Magna Via Francigena: Sicily coast to coast – MVF1

Exploring the biggest Italian island on foot, along the Magna Via Francigena

The Magna Via Francigena covers approximately 200 km between Palermo and Agrigento, crossing Sicily from north to south. The route is made up of fields and ‘trazzere’, country tracks used for the passage of cattle. Along the way, you can admire a wealth of artistic and natural beauty. In particular, you will visit the UNESCO sites of Palermo and Agrigento.

You will also travel through the landscapes of the Belìce and Platani valleys, as well as the Sicani mountains, which cover a large part of the island. The route is part of a network of ancient Roman roads, used over the centuries by the different cultures that settled in Sicily. During the Norman-Swabian period, the roads were travelled as pilgrimage routes to Campostela, Rome or Jerusalem.

You start your walk in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. In the first part, you will visit the magnificent cathedral of Monreale and go through the Conca d’Oro. You will continue uphill to Altofonte, an ancient Norman hunting reserve, before descending towards the Arbëreshë area, which preserves traditions typical of Albanian culture. Next, you will reach the Upper Belìce valley and the beautiful village of Corleone, rich in churches, before entering the Monti Sicani park.

At the midpoint of the route, you will take a detour toward the hermitage of Santa Rosalia, Quisquina Sanctuary, the arrival point of the Itinerarium Rosaliae. Then you will rejoin the Magna Via in Cammarata, from where you will head downhill along the Platani river.

You will later pass through other small towns, such as Sutera, Campofranco and Milena, land of historic farmhouses and fields. After travelling through Racalmuto and Grotte, you climb the last hills and then you will descend toward Joppolo Giancaxio. The arrival in in the ancient Greek city of Agrigento.

Along the way, you will also visit places that are very important to Italian literature. Racalmuto was the birthplace of Leonardo Sciascia. The mines of Comitini evoke the setting of Rosso Malpelo, a short story by Giovanni Verga. Finally, you will end your walk in Agrigento, where Luigi Pirandello, 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature, was born.

DAY–TO–DAY PROGRAMME

Day 1 – Arrival in Palermo, starting point of Magna Via Francigena

You travel to Palermo, on Sicily’s northern coast, to start Magna Via Francigena. Palermo can be easily reached with daily flights from many cities in Europe and other major in Italy. After settling in at your centrally located hotel, you will have time to explore the city’s centre. You can visit the monuments that are part of the Arab-Norman itinerary and declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, like the Cathedral and Palazzo Reale. The route connects three cultures, the Greek-Byzantine, Islamic and Norman-Christian ones. In the evening you can walk around the town, finding a suitable place for a delicious dinner.

Accommodation: Palermo – Hotel *** (or similar)

Day 2 – From Palermo to Santa Cristina Gela

The Magna Via Francigena starts from the Arab-Norman capital. You pass through the urbanised barrier of Palermo to immerse yourself in the beauty of Monreale, where you can admire golden mosaics and precious architecture and take your first break. From here, head towards the Oreto valley to reach Parco, the current Altofonte with its beautiful fountains. Altofonte was the hunting reserve of the Norman royals. The town is protected by its green park, which acts as a barrier to the Conca d’Oro and the countryside surrounding the Greek-Albanian village of Santa Cristina Gela, a land of exquisite pastry chefs, farmers and shepherds. Your walk ends in Santa Cristina Gela.

Accommodation: Santa Cristina Gela – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 25 km. Approx. walking time: 8 h. Ascent & descent: + 1100 m /- 450 m.

Day 3 – From Santa Cristina Gela to Corleone, along the Magna Via Francigena

This morning the stage starts from the village and crosses the fields along the historic track towards Portella Sant’Agata, where you face the climb along the ‘scala’, a rocky steps way. Once you have passed this, you cross the Itinerarium Rosaliae route for a few hundred metres and head towards the ancient Sant’Agata farm. The route follows the wide and spacious transhumance track through the fields, allowing you to enjoy the Sicilian countryside, rich in ruins, wind turbines and solar panels, until you reach the Sanctuary of Tagliavia, a place to stop and rest.

Continue along a final stretch of fields to a ford in the Belìce River, then climb up to Corleone along the most difficult track of the route. Corleone is the city of the one-hundred churches. It is also renowned for The Godfather novel and movies, but it should be described for all its beauty.

Accommodation: Corleone – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 26 km. Approx. walking time: 7,5 h. Ascent & descent: + 650 m /- 800 m.

