Exploring this breathtaking island on foot is a journey through time. Sicily offers wild valleys pitted with Greek and Roman temples and ancient ruins - reminders of long-gone peoples. Mule tracks and age-old pathways have survived and reserve a wealth of surprises, starting with the carpets of brilliant wildflowers. Landscapes are grandiose. Olive groves thrive alongside citrus orchards, never far from snow-clad mountain ranges presided over by imposing volcanoes - ranging from extinct and visitable, through to placidly smoking, and to constantly active giants Etna and Stromboli from which fiery rivers of lava issue. In dramatic contrast is the string of peaceful offshore islands set in turquoise waters, which are pure Mediterranean in character. Sicily's stunning range of scenery, combined with its mild winters and hot dry summers, make rewarding walking holidays feasible all year round. Visits are facilitated by good road access and an excellent network of public transport. Accommodation is plentiful, as are memorable eating places with rich Mediterranean fare.

Table of Contents

WALKS; The Northeast Coast; 1 Taormina and the Castello Saraceno; 2 Castelmola; The Alcantara River Valley; 3 Monte Mojo; 4 Francavilla and the River; Monte Etna; 5 The Craters of Monte Silvestri; 6 Monte Nero degli Zappini Loop; 7 Schiena dellAsino; 8 The Monti Sartorio Circuit; 9 Monte Nero Circuit and Grotta dei Lamponi; 10 Monte Etna: The NorthSouth Traverse; Monti Iblei and the Southeast Corner; 11 Wondrous Pantalica and its Necropolises; 12 The Pantalica River Walk; 13 Cava Grande del Cassibile; 14 Noto Antica; 15 Riserva Naturale di Vendicari; 16 Isola delle Correnti; 17 Cava dIspica; Antiquities in the West; 18 The White Cliffs of Eraclea Minoa; 19 The Stones of Selinunte; 20 Mozia and its Lagoon; Le Isole Egadi (Egadi Islands); 21 Favignana by Bicycle; 22 Levanzo and its Cave Paintings; 23 Marettimos Coastal Path; 24 Marettimos High Level Circuit; The Glorious Northwest; 25 Marvellous Medieval Erice; 26 Riserva Naturale di Monte Cofan; 27 Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro; Palermo Surrounds; 28 Palermos Monte Pellegrino; 29 Monte Iato; 30 Piana degli Albanesi; 31 Bosco della Ficuzza; 32 Rocca Busambra; Le Madonie (Madonie Mountains); 33 Cefal and its Rocca; 34 Isnello to Gratteri; 35 Pizzo Carbonara; 36 Piano Cervi; 37 Vallone Madonna degli Angeli; 38 Piano Sempria Sentiero Natura; I Nebrodi (Nebrodi Mountains); 39 Biviere di Cesar; 40 Floresta to Randazzo; Le Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands); 41 Vulcanos Gran Cratere; 42 Liparis Castello and Southern Headlands; 43 Liparis San Calogero Spa; 44 Salinas Monte Fossa delle Felci; 45 Stromboli Ascent to the Volcano; 46 Stromboli Loop

About the Author

Gillian Price has trekked throughout Asia and the Himalayas, but now lives in Venice and is exploring the mountain ranges of Italy to write a series of outstanding Cicerone guides. Starting in the Italian Dolomites, Gillian has written guides to walking all over Italy as well as Corsica, and is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club and the Outdoor Writers' Guild. She also enjoys leading walking tours.