Messinian salinity crisis<\/a><\/strong> reduced the Mediterranean to a few hypersaline water basins and lasted about 250,000 years. Declining ocean levels and the cyclical phases of dessication and inundation that followed caused the erosion of the seabed. Then, about 5.4 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pliocene, the sill corresponding to today’s Strait of Gibraltar opened again permanently, leading to the filling of the Mediterranean Sea basin.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSubsequently, some of these Messinian deposits were uplifted by tectonic thrusts during more recent orogenic phases and they constitute the deposits of the Gypsum-Sulphur Formation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The main morphological texture is represented by the present-day marine abrasion<\/strong> platform incised on the Trubi<\/em><\/strong> outcrop, a rock consisting mainly of calcareous shells of planktonic microfossils (globigerine) and macrofossils typical of deep sea, testifying the reopening of the Mediterranean basin with the Atlantic waters.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe typical coloration<\/strong> of this lithotype, gives the name to the locality. Along the outcrop (which corresponds to a syncline fold) the chromatic grey-white-beige-white alternation is clearly visible, linked to the variations in the calcium carbonate content of the marls that occurred during the deposition of the Trubi due to climatic variations.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe calcareous marls and white marly limestones<\/strong> show concoid fracturing; secondarily there are laminated gypsums and selenitic gypsums with large twinned crystals from the Messinian. Farther to the NE is a medium-sized outcrop of vacuolar brecciated limestones and parallel-laminated grayish-white limestones.<\/p>\r\n\r\nNature Reserve of Punta Bianca and Monte Grande<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Despite what one reads on the web and in some publications, the Nature Reserve of Punta Bianca and Monte Grande<\/strong> has not yet been officially instituted.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWay back in 2001 (decree 13 April 2001), the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage and Education officially declared the coastal territory between the mouth of the Vallone di Sumera and the Castello di Montechiaro<\/strong> to be of considerable public interest, due to its extraordinary archaeological, ethno-anthropological and natural features.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe coastal landscape, which faces the African Sea, is of exceptional beauty, still unspoilt and little affected by urbanisation and holiday homes, and is notable for its numerous small, narrow beaches bordered by escarpments and cliffs. From Monte Grande the view extends westwards as far as the promontory of Capo Rossello, including the magnificent Valley of the Temples and the vista of the gentle hills of central southern Sicily. From the sea it is possible to perceive, even in the distance, Punta Bianca, as a natural lighthouse. The contrast between the blue of the limpid sea and the white of the rocks stretching out towards it, almost shaped by the carving action of nature, is a remarkable aesthetic and perceptive sign.<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\nThe institution of the Nature Reserve was probably hindered by the presence of a military firing range in the Drasy district. For years, military exercises and launches have been damaging the fragile cliff, despite the protests of numerous citizens and environmental associations such as Mareamico.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In fact, none of the succeeding Sicilian regional governments has signed the decree instituting the nature reserve. This situation of impasse has been unblocked recently by … Belen!!! Yes, her! Belen Rodriguez!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nBelen at Punta Bianca<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
The famous model came to Punta Bianca to do a photo shoot and was enchanted by the beauty of the location. In one of her posts on Instagram she wrote:\r\n\r\n
“It is a wonderful and unique place, which would deserve a better appreciation, in a tourist and environmental perspective. In this area there has been for 63 years a military firing range, and its drills are destroying the places, destroying the access roads and blocking the tourist enjoyment, while the local environmental associations have been waiting for 25 years for it to be recognized as a nature reserve. And so I would like to end with an appeal to President Musumeci, to institute the long-awaited nature reserve”.<\/blockquote><\/p>\r\n\r\n![\"Belen](\"https:\/\/www.lavalledeitempli.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/punta-bianca-belen-300x169.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nCustoms House<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
The partly dilapidated barracks of the Guardia di Finanza or Customs House<\/strong> were used until the beginning of the 20th century. It is not uncommon to find these structures, now largely abandoned, along the Sicilian coast in the loneliest places, far from ports and towns. They were intended to house the financiers who had the task of combating smugglers who, otherwise, would have been able to use, undisturbed, these convenient landing places for their trafficking. On the outside, near the wall, one can still read the heraldic motto of the Guardia di Finanza Corps:\r\n“Nec Recisa Recedit, 1951\u2033.<\/strong><\/blockquote><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis ancient Latin phrase was used by the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio in 1920 at a banquet that followed the granting of the “medal of Ronchi” to the pennant of the Fiuman financiers. In the dedication of one of his photos to an officer, the “commander” wrote:\r\n
“To the Fiamme Gialle, honor of Fiume, Nec Recisa Recedit<\/strong>, Fiume d’Italia, 1920 – Gabriele D’Annunzio”.<\/blockquote><\/p>\r\n\r\nD’Annunzio’s motto became official in 1933. It still accompanies the financiers today and is included in the heraldic coat of arms of the Guardia Di Finanza.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Today the customs officers’ house is partially in ruins and is in need of some consolidation work. Rather than recalling the disciplined life of the soldiers who resided here, the structure emanates a mysterious charm and seems to conjure up the verses of Eugenio Montale:\r\n\r\n
You don\u2019t recall the house of the customs men\r\nhigh on the bluff that drops sheer to the reef:\r\nit\u2019s been waiting, deserted, since the evening\r\nyour thoughts swarmed in\r\nand hovered, nervously.\r\n\r\nSou\u2019westers have lashed the old walls for years\r\nand your laugh\u2019s not carefree anymore:\r\nthe compass needle staggers crazily\r\nand the dice no longer tell the score.\r\nYou don\u2019t remember: other times\r\nassail your memory; a thread gets wound.<\/blockquote><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe wreck of Punta Bianca and the Titanic<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
About 5 miles from Punta Bianca, at a depth of about 19 metres, lies the wreck of the Almerian<\/strong>, a steamer belonging to the Leyland Line<\/strong> company. The ship, which was carrying a cargo of sulphur bound for Liverpool, was sunk on 19 October 1918 by the German submarine U-Boat 73. As so often during the First World War, the submarine decided to mine the ship instead of torpedoing it. This was done both to spare the lives of enemy sailors and not to waste the precious torpedoes to be used to sink warships. It seems, however, that the submarine, a few days later, sunk itself to avoid falling into the hands of the British Navy.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Almerian was the last ship to cross the Titanic’s path on 14 April 1912, greeting it with its sirens as it headed towards its tragic fate<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Punta Bianca used as a filming location<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
Punta Bianca<\/strong> is one of the locations chosen by Gianna Nannini for the videoclip of “Lontano dagli occhi”. In the video there are also some other locations in the Agrigento area: the Valley of the Temples, the Scala dei Turchi and Palazzo Adamo in Canicatt\u00ec.<\/p>\r\n\r\n