Day 4 – From Corleone to Prizzi

From Corleone, a new uphill begins, going up to Malopasso and from there walking along dirt roads and tracks along the Via delle Fonti, along Cozzo Spolentino towards Masseria ‘Mbriaca, a historic residence and example of a late medieval farmhouse. Then you reach Lake Prizzi, admiring the hill that reaches almost 1,000 metres, on which a village is perched. Today’s itinerary is a historical route, described by Norman sources. The destination, Prizzi, was the Byzantine outpost that controlled the valley.

Accommodation: Prizzi – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 20 km. Approx. walking time: 6 h. Ascent & descent: + 800/- 350 m.

Day 5 – From Prizzi to Castronovo di Sicilia, along the Magna Via Francigena

Prizzi is a small village perched on the side of a mountain, with a view over the ancient site of Hippana on the Sican mountain of horses. Today, you leave Prizzi and continue on the Magna Via Francigena through the Monte Carcaci Reserve, among shady trees and spring water sources, picnic areas and forestry shelters. Leaving the woods behind, the road returns to fields of fodder and wheat and passes through the abandoned farming village of Riena, a symbol of a rural society struggling to survive. A short climb takes you to the second wooded area, Santa Caterina, from where you can reach the hill of Kassar, the Byzantine plateau overlooking Castronovo di Sicilia, your destination for today.

Accommodation: Castronovo di Sicilia – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 24 km. Approx. walking time: 7,5 h. Ascent & descent: + 500 m. / – 800 m.

Day 6 – From Castronovo di Sicilia to Santo Stefano Quisquina

Today’s walk connects the Magna Via Francigena with the final destination of the Itinerarium Rosaliae, the hermitage of Santa Rosalia. Once you leave Castronovo di Sicilia along the ‘via dei mulini’ (mill road), you walk through the forest reserve that borders the Fanaco dam and its artificial lake, passing the monastery of Santo Stefano di Melia and the Andromeda theatre, a phenomenon of cultural reappropriation of the territory. Finally, you reach Santo Stefano Quisquina, a village in the Sicani mountains rich in history, artistic beauty and unique gastronomic delights

Accommodation: Santo Stefano Quisquina – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 21 km. Approx. walking time: 7 h. Ascent & descent: + 750 m / – 650 m

Day 7 – From Santo Stefano Quisquina to Cammarata

Today’s stage takes us from Santo Stefano Quisquina to Cammarata, passing by the hermitage of Santa Rosalia, a place of prayer and devotion to the Sicilian patron saint who, according to tradition, came here to take refuge and lived as a hermit. We reach the hermitage by going through the Quisquina forest. Just below 1,100 metres above sea level, after visiting and stopping for a break, you come back to the border between the municipalities of Castronovo and Cammarata, on the edge of the woods that lead to the highest peaks of the Sicani mountains.

You pass through woods, nature and rural landscapes, with dairy farms and agricultural enterprises alternating with country estates. The route leaves the Sicani Park and reaches Cammarata, rejoining the main route of the Magna Via.

Accommodation: Cammarata – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 20 km. Approx. walking time: 6,5 h. Ascent & descent: + 650 m / – 650 m

Day 8 – From Cammarata/ San Giovanni Gemini to Sutera

Today you leave Cammarata and San Giovanni Gemini, two villages that share history and territory, and descend along the Platani river, following the railway line and the main road, passing close to the salt mines. Then take the steep track that leads up to Acquaviva Platani, a small town that separates us from our destination, the rock of Sutera. Continue through the countryside until you see Monte Caccione, pass in front of the Bongiorno farm and take the path that leads to the rock of Sutera.

Accommodation: Sutera – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 19 km. Approx. walking time: 6 h. Ascent & descent: + 600 m / – 600 m

Day 9 – From Sutera to Grotte

Today you head towards Campofranco. From there, follow the ‘regia trazzera’ road that led to Milena, crossing the Gallo d’Oro river, a branch of Platani. The Roman bridge collapsed in the 1980s, but its ruins are still visible. After a climb, you arrive near Milena, land of ‘robbe’, small living units built over the centuries by local farmers and their families, and from there you continue through fields towards Racalmuto, passing scenic spots and nature reserves. Racalmuto is the birthplace of Sciascia, renowned Italian writer. Once you reach Racalmuto, you can stop and visit the castle, churches and the Sciascia’s house. Finally, you continue towards Grotte, just 3 kilometres away, a small town with a rich artistic heritage.

Accommodation: Sutera – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 26 km. Approx. walking time: 8 h. Ascent & descent: + 700 m / – 800 m

Day 10 – From Grotte to Joppolo Giancaxio

You leave Grotte to reach Petra di Calathansuderj, a system of caves and tunnels that has guarded the territory over the centuries. The last real climb of the Magna Via Francigena begins, taking you to the hill overlooking Comitini, among sulphur and sand mines. The small village is at the end of a descent. Then you keep going toward Aragona. The gentle climb leading to the village gives you time to observe the architecture of the Sican centre, before arriving and continuing the march towards Joppolo.

Accommodation: Joppolo Giancaxio – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 20 km. Approx. walking time: 6,5 h. Ascent & descent: + 500 m / – 700 m

Day 11 – Arrival in Agrigento, last stage of Magna Via Francigena

Today is the last stage of the journey. Leave the agricultural centre of Joppolo and walk towards the Agrigento countryside, the ancient kora that surrounded the populous Greek polis. Pass through often urbanised areas and reach the Akragas stream to continue on an ancient mule track, still used by the few shepherds in the area. You are below the Atenea cliff and a eucalyptus forest separates you from the suburban park. A gentle climb takes you into the citadel. After a few hundred metres, you will find yourself in front of the steps of the Cathedral of Saint Gerland in Agrigento.

Accommodation: Agrigento – Hotel *** (or similar)
Total walking distance: 16 km. Approx. walking time: 5 h. Ascent & descent: + 350 m / – 350 m

Day 12 – Departure

The Magna Via Francigena ends in Agrigento, founded by Greek colonists in year 582 BC. The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean region. Agrigento, whose previous name was Girgenti, is also the birthplace of another renowned 20th-century Italian writer, Luigi Pirandello.

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

All nights are spent in characteristic hotels or family-run guesthouses. All rooms have en-suite facilities.

The accommodations are on B&B basis. Dinners are not included, as there is a wide choice of restaurants in the towns and villages where you’ll be staying.

No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or materials for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you’ll be staying.

UPGRADE/CHANGES IN ACCOMMODATION:

It is possible to book an upgrade in some of the places en route. Details and prices on request.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

Moderate (2-3): Mostly moderately easy walks, with some long stages, involving some steep uphill walking. It spreads mainly over unpaved roads and, in part, on barely travelled asphalt roads. Just the area of Palermo and Agrigento are affected by a substantial presence of cars.

Fitness: A good standard of fitness is necessary if you opt for the challenging walks. Then you should be able to walk for up to 6/7 hours a day, sometimes in hot sun and on dusty or stony tracks. N.B. During summer the difficulty of this tour definitely increases due to the heat. We therefore advise against booking this tour during the Summer season.

FOOTPATHS & WAYMARKING

Footpaths: Most paths are relatively well maintained, but during the season some paths can get overgrown.

Waymarking: A large part of the route is waymarked – with different signs, explained in full in the route notes. Elsewhere you need to follow the route descriptions / GPX-tracks.

INCLUSIONS

• Accommodation: 11 nights in Hotel ***, guesthouse or similar; B&B basis
• Extensive route notes, with description of the route & tourist information
• Maps at 1 : 25.000 scale (or better)
• 24/7 Assistance
• Luggage transport

NOT INCLUDED

• Departure taxes & Visas
• Travel Insurance
• Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional additional tours or activities
• Items of personal nature

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

Arrival: The tour starts in PALERMO, Sicily’s capital. Palermo has an international airport and it can easily be reached by flight, but also by boat from the Italian mainland or by train from other Sicilian cities.

Departure: The tour ends after breakfast in AGRIGENTO. By boat you can travel back to Palermo.

Please contact us for the latest prices

Avaibility & Conditions

	You can book this tour with a minimum of 1 person.
	There are a very limited number of available places on these dates. Immediate booking is recommended.
	No available.
	Availability and prices on request.

• Prices are per person and based on the season within which the first night of the tour falls.
• Prices are based on 2 people sharing double or twin accommodation. Single rooms (double rooms – single) are available on most trips however the supplements listed apply.
• If you are travelling alone then on some trips (which include taxi transfers) a ‘Solo Traveller Supplement’ will be applied instead of the normal single supplement.
• Prices are expressed in Euro’s. There will never be a currency surcharge.
• Actual exchange rates: GB £ – US $ – CAN $ – CHF – DKK – SEK – NOK – Other currencies.

TOUR VARIATIONS

EXTRA NIGHTS

It is possible to include extra nights at the beginning or the end of the tour. The tour can easily be extended with a few days in Palermo or in Agrigento, as well as several other destinations on the island. Several good accommodations are available, ranging from 2- to 5-star. Details and prices on request.