Sicily, the SloWays Way

We chose to talk about Sicily because we're craving sunshine—the same sun that always watches over this island, enhancing its countless colors, ripening the citrus fruits, warming the sea, and reflecting off the volcanic lava and red earth. It's a region we deeply love, and we're sharing it with you in this newsletter to highlight all the aspects we adore: an island full of contrasts, revealed by the sea and along its trails, among the temples that make it iconic and the citrus groves that represent it, between the ocean and the mountains.

Magna Via Francigena  
Let's start with a Sicilian trail that's close to our hearts: the Magna Via Francigena runs from Palermo—vibrant and lively, noisy and colorful, with its markets and noble palaces—all the way to Agrigento, known for its iconic and perfectly preserved temples. The path connecting them delves into the heart of Sicily, the part that's not often told, and it's a journey among the Sicilian communities above all. In Prizzi, a little village scarcely known before the advent of the trail, the entire community now hosts, celebrates, and welcomes pilgrims with enthusiasm and gratitude. In Corleone, memory is honored and kept alive through the work of the CIDMA Museum, the International Center for Mafia Documentation. It's a lesser-known Sicily but one animated by welcoming communities—a journey many of our walkers have loved, perfect for those who wish to delve deeper into the island.  

The Madonie  

Not far from Etna, Sicily rises over 2,000 meters with its highest mountains: welcome to the Madonie, an alternative Sicily made of perched villages, rocks, and earth, where gardens and olive groves are cultivated, and almonds, figs, and hazelnuts are produced.

Here, you walk with the rest of the island stretching out before you—the central Sicily, Etna, the sea—across the Vallone degli Angeli and the flowering gardens surrounding the agriturismos where you'll stay. It's a sincere and warm welcome in hilltop villages full of squares and narrow streets. Finally, the surprise of the sea: you descend further and further through the Mediterranean scrub until you reach Cefalù, where a swim and a seafood dinner are a must to reconnect with the maritime soul of the region, before visiting the Norman Cathedral and the marvelous Byzantine mosaics.

The Aeolian Islands 

From the mountains, we move to the islands: the Aeolian Islands are volcanic, beautiful, and whimsical, dominated by the whims of lava. From Vulcano, the island where the god Hephaestus was said to reside, to Stromboli, where you can admire the marvelous Sciara del Fuoco; from Salina, the island featured in Troisi's Il Postino, to Lipari, where it all begins.

It all wraps up back on the mainland—in particular, in Taormina, a marvel the whole world envies, with its incredible Greek theater. You'll also have the chance to walk on Sicily's ever-present gentle giant—Mount Etna, with its lava and its wine, and the spectacular Alcantara Gorges, born from the meeting of fire and the icy waters of the river that flows through the gorge.

We've written about the beauty of Sicily here: an article we particularly love because it speaks of hope and wonder that can change the world.