1ST DAY: ARRIVAL
Arrival at the Airport and transfer to Petralia.
2ST DAY: PETRALIA - MONTE CORVO – PETRALIA
( 14KM +600+600 +1620MT SLM 4/5 HOURS APPROX)
On your first day, you may like to spend your time exploring historical Petralia Sottana and its sister town of Petralia Soprana, the second highest town in Sicily. Both have a labyrinth of narrow streets with tiny shops, and a lot of small churches. You can visit both towns as part of a walk that also explores the lower slopes of the Madonie Park, following scenic lanes and grassy trails.
A more challenging option ascends the slopes of Pizzo di Covo to reach a high plateau between the peaks of Cozzo Ipsi, Pizzo di Catarineci and Pizzo di Covo. Your efforts will be rewarded by stunning panoramic views of the Etna in the east and the Madonie Mountains in the west. The return to Petralia Sottana is initially steep but soon becomes a long gentle descent.
3ST DAY: PETRALIA – PIANO POMIERI
(12.7KM +912-551 +1504MT SLM 5:30 HOURS APPROX.)
A mix of countryside paths and woodland tracks ascends gently north from Petralia Sottana before swinging west to reach a remote and peaceful upland known as Portella di Mele, in the heart of the Madonie National Park. You rise to the top of a ridge, finishing with a descent to your destination.
4ST DAY: PIANO POMIERI - VALLONE DELLA MADONNA DEGLI ANGELI – PIANO POMIERI
(13KM +860-860 +1664 MT SLM 5:30 HOURS APPROX)
Today you will go to the discovery of the Abies Nebrodensis, Sicilian endemic species on the verge of extinction. The 30 specimen grow at an altitude between 1400 mt and 1650 mt over the sea level in the territory of Polizzi Generosa. The path starts from a large, beaten road inside the pine wood opening to a view over the Monte Quacella, 1896 mt above the sea level. From here, take a smaller path taking to the majestic trees.
5ST DAY: PIANO POMIERI - THE PATH OF GIANT HOLLIES - CASTELBUONO
(16 km +531 -1485 +1396MT SLM 6 HOURS APPROX.)
Morning transfer to the starting point of the path that will take you in the heart of the Madonie, to the discovery of the giant hollies. This naturalistic area is one of the most interesting of Sicily thanks to the presence of more then 200 plants of giant hollies. Here the plant grows 15 mt of height. Deep in the woods, there are plants of olm oaks which, due to strong winds and goats' bites, are shaped like cones.
6ST DAY: CASTELBUONO AND TRANSFER TO CEFALÙ
Today have a break and visit the town of Castelbuono, its small roads, its castle and the fountain of Venus. After lunch transfer to Cefalù, charming fisherman village with a marvellous cathedral, pearl of the Arab Norman itinerary of the Unesco.
7ST DAY: EXCURSION TO THE ROCCA OF CEFALÙ
(3 KM +230 -230 +268 MT SLM 2 HOURS APPROX)
The path unties through a vegetation characterised by white asphodel, ferula, asparagus, leone's mouth, wild carnation and cabbage rock. The sheer cliffs are colonized by bush of capers, euphorbia and the typical prictly pear. The kestrel supervises the vegetation with its "holy spirit", a typical flight for the identification of preys. Do not miss visiting the cathedral of Cefalù (Unesco heritage).