Pilgrimage Walking Routes in Sicily: the Ways of the Pilgrims
Walking is the oldest way of praying with the body. In the Middle Ages pilgrims crossed Sicily to reach Messina and sail from there to Rome, Santiago or Jerusalem. Today many of those ways have been rediscovered and waymarked: they are Sicily's Vie Francigene and other routes, suited to anyone seeking a walking pilgrimage in Sicily. Here are the main ones, with the figures published by the bodies that promote them.
Magna Via Francigena (Palermo-Agrigento)
This is the best-known Sicilian route. It crosses the island from north to south, from Palermo to Agrigento