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Staying at Tenuta San Marco also means having the chance to get to know the land in a direct and unexpected way. Around the Tenuta unfolds a part of Sicily that alternates between trails, valleys, rock-cut traces, villages, and places tied to the memory of work and everyday life.
To enrich your stay, we offer a selection of experiences that allow you to connect with the land from different perspectives: on foot, on horseback, by quad, or through visits devoted to the most significant places in the Hyblaean area. Some activities are organized together with outside partners we work with, so as to offer you authentic experiences of the local context.
An itinerary that leads into a green, shaded landscape, among woodland, fords, and running water. The excursion crosses a natural setting made up of holm oaks and downy oaks and leads to a small lake fed by a waterfall and a karst spring. It is an experience suited to those who wish to live nature in a simple, immersive way, following the slow rhythm of the walk and of the landscape.
Hidden within the valley of the San Marco stream, the Cenobio preserves the remains of a Byzantine-era rock basilica, regarded as one of the most important in the Hyblaean area. It is a destination that brings together the quiet of the landscape and the charm of historical memory, ideal for those who love secluded places layered with cultural depth.
For those who wish to explore the land with a more naturalistic gaze, group walks organized with the Natura Sicula association are available. It is a pleasant way to get to know the surrounding environment alongside those who understand its features, balance, and distinctive character, experiencing nature with greater awareness.
Set in a secluded valley and surrounded by lush vegetation, the Santa Lucia Water Mill tells an important part of local history. Still preserved in its essential components, it stands as a tangible testimony to the relationship between the land, work, and natural resources. The visit is ideal for those seeking lesser-known places, yet rich in character and memory.
In Palazzolo Acreide, the Fontana Secca Tanneries tell a story shaped by labor, craftsmanship, and the transformation of the landscape. These ancient rock-cut workshops, active for centuries in leather working, now offer an original glimpse into a lesser-known part of the village’s history. It is an interesting visit for those who wish to place alongside the more monumental itinerary a more grounded, territorial dimension.
For those who prefer a more dynamic experience, the area also lends itself to horseback excursions and quad tours through the landscapes of the Hyblaean Mountains, the Sicilian woods, and the areas around Palazzolo Acreide and Noto. These are activities that allow you to experience the inland in a different way, alternating nature, movement, and views, with routes suited to different levels of experience. These options, too, are part of the partnerships the Tenuta has established with local outside partners: ask us for more information.
The Ecomuseum devoted to the places of peasant labor and traditional trades offers a route tied to material culture and the memory of the area’s traditional activities. It is a stop suited to those who wish to explore more deeply the relationship between landscape, daily life, and local knowledge. Visits to the museum must be booked in advance.