the University of Catania, it features a natural history museum with geological specimens, taxidermy displays, and endemic species such as the Podarcis siculus ciclopica lizard, as well as a laboratory for research and environmental education.
Today, the Marine Protected Area offers boat excursions, snorkeling, guided dives, and educational visits, serving as a virtuous model of sustainable tourism, environmental preservation, and cultural memory. Featured in I Malavoglia by Verga and in Visconti’s film La terra trema, it stands as a powerful symbol of Sicily’s identity—where nature, myth, and history converge in an extraordinary seascape.