Sicily 1 walking tinerary
Day 1
Your tour starts with a private transfer from either Palermo or Catania to Nicosia in central Sicily, an hour and a half away. A strategic point on the mountain road that linked eastern Sicily with Palermo, Nicosia grew up around a 7th century Byzantine castle and flourished under Norman rule in the 12th century. Today it is a bustling agricultural centre – pure Sicily!
Day 2
Your first walk is an easy hike across the valley to a tiny village that grew up around a rock outcrop riddled with prehistoric cave dwellings. Mt Etna, 100 kms to the east, is visible from the village’s impregnable castle. The village’s dialect still has traces of the French invaders who were garrisoned here in the 13th century. (3.5 hrs; 13 kms; min: 584 mts; max: 750 mts)
Day 3
Today you have a long but gentle walk through rolling valleys with vast views of the mountains and farmlands around you. At the end of the walk, you will be met and driven to your accommodation for the night, at the foot of one of the most fascinating villages in the district. (4 hrs; 14 kms; min: 597 mts, max: 980 mts)
Day 4
An easy day, today you climb up to a nearby town, a jumble of houses and lanes that tumble down the side of a spherical hill. Your accommodation is a family-run agriturismo in the valley below the town which was once a baronial residence.(2 hrs; 7 kms; min: 644 mts, max: 913 mts)
You will have the option in the afternoon of doing a loop walk up to visit the neighbouring town, which was judged Italy's Most Beautiful Village in 2014. (2 hr; 6 km; min: 656 mts, max: 1096 mts)
Day 5
The walk today takes you through the valley and then up to a small town that was founded by the ancient Greeks and was the seat of the medieval counts who ruled central Sicily from here in the 14th and 15th centuries. The town is also the gateway to the Madonie National Park. Your accommodation tonight is in a beautifully restored historic building in the centre of town, close to the town's central piazza. (3.5 hrs; 11.5 kms; min: 656 mts, max: 1096 mts)
Day 6
Today’s walk takes you sharply up from the town to a wide path that contours around side of a mountain, taking you through pines forests and pastures with spectacular views back east across the valleys and mountains. On a clear day, you will have Mt Etna as a backdrop. You descend down a fire-trail to your final destination, an extraordinary town that was founded by the Romans and was classified as Italy's Most Beautiful Village in 2018. (4 hrs; 12 kms; min: 1058 mts, max: 1473 mts)
Day 7
After breakfast, you will be transferred to either Palermo or Catania, a one and a half hour drive away.
Interested in the 3. Southern Italy: Sicily 1, the central mountains, the heart of Sicily Self-Guided Walk?
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Cost
$3,000
per person
- Six nights accommodation
- All breakfasts + dinners included
- Reading lists and historical and cultural notes
- Maps with gps markers and walking instructions
- Hidden Italy App with GPS to complement the roadbook
- Pick up and drop off in either Catania or Palermo
- Daily transfers of baggage between hotels
- 24 hour backup from local manager
- City taxes are not included in the cost of the tour
Cost Options
$3000 per person (breakfast + dinners included)
Single supplement - $900
** Please note a high season surcharge may apply.
Tour costs quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD)
Map
Testimonials
We had the most delightful week and have no hesitation in fully recommending it. We loved the walking, scenery, countryside, exploring the different towns and immersing ourselves in the culture and history. The whole week exceeded expectations.
– Judy and Bob K
View all Testimonials ›3. Southern Italy: Sicily 1, the central mountains, the heart of Sicily FAQs
Find out a little more about the 3. Southern Italy: Sicily 1, the central mountains, the heart of Sicily tour by reading some of our most frequently asked questions.
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