SICILIA - LA MAGNA VIA FRANCIGENA.
06/May/2019 to 17/May/2019.
06/May/2019 to 17/May/2019.
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| Sicily's "Trinacria" flag, with a three-legged woman symbolizing Sicily. |
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| The most famous pilgrim road of Sicily, a 160km hike from Palermo to Agrigento. |
Magna Via Francigena.
The "Magna Via Francigena" was used by pilgrims and travelers since the Byzantine era.
A kind of sicilian "Route of Santiago de Compostela", 160 km long trail connecting Palermo and Agrigento through ancient historic roads, paths and changing landscapes.
After centuries of neglect, the Archbishop's Curia of Agrigento approved a recovery project and promotes this fascinating journey for tourists and travelers, venturing to explore the inland of Sicily.
A Norman document of 1096, written in greek, reads "Ten odon, ten megalen ten Fragkikon tou Kastronobou", translated few decades later in Latin as "Magna via Francigena castronobi" ("Francigenam" : French way, "Magnam" : importance and greatness).
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| Map of the Magna Via Francigena, 9 hikes from Palermo to Agrigento (red) |
CLICK HERE for the Via Francigana del Nord (Pavia to Rome, 34 hikes, 2017)
CLICK HERE for the Via Francigena del Sud (Rome to Brindisi, 27 hikes, 2018)
Monday 06/May/2019.
Home to Palermo journey.
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| Total weight of my belongings : 6.4kg. |
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| Palermo, Italians probably call this... "Una Cannoloria". |
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| Palermo's Duomo. |
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| Bedroom for tonight. |
– Ryanair flight FR6785 from Marseille (MRS) to Palermo (PMO), 17:50-19:30, 1h40, 84.40€ return.
– Train from the Palermo Airport to Palermo, 0h55, 5.90€.
|---| B&B "I Vicini della Cattedrale", Palermo, 42€ without meals.
Tuesday 07/May/2019.
Palermo to Santa Cristina Gela.
Hike 1 (23.8km).
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| Palermo's Arab-Norman Duomo. |
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| Palermo, the "Palazzo dei Normanni". |
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| Palermo, the "Porta Nuova". |
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| Palermo, "Corso Calatafimi". |
Monreale Duomo.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monreale_Cathedral
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| Monreale's Norman-Byzantin Duomo. |
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| Monreale, Duomo. |
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| Monreale, Duomo. |
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| Monreale, Duomo. |
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| Monreale. |
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| First waymarking of the day. Next, the marking improves |
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| Big backpack ? |
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| View onto Palermo. |
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| First gravel path of the day (almost all of the day is on asphalt). |
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| Santa Cristina Gela. |
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| Santa Cristina Gela, end of the day hike. |
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| Bedroom for tonight. |
|---| Albergo Belvedere, Santa Cristina Gela, 40€ incl breakfast.
Wednesday 08/May/2019.
Santa Cristina Gela to Corleone.
Hike 2 (25.6km 6h +750m -900m).
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| Leaving the hotel of last night. Near to me two pseudo-pilgrims (not ready yet) and a strange hotel keeper, in pyjama. |
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| Leaving Santa Cristina Gela. |
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| Santuario di Tagliavia. |
Corleone.
Home of the Godfather.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corleonesi_Mafia_clan
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| Bedroom for tonight. |
|---| Trattoria Al Capriccio, Corleone, 45€ half board.
Thursday 09/May/2019.
Corleone to Prizzi.
Hike 3 (19.3km 5h +800m -400m).
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| Leaving Corleone, mafiosi town with 100 churches... |
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| Lago di Raia. |
Prizzi.
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| Prizzi. |
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| Prizzi. |
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| Bedroom for tonight. |
|---| Casa di Kokalo, Prizzi.
Friday 10/May/2019.
Prizzi to Castronovo di Sicilia.
Hike 4 (24km 6h +600m -900m).
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| Leaving Prizzi. |
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| Riserva Naturale Monte Carcaci. |
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| Borgo Riena, an abandoned Musolini hamlet. |
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| Castronovo di Sicilia. |
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| Castronovo di Sicilia,"Il Calvario", church of Calvary (1810). |
|---| La Porta del Kassar, Castronovo di Sicilia, 21€.
Castronovo di Sicilia to Cammarata.
Hike 5 (12.7km 4h +500m -500m).
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| Leaving the B&B. |
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| Looking back towards scenic Castronovo di Sicilia. |
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| Valle del Platani. |
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| Grotte Capelvenere. |
Cammarata.
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| Pilgrim murales, entering Cammarata. |
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| Cammarata. |
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| Cammarata. |
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| Cammarata. |
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| San Giovanni Gemini. |
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| San Giovanni Gemini, "Carro trionfale" construction for the procession in June. |
|---| B&B A Due Passi, San Giovanni Gemini, 25€ incl breakfast.
Sunday 12/May/2019.
Cammarata to Sutera.
Hike 6 (20km 5h +800m -800m).
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| Mountain of San Paolino, A gigantic monolithic rock of about 820m high. |
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| Sutera. |
|---| B&B Piazza, Sutera, 25€ incl breakfast.
Monday 13/May/2019.
Sutera to Racalmuto.
Hike 7 (26km 6h30 +1000m -1000m).
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| Leaving the B&B. |
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| Campofranco. |
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| Taking the safer way, avoiding the river crossing. |
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| Entering Milena. |
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| Milena, wild aspargus. |
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| Looking back to Milena. |
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| Monte Campanella, bronze-age tombs. |
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| Area boschiva "Bosco Zellante". |
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| Entering Racalmuto. |
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| Racalmuto, "Novi Cannola" fountain. |
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| Hotel for tonight. |
|---| Regalpetra Hotel, Racalmuto, 30€ incl breakfast.
Tuesday 14/May/2019.
Racalmuto to Joppolo Giancaxio.
Hike 8 (18.6km).
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| Leaving Racalmuto. |
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| "Petra di Calathansuderj" limestone rock. a prehistoric village is carved inside. |
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| 19th century Sulfur mines, when Sicily supplied 75% of the world production. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_method |
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| Entering Comitini. |
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| Comitini. |
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| Entering Aragona with heavy rain. |
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| Aragona, miners village. |
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| Joppolo Giancaxio, "Capital of the Yellow Melon". |
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| Restaurant closed... So the bakery prepared my evening meal. |
|---| A Casa di mè Zia, Joppolo Giancaxio, 17.50€ without meals.
Wednesday 15/May/2019.
Joppolo Giancaxio to Agrigento.
Hike 9 (13.2km).
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| Castello ducale. |
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| Entering Agrigento. |
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| Obtaining the "Testimonum", proof of accomplishment of the pilgrimage. |
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| Monastero di Santo Spirito. |
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| Monastero di Santo Spirito. |
"Valle dei Templi", Valley of the Temples.
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| Tempio di Giunone. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Hera_Lacinia |
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| Tempio della Concordia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Concordia,_Agrigento |
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| Tempio di Eracle, temple of Heracles. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heracles,_Agrigento |
|---| Hotel Belvedere, Agrigento, 36€/n + 4€ breakfast (1st night).
Thursday 16/May/2019.
Agrigento.
Agrigento Cathedral (San Gerlando).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrigento_Cathedral
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| Richly painted wooden ceiling of the central nave. |
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| View from the bell tower. |
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| Mystic lamb. |
|---| Hotel Belvedere, Agrigento, 36€/n + 4€ breakfast (2nd night).
Friday 17/May/2019.
Agrigento to Home journey.
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| Leaving Agrigento for Palermo by train 2h (whereas 9 days by foot). |
Palermo.
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| Palermo. |
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| Palermo. |
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| Palermo, "Fontana Pretoria" fountain square. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_Pretoria |
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| Palermo, "Quattro Canto" crossing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quattro_Canti |
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| Palermo's Duomo, back to the starting point of May the 7th. |
- Trenitalia train from Agrigento to Palermo Centrale, 10:16-12:31, 2h15, 9€.
- Trenitalia train from Palermo to Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport, 15:08-16:16, 1h08, 5.90€.
- Ryanair flight FR6786 from Palermo (PMO) to Marseille (MRS), 18:10-20:00, 1h50.
|---| Home
