Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday following the Sicilian section of the Via Francigena, Palermo to Agrigento. The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route that opens up the sacred heart of Italy’s much worshipped interior. This sizzling segment follows a north to south walking trail between Palermo on the north coast and Agrigento on its south-west shores. Staying in a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, this is a moderate-level walking holiday through some of Sicily’s most ancient villages, along river trails and to beautiful lakes such as Lago Prizzi. The finale is the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO site.
- Palermo
- Corleone
- Lake Prizzi
- Sutera
- Racalmuto
- Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Palermo
Depending on arrival time, spend the day exploring Sicily’s great capital of Palermo, with recommended place to visit including its cathedral, the UNESCONorman Palace and Palatine Chapel, Ballarò and Vucciria Markets or just relax at Mondello Beach.
- Accommodation: Hotel Tonic or similar in Palermo
Day 2: Santa Cristina Gela – Corleone | 19-27km
You are transferred (1h) to Santa Cristina Gela, located by Piana degli Albanesi Lake. Walk towards Corleone and ascend along the Antica Trazzera (the old route) towards the Santuario Maria S.S. del Rosario di Tagliavia. The path then leads to Corleone, infamously known for it’s association with the Mafia.
- Walking for the day: 27km, 6h, ↑872m ↓769m (shorter option: 19km, 4-5h, ↑520m ↓720m)
- Accommodation: Leon D’Oro Corleone or similar in Corleone
Day 3: Corleone – Prizzi | 21km
Today’s walking route takes you past vineyards and through traditional farmlands. Arrive at Lake Prizzi and take a steady climb to the town of Prizzi, with an opportunity to grab a cannolo with pistachios and candied orange.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 5h ↑885m ↓466m
- Accommodation: Casa di Kokalo or similar in Prizzi
Day 4: Prizzi – Castronovo di Sicilia/Cammarata | 19-25km
Begin the walk through Carcaci Mountain Nature Reserve with views of the abandoned village of Riena. Continue through the Bosco Comuni to arrive in Castronovo, an ancient settlement on the Platani River. From Castronovo, you are transferred to Cammarata (20mins, included) where you spend the night. It is possible to shorten today’s walk by around by taking an earlier transfer (included).
- Walking for the day: 25km, 5h, ↑602m ↓894m (shorter option: 19km, 4-5h, ↑620m ↓660m)
- Accommodation: Casale Margherita or similar in Cammarata
Day 5: Cammarata – Sutera | 15km
Walk along the railway path, gradually ascending to Acquaviva Platani and continue on a ridge walk to Sutera. In Sutera, navigate the maze of alleys and chalk houses of the Arabic neighbourhood of Rabato and visit the rich Ethno-anthropological Museum.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h, ↑650m ↓700m
- Accommodation: Piazza Bed & Breakfast or similar in Sutera
Day 6: Sutera – Racalmuto | 21-27km
Descend to the Platani River and then ascend to the town of Milena. The path goes up into the hills surrounding the village and offers panoramic views of all the surrounding valleys and villages. Arrive in Racalmuto, the hometown of the famous Italian writer and politician Leonardo Sciascia.
- Walking for the day: 27km, 6h, ↑855m ↓1030m (shorter option: 21km, 5h, ↑660m ↓830m)
- Accommodation: Regalpetra Hotel or similar in Racalmuto
Day 7: Racalmuto – Aragona/Agrigento | 12km
Walk through several villages such as Grotte and Comitini also perfect for snack spots. When you get to Aragona, take the train (payable locally) to Agrigento and explore the Old Town or UNESCO’s Valley of the Temples. You can also book an optional private car transfer to Agrigento.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 3h, ↑225m ↓332m
- Accommodation: Colleverde Park Hotel or similar in Agrigento
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own or extension upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotel
- Hotel Tonic (Palermo)
- Leon D’Oro Corleone (Corleone)
- Casa di Kokalo (Prizzi)
- Casale Margherita (Cammarata)
- Piazza Bed & Breakfast (Sutera)
- Regalpetra Hotel (Racalmuto)
- Colleverde Park Hotel (Agrigento)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included every day, as well as one dinner on day four. The breakfast in Prizzi is at a nearby bar. Packed lunches can be pre-ordered at the accommodations or you can buy food from the village shops. Throughout the trip, there are plenty of opportunities to taste both the great local food and a wide range of the prestigious wines of the region.
Difficulty and terrain
The route is graded moderate; on average, you will walk 5-6h, 20km per day. A good level of fitness is required for enjoying the walks to the maximum (read more about difficulty grades). The terrain is various: tarmac secondary roads with little traffic, paths along fields and forests and gravel roads. There are a few streams to cross, some with very little water; others can be more difficult in case of rain. When it is possible, we provide an alternative route in case of heavy rain. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
You can start your holiday every day between 01 March and 25 July and between 01 September and 30 November. It is too hot for walking in August. Late spring, the early summer and the entire autumn are beautiful in Sicily. In Sicily, the climate For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to Italy.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airports for this tour are Aeroporto di Palermo (PMO) or Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with trains across Italy to Palermo and there is also a train station in Agrigento. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia and and the independent train company Italo.
- From the airport, you can take either a taxi or a bus to Palermo city centre. On departure, you can take a train from Agrigento to the Palermo train station and then a bus to the airport. You can check the train schedules on the Trenitalia website or use the Omio planner above.
- If you are able to travel to Sicily without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail to Palermo Centrale with direct connections from Rome (9h) and Naples (11.5h). For more details, see Trenitalia.
- There are also regular ferries to Palermo Port with direct connections from Genoa, Naples, Civitavecchia, Cagliari, Salerno, Aeolian Islands, Ustica, Tunisia and Milazzo. For more details use the Omio planner above or visit Grimaldi Lines.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts and one dinner on day four
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (only one piece per person up to 20kg; there is a supplement for each oversized or additional bag)
- Private transfers on days two and four
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided locally, except for the Pilgrim’s Passport
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and six dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable locally)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights
- Private airport transfers
- Private transfer Aragona-Agrigento on day seven
- Printed tour materials at the first accommodation
