03 April 2023

Palermo_Messina_II_2023


ITALY, Sicily.

Via Francigena Normanna  II.

A six-days hike from Gangi to Maniace and then to Catania.

03/May/2023 to 09/May/2023. 

This six-days hike continues along the Via Normanna (green)
to Maniace, then deviates to Catania along the Via Fabaria (blue).

Gangi, starting place for this six-day hike.
In the background the snow covered Mount Etna,
3400m (picture stolen from the internet).

CLICK HERE for the earlier eight-days hike from Palermo to Gangi (Jan 2023)
CLICK HERE to reach the segments along the Via Fabaria (at the end of this blogpost)





Monday/01/May/2023.
Home to Palermo journey.


Transportation:
---- DB train RE11 from Lippstadt to Dusseldorf airport, 13:26-15:15, 1h49. 22€.
---- 2h30 transit at Dusseldorf airport.
---- ITA flight AZ417 from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Milan-Linate (LIN), Sunday 31/Apr/2023 17:45-19:15, 1h30, 352€ (all four flights).
---- ITA flight AZ1793 from Milan-Linate (LIN) to Palermo (PMO), 18:55-20:30, 1h35.
---- Train from the airport to Palermo Palazzo Reale Orleans, 0h47, 21:20-22:07, 6.50€.

|---| Hotel Orleans, Palermo, 50€ incl breakfast.



Tuesday 02/May/2023.
Palermo to Gangi journey.


Palermo.


Gangi.


Gangi.

Transportation:
---- SAIS bus from Palermo Station to Gangi, 12:20-14:40 & 14h20-16:40, 2h30, 11.30€.

|---| Casa Il vicolo dei Tetti, Gangi, 40€.



Wednesday 03/May/2023.
HIKE 1 - Gangi to Nicosia (22.6km, 7h45).

(Hike #9 of the Via Normanna).

Weather forecast for today (wet)
and the next days.

Leaving Gangi.







Sperlinga, cave houses.




Crossing river Torrente Fiumetto.

Nicosia.




Nice end of the day.

|---| B&B San Francesco, Nicosia, 27€ incl breakfast.



Thursday 04/May/2023.
HIKE 2 - Nicosia to Troina (22.2km).

(Hike #10 of the Via Normanna).





Approaching Troina..


Troina.




Robert Cappa museum, and the Battle of Troina expo.

Operation Hushki 1943.


Peasant showing how the Germans have gone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasant_Telling...

Sicilian hospitality.

Troina one euro project.

Mmmmm pizza con Burrata.


Bedroom for tonight.

|---| B&B Al Centro Storico, Troina, 40€. 
       Idria14 B&B (Idria14@hotmail.it.), 40€.



Friday 05/May/2023.
HIKE 3 - Troina to Cesaro (20km).
(Hike #11 of the Via Normanna).



Ponte Faidda over the river Fiume di Troina.






Arrived at Cesaro.

|---| Hotel dei Nebrodi, Cesaro, 40€ incl breakfast.


 
Today, at Nelson's Castle in Maniace, I will deviate from the Via Normanna (Palermo-Messina), taking the Via Fabaria towards Catania. 

Saturday 06/May/2023.
HIKE 4 - Cesaro to
 Maniace and then to Bronte (25km).
(Hike #12 of the Via Normanna).

Leaving Cesaro.




The Etna volcano.

Maniace.


Maniace, Nelson Castle.

Maniace, Nelson Castle.

May 2023 I deviated here from the Via Normanna onto the Via Fabaria towards Catania.
This blogpost furtheron describes that road.






Bronte, restaurant Pepe Rosa for tonight.


Bedroom for tonight.

|---| B&B Terebinto, Bronte, 60€.



Sunday 07/May/2023.
HIKE 5 - Bronte to Adrano (20.1km).





Rifugio Piano dei Grilli.

Sentiero Monte Minardo.





Adrano.

Entering Adrano.


Monastero di Santa Lucia.


Bedroom for tonight.

|---| B&B Patty's House (Hostel), private room, Adrano, 48€ without breakfast.



Monday 08/May/2023.
HIKE 6 - Adrano to Paterno (15.6km).


Morning coffee.


Biancavilla.

Santa Maria di Licodia,
Fontana del Cherubino (1757).



Salinelle di Paterno, mud volcano.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinelle_di_Paterno

MOVIE

Paterno.


Paterno railway station.

Catania Metro.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giselle

Fortunate to have catched a seat for the ballet.

Transportation:
---- Ciurcumetnea train from Paterno to Catania.
---- Catania Metro.

|---| Hotel Centrale Europa, Catania, 44€.



Tuesday 09/May/2023..
Catania.


The fish market near Piazza Duomo.

MOVIE

Bar Spinella.

Ballet night at the Opera Massimo Bellini.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teatro_Massimo_Bellini

|---| Hotel Centrale Europa, Catania, 44€.



Wednesday 10/May/2023.
Return Home journey.


Transportation:
---- Shuttle bus from Catania city center to the airport.
---- ITA flight AZ1714 from Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA) to Milan-Linate, 12:25-14:15, 1h50.
---- Transit at Linate airport 1h05.
---- ITA flight AZ414 from Milan-Linate (LIN) to Dusseldorf (DUS), 15:20-16:50, 1h30.
---- Train from the airport.

|---| Home, Milano.



Thanks for having watched this blog post.




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