The Mud Volcanoes of Aragon, Agrigento

The Macalube Nature Reserve, near to Agrigento, is a place to see a spectacular show of nature's forces at work.

When the French writer Guy de Maupassant in 1885 was travelling through Sicily, he came across the mud craters of Macalube which he described as 'pimples indicating a terrible natural disease'.

This image should not however discourage visitors who, like others who have come over the ages, find the area a fascinating place to observe this rare natural phenomenon close at hand. It is definitely worth bringing a camera to capture this extraordinary volcanic phenomenon on film.

The mini volcanoes of Macalube, whose name comes from the Arab word for 'turnover', are a result of the pressure of methane gas mixing with salt water and clay under the ground. On occasion, larger eruptions reach up to ten metres in height making visitors jump when the silence is suddenly disturbed by the loud rumbles that accompany the explosions of mud bursting out of the ground. The result is a spectacular show that prompts a scramble by visitors trying to take photos of this rare event.
Equally interesting is the flora in this area. Macalube enjoys a high position with a salty atmosphere and little rain. Here it is possible to find endemic species of plants such as the Sorrentine Aster, a plant protected by the European Community.

The 'Eye of the Macalube' (a nickname given to this area due to the round shape of the hill) is ideally visited in summer, in the late afternoon, when the air is cool and as the sun starts to set. This is the best time to experience the eerie atmosphere of the lunar-like landscape.