When people think of Sicily, they often evoke images of its stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters. However, beyond our beaches and pristine seas, our island boasts a wide array of naturalistic hiking routes that traverse Sicily’s diverse landscapes.
Sicily offers some beautiful trekking routes with diverse landscapes, from coastal trails to mountainous terrain.
These routes are numerous and can be found throughout every corner of the island. Beside the main island, other little islands have interesting trekking paths too!
Below, you will find our recommendations for the best hiking trails in Palermo.
Tips about hiking
Before giving you our personal recommendations about the best trails in Palermo, it is important to give you few basic information:
- avoid hiking during the hot months in summer (generally July, August, September and October, due climate change). If you want to do that, start super early in the morning and be back latest at lunchtime;
- always bring with you enough water and some snacks. Beside Monte Pellegrino, the other places haven’t any stall or shop alond the trail;
- wear the proper outfit, that is trekking or sportive shoes, breathable clothes and an hat;
- study the trail ahead, be sure to have it also offline. There are severl apps for this purpose, but the most recommened is Komoot.
Best hikes in Palermo
In Palermo, there are several trails to explore, both for beginners and advanced sportive people! Let’s find out more!
Monte Pellegrino
This is a special reserve in the heart of the city and offers several trails. The area extends for about 1050 hectares, including also Parco della Favorita, the green Royal Estate built by Ferdinand III. This mountain is well known for the sanctuary of Saint Rosalia, the saint of the city of Palermo. Most of the trails will get you to the sanctuary, but if you keep walking, you will reach the top with an amazing view over Palermo. There is also a shuttle departing from sanctuary and leaving you at the entrance of the Scala Nuova path.
There are 14 trails and 2 mountain-bike trails! The trails we recommend are:
- Valle del Porco: despite the short length, it is one of the hardest due the steep steps, but you will walk throughout a suggestive rocky landscape, with native plants. At the end of the trail, you will reach the sanctuary. It starts from the Scuderie Reali, in viale Diana, close to Parco della Favorita.
- Religious path “Scala Nuova”: this is one of the most widely-known trails to go up Monte Pellegrino. It starts from Piazza Cascino (largo Sellerio) and ends at the Sanctuary. This trail is overall easy, although quite steep. It starts with 34 flights and continues throughout the woods.
- Goethe- Piano di Bernardo- Scala Vecchia: this trail starts from the road that takes to Utveggio Castle and leads to the Piano di Bernardo, a basin sheltered from the wind and surrounded by domestic plants. Once crossed the basin, you will reach the old stairs which will bring you to the sanctuary. The trail is quite easy.
Here you will find all the information about the other trails.
Capogallo
This reserve expands along the coast going from Barcarello till Mondello and it has 3 accesses: the first is it close to La Torre in Mondello, in the east part of the reserve; the second from Barcarello (Sferracavallo), in the west part of the reserve and the last one, south, from Partanna-Mondello (look at the map below).
Also here, there are several trails, but here our recommendations:
- Entrance Marinella: right after Mondello beach, on the east part of the reserve, you will find the famous Hotel La Torre. The trekking path is overall easy from there and it will last a bit more than an hour. While hiking, you will be amazed by the view of the sea on one side and the rocky nature on the other one. The trail will take you to the old lighthouse. Don’t forget your bathing suit!
- Piano dello stinco: the starting point is from Via Tolomea, in Partanna – Mondello area. This trail is about 3 km long and has a medium difficulty. You will cross woods, rich in vegetation, passing by Torre Amari, an ancient watchtower, to reach Piano dello Stinco.
- Piano dello Stinco- Semaforo: an alternative to the previous path is that one tha leads to Semaforo dell’Eremita, where lives an hermit, Nino called Isvraele. The trail starts from a fork from the trail called n° 1 (look at the map). The view from the top is breath-taking! The trail is overall easy and it will take about an hour and a half , depending on your speed.
Hiking in Cefalù
Right outiside Palermo, in the beautiful town of Cefalù, there is another peak to hike. This 268 mt cliff, called La Rocca, rises behind the city and gives an amazing view over the town and the coast from Palermo to Capo D’orlando.
The limestone rock, dotted with fissures and caves accessible to the public, constitutes a natural habitat for numerous species of local flora and fauna. Beside the natural interest and the breathtaking view, La Rocca amazes its visitors also for its legend.
According to the legend, the hansome Daphnis felt madly in love with a nymph, Echemeide, daughter of Juno. Daphnis married her, promissing eternal love and loyalty. Unfortunately , the promise was broken when Daphnis was druged with a powerful aphrodisiac by the Queen Clifene, pushing him to cheat on Echmeide, breaking also her heart.
Blinded by anger, Echmeide’s mother made him blind and condemned him to a life in despair. After wandering through the Sicilian countryside, Daphnis decided to end his life by throwing himself off a cliff. His father had mercy of him and transformed Daphnis into the spectacular rock, so that his soul would remain forever alive, embedded in the rock.
The hike is easy and it will last about 2 hours. It will start from Corso Ruggero, in city center. On the way up, it will be possible to admire ruines of temples and at the top a castle. There is an entrance ticket of 5 euros to pay.
Of course those are just few recommendations about hiking in Palermo. Let us know on our socials what do you think and if you like to know more about other natural areas to explore!
0 Comment