Our Favorite Hike In Sicily

In general, this is our absolute favorite hike in Sicily and we are not the only ones who feel that way. There is something about this place that pulls you in without you really knowing why.

We usually take the trail you can see in our youtube video. It is the one we know best and the one we come back to almost every week. But it is not the only option. There are a couple of shorter routes as well, and, honestly, they are just as beautiful.

A mountain that changes its mood every time

We have seen this mountain in every possible mood.

There were days when we were hiking through thick clouds and suddenly ended up above them, with the sun breaking through and everything below completely covered. Other times, the clouds stayed and we were just walking in this foggy, slightly cold cloud, thinking that we did not expect to experience such rain and wind in Sicily. These are the days when it rains and everything turns grey and heavy. Not exactly fun while you are in it, but even those days somehow stay with you.

And summer is a completely different story. The whole mountain dries out so much that it almost looks like there was never any grass here to begin with. It feels harsher, more exposed, the landscape stripped down to its basics. As we hiked in summer first, we were geniunley surprised to see cows there as we were convinced they had nothing to eat.

But spring… spring is my favorite.

Everything comes alive. You hear birds constantly, there are wildflowers everywhere, bees flying around, and yes, occasionally snakes in the grass, so you do need to pay attention. The whole mountain is moving again after being asleep, celebrating the sun and the days becoming longer again.

Every time we come here, it feels slightly different. Sometimes calm, sometimes dramatic, sometimes loud, sometimes completely silent. But one thing I can tell you for sure, it is never boring.

The feeling of being alone

One of the things we love most is how empty it still is.

Considering how close it is to places like Palermo and Terrasini, you would expect it to be much more crowded. But most of the time, we barely see anyone.

The only people we regularly come across are the farmers who own the cows you see up there. Every now and then, you will see them driving up, checking on the animals, just going about their day.

Sometimes we spot workers planting trees and maintaining the area. It is so strange to see a trail being maintained... and yet never used. It still feels wild, just in a quiet, respectful way.

What to expect before you go

If you are planning to hike here, I would categorise it as medium difficulty.

It is quite uphill for most of the way and there are sections where you definitely feel it, especially if you are not used to hiking regularly. It is definitely not a casual, easy stroll.

Summer is where it gets very tricky. The heat can make it feel much harder than it actually is. There is very little shade and the ground reflects the heat, so it can feel intense quite quickly, literally hiking on a frying pan. Water is absolutely essential here.

Another thing to keep in mind is reception... or rather the lack of it. You will lose signal in most parts, so it is better to know your route in advance and not rely too much on your phone.

And of course, the cows. You will definetley meet them. They are calm, but they will protect their babies. Just be respectful, keep your distance, and everything will be fine.

The view that never gets old

The views on this hike truly are the stars of the show. No matter how many times we do this hike, the views seem just as magical as the first time we came here.

You get this wide open view of the coastline, the mountains, the whole area stretching out around you. On a clear day, you can see incredibly far along the coast, which is exactly why this hike is often mentioned as one of the best viewpoints in the area. And every single person we take on this hike agrees with this. It is absolutely stunning.

Final thoughts

I think what makes this place stand out is that it is breathtakingly beautiful, and yet it is not a famous hike. It is not well marked, no paid parking stations, entrance fees or any kind of guidance at all. You just kind of have to figure it out as you go.

But once you do, it becomes one of those places that remind you how grateful you are just to get a chance of living in this wonderful place.

And if you are thinking about what life in Sicily actually looks like beyond the obvious highlights, this is exactly it. Untouched, breathtakingly beautiful, slightly chaotic and absolutely beautiful.

If you wish to see the trail we usually take and this stunning mountain in video, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/6bV4r_QnWnY?si=0Bso8oF5In_4wmi1

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Thank you for reading, and see you in the next one.
Ciao!