Sicily’s historical and cultural heritage is not only told through conquests and architecture. During your journey across the island, you can combine nature and history by visiting the silent witnesses of our changing times: the monumental trees. True guardians of Sicily’s natural evolution, they feature massive trunks and fairytale-like crowns and, if they could speak, would tell stories of generations who once sought shelter in their shade.
These trees are recognized as monumental based on precise criteria: age, size relative to their species, botanical rarity, and their connection to local history or art.
In Sicily, 324 monumental trees have been registered (according to the monumental trees regional list), spread both across natural parks and urban centers.
The most common are olive trees, fig trees, and oaks, each carrying with it a tale woven with legend, spirituality, or simple wonder. Exploring these giants will bring you closer to an authentic Sicily, making them a stop well worth adding to your itinerary.
The monumental trees of the volcano
If there is one place that shelters some of the oldest trees in Europe, it is Mount Etna Park. In Sant’Alfio, near Catania, stands the famous Castagno dei Cento Cavalli, a vegetal giant with a circumference of over 20 meters and an estimated age between 2,000 and 4,000 years. It is considered the oldest tree in Europe and, since 2008, has been recognized by UNESCO as a Messenger of Peace Monument.
Its fame is tied to a legend passed down through the centuries: during a storm, Queen Joanna of Aragon is said to have taken shelter beneath its immense branches along with one hundred knights. A scene that still conveys the sense of protection this millennial chestnut continues to inspire. Visiting in autumn, when the ground is covered with ripe chestnuts, adds an even more magical touch to the experience.
Not far from the chestnut, you will find another extraordinary specimen: the Ilice di Carrinu, a holm oak about 20 meters tall, believed by tradition to be nearly a thousand years old. Accessible via a woodland path, this tree impresses with its sturdy trunk and dense crown, which seem to hold the very strength of the volcano. Together, the Chestnut of the Hundred Horses and the Ilice di Carrinu form a kind of ancestral couple, symbolizing the timeless bond between Etna and its ancient vegetation.
Green giants in the city
Monumental trees are not found only in natural settings. Some of the most spectacular stand in the heart of Palermo, where, between the 18th and 19th centuries, it became fashionable to introduce exotic species into public parks and scientific gardens. This is when the city welcomed the large fig trees, which quickly became iconic elements of its urban landscape.
The most famous is the Ficus macrophylla of the Botanical Garden. With its aerial roots descending toward the ground like natural columns and a height exceeding 25 meters, it has become a city symbol and one of the most photographed spots by visitors.
Equally impressive is the ficus in Piazza Marina, inside Villa Garibaldi. Considered one of the largest fig trees in Europe, its tangle of aerial roots has fascinated both locals and tourists for decades. This tree is not only a natural monument, it is also a place of social life, encounters, and collective memory, an integral part of Palermo’s daily rhythm.
Discover Sicily’s natural treasures
If you are planning a trip, including one of these green giants in your itinerary means discovering a different side of Sicily: not just art and landscapes, but also trees that have silently accompanied local communities for centuries.
Photo credits:
Ilice di Carrinu: FrancescoRSchilla
Ficus Piazza Marina: Fabio Cucchiara
