Environmental Hiking Guides Tell the Story of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark

Some territories reveal themselves slowly – step by step – and there are people who know every trail, every story etched into the rocks.
They are environmental hiking guides: custodians of a precious knowledge that weaves together nature, culture, and community.
And when that knowledge meets the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark, a shared narrative is born – capable of turning every hike into a living, participatory experience.

Who are environmental hiking guides
Environmental hiking guides are trained professionals who lead groups through natural and rural environments. Their expertise ranges from geology to botany, from landscape storytelling to trail safety.
Within the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark, their role takes on deeper meaning: they become true ambassadors of the territory, bridging the gap between geological heritage and people.

A training program to understand and share the Geopark
Between April and May 2025, a group of environmental hiking guides took part in a training program promoted within the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark, exploring emblematic locations such as Vignale, Aidone, Cacchiamo, Cozzo Matrice, Floristella, and Leonforte.

Stop by stop, the guides deepened their knowledge of:
• What a UNESCO Global Geopark is
• Why it is recognized by UNESCO
• The geological, historical, and cultural features of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark
• How to turn this knowledge into accessible, emotional, and memorable experiences for every visitor

The value of conscious storytelling
Telling the story of a UNESCO Global Geopark means more than describing a place—it means conveying values such as sustainability, memory, respect for nature, and deep connection with local communities.
The guides trained within the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark become powerful allies in enhancing the territory, capable of creating experiences that engage, teach, and leave lasting impressions.

Walking through the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark today
Thanks to this training program, today’s visitors to the trails of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark can rely on passionate, knowledgeable guides who bring the land and its stories into dialogue.

Every hike becomes a chance to:
• Discover the geodiversity of the area
• Listen to stories that weave together myth, labor, spirituality, and science
• Experience the landscape with all the senses, in the slow and respectful rhythm of walking

Training guides means investing in the future of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark. It also means entrusting those who accompany visitors with the responsibility to make people understand and love a heritage that belongs to everyone. Because a land that is thoughtfully told is a land that is protected, valued, and truly lived.