The Valley of Alcantara lies in Eastern Sicily. It is an area that with undefined confines from a social and touristic point of view while geographically it is confined in the catchment area of the river Alcantara. The The highest point coincides with that of Etna, 3,330 meters. The extent of it's area is about 570 sq.km., quite large among the Sicilian river basins. The maximum altitude coincides with the summit of Etna, 3.330 m, while the average altitude is about 900 m. Other elevated areas are: Mount Colla at 1.611 m and the Montagna Grande at 1.374 m; the latter being the highest peak of the Peloritani. From an administrative point of view the river basin lies in the provinces of Messina (12 towns) and Catania (3 towns), in whose territory there are 15 municipalities (not main towns). In the Alcantara river basin there are some breathtaking natural elements among which some of great interest: the river course, Mount Moio, the Alcantara Gulley in the area of Fondaco Motta, lake Gurrida, the volcanic caves in the northern sector of Etna and the woodland areas.