Ficuzza is one of the largest nature reserves in the Western part of Sicily in the hills South of Palermo, on the territory of which there is a former Royal hunting residence, which bears the same name.

The ruler of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies Ferdinando I in the years of his rule was twice forced to leave the Palace in Naples to settle in Palermo: the first time during the Republican revolution in the late 18th century, and then, a couple of years later, during the French occupation of much of southern Italy. Ferdinando loved the power, but it seems that the hunt he loved even more.

The king commissioned the architect Giuseppe Venanzio Marbule to design two Royal residence in the district of Palermo, each of which would be situated on the territory of hunting grounds. One of these residences was the Chinese Palace, built in the style of Chinese revival just outside of Palermo. But hunting Lodge in Ficuzza was built in a more simple, one might even say, Spartan style, but with elements of classical Baroque, typical of English country estates of the period. In the house were provided by the wine cellar and the secret exit, which the king could use if necessary to leave their possessions unnoticed. For construction Picozzi was used local stone. The British, who were kept in Sicily thousands of its military, of course, influenced the architectural design of the Palace, at least culturally. British officers extremely loved to hunt in the lands Picozzi: their prey became boars, wolves, hares, rabbits, birds of prey and wild cats.

Today, this vast protected area is open to the public only partially (fortunately, access to the Palace tourists are allowed). Here you can see an artificial lake fed by the waters of the river Frattina, which is used for water supply Palermo. Vast forests surround the Rocca Busambra is a mountain ridge overlooking the reserve.

Now the territory Ficuzza is in safe hands, although more recently its natural resources threatened serious danger from the destruction of natural ecosystems and deforestation. The Palace itself was significantly damaged and looted by vandals. In addition to local looters have left their mark and German troops, who ruled here in 1942 and left Ficuzza in poor condition. In recent years attempts have been made to restore the fauna that flourished in the reserve in the 19th century, in the first place – population of wild boars, hares and birds of prey. Fortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful, and today Ficuzza gradually regaining its former diversity and natural beauty.