ITALY, Sicily.
Via Francigena Normanna I.
A winter hike from Palermo to Gangi (continued later-on to Messina (and also Catania).
A winter hike from Palermo to Gangi (continued later-on to Messina (and also Catania).
10/Jan/2023 to 20/Jan/2023.
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| After having hiked the Sicilian Magna Via Francigena (red trace on this map) during Spring 2019, Via Francigena Normanna (green), 378km. |
The Via Francigena Normanna.
Earlier called the "Via Francigena Palermo - Messina per le Montagne".
An extraordinary itinerary between Norman manors, Arab domes, natural reserves of rare beauty, ancient cathedrals and excellent gastronomy.
The Via francigena through the mountains is a single and continuous path, of about 400 km, in 20 stages that connects Palermo with Messina.
The route crosses the snow-capped peaks of the Madonie and the mountain landscapes of the Nebrodi up to the peaks of the Peloritani.
The pilgrim discovers unique landscapes: from the beauties of the capital of Arab-Norman culture to the beaches of Aspra; from the most beautiful villages of Italy (Gangi, Sperlinga and Montalbano) to the Norman castles perched among the Madonie; from villages immersed in the Nebrodi woods (Floresta, Capizzi and Cesarò) to the first capital of the Gran Conte Ruggero, Troina.
Itinerary :
1. Palermo – Bagheria (26km)
2. Bagheria – Eremo San Felice, Ponte Saraceno (24km)
3. Eremo San Felice – Caccamo (12km)
4. Caccamo – Montemaggiore-Belsito (17km)
5. Montemaggiore – Caltavuturo (22km)
6. Caltavuturo – Polizzi (13km)
7. Polizzi – Petralia-Sottana (13km)
8. Petralia-Sottana – Gangi (15km)
9. Gangi – Nicosia (23km)
10. Nicosia – Troina (23km)
11. Troina – Cesarò (19km)
12. Cesarò – Maniace/Randazzo (25km)
13. Randazzo – Floresta-Elicona (17km)
14. Floresta – Montalbano (17km)
15. Montalbano – Novara di Sicilia (24km)
16. Novara di Sicilia – Castroreale (22km)
17. Castroreale – Santa Lucia del Mela (17km)
18. Santa Lucia del Mela – Rometta (25km)
19. Rometta – Villafranca (16km)
20. Villafranca – Messina (22km)
Tuesday 10/Jan/2023.
Home to Palermo (I) journey.
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| Disembarking at the Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport. |
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| Outdoor shop visit to obtain the "Credential" (the pilgrim passport). |
Transportation:
---- Ryanair Flight FR6785 from Marseille (MRS) to Palermo (PMO), 14:35-16:15, 1h40, 15€+16€ bag.
---- Airport shuttle to Palermo, 16:35-17:15, 0h40, 6€.
|---| Hotel Palermo Quattro Canti, Palermo, 46€ incl breakfast.
Wednesday 11/Jan/2023.
HIKE 1 - Palermo to Bagheria (26.0km).
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| Weather forecast for the eight hiking days. |
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| The waymarking for the next days: "Via per le Montagne". |
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| View From the hotel breakfast room. |
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| Palermo cathedral. |
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| San Cadaldo church with Arab domes. |
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| Brick factory. |
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| Aspra, an anchovy fishing village. |
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| Looking back towards Palermo. |
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| Aspra, Villa Sant'Isidoro de Cordova. |
Bagheria.
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| Bagheria, Villa Cattolica. |
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| Bagheria, Villa Palagonia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Palagonia |
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| Bagheria, Villa Palagonia. |
|---| Hotel Centrale, Bagheria, 50€ incl breakfast.
Thursday 12/Jan/2023.
HIKE 2 - Bagheria to San-Felice hermitage (26.4km).
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| Leaving Bagheria. |
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| Villa Filangeri. |
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| Casteldaccia. |
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| Altavilla. |
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| Eremo di San Felice. |
|---| Eremo di San Felice, Ponte Saraceno, donativo.
Friday 13/Jan/2023.
HIKE 3 - San-Felice hermitage to Caccamo (12.0km).
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| The well-equiped kitchen of the hut. |
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| Tunnel. |
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| Lago di Caccamo dam. |
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| Castello di Caccamo, castle. |
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| Torre Pizzarone. |
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| Caccamo, Piazza Duomo. |
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| Caccamo, castle. |
|---| Casa Vacanze Santa Lucia, Caccamo, 42€ incl breakfast.
Saturday 14/Jan/2023.
HIKE 4 - Caccamo to Montemaggiore-Belsito (16.6km).
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| Montemaggiore-Belsito. |
|---| Casa Vacanze Zia Rosina, Montemaggiore-Belsito, 30€ without breakfast.
Sunday 15/Jan/2023.
HIKE 5 - Montemaggiore-Belsito to Caltavutore (19.3km).
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| Leaving Montemaggiore-Belsito. |
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| Hot spring Pozza Termale Sclafani Bagni. |
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| Reaching Caltavutore. |
|---| Casa Della Nonna, Caltavutore 36€.
Monday 16/Jan/2023.
HIKE 6 - Caltavutore to Polizzi-Generosa (12.6km).
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| Leaving Caltavutore. |
Polizzi-Generosa.
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| Triptych The Virgin with Angels. |
|---| B&B Casetta del Palazzo, Polizzi-Generosa, 47€, without breakfast.
Tuesday 17/Jan/2023.
HIKE 7 - Polizzi-Generosa to Petralia-Sottana (13km).
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| Pair of Testas di Moro, Sicilian Ceramic Moorish head vases. |
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| Taking sandwiches from the local butcher. |
|---| Casa Petralia, Petralia-Sottana, 33€ without breakfast.
Wednesday 18/Jan/2023.
HIKE 8 - Petralia-Sottana to Gangi (15.5km).
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| Leaving Petralia-Sottana. |
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| Petralia-Soprana. |
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| Petralia-Sottana. |
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| Wholesale pharmacy vending machine. |
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| Approaching Gangi. |
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| Approaching Gangi. |
Gangi.
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| Gangi. |
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| Gangi. |
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| Gangi. |
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| Gangi, Lion fountain. |
|---| Hotel Miramonti, Gangi, 44€ without breakfast.
Thursday 19/Jan/2023.
Transportation:
---- Coach from Gangi to Palermo, 07:05-09:35, 2h30, 11.30€.
---- Airport shuttle from Palermo to the airport, 11:00-11:50, 0h50, 6€.
---- ITA flight from Palermo to Milan-Linate, 14:15-15:50, 1h35, 72€ incl backpack.
|---| Hotel Mec, Milan, 74€.
Next.
Transportation:
---- Ryanair Flight FR3490 from Milan-Bergamo (BGY) to Marseille (MRS), 10:25-11:40, 13€ + 17€ for backpack.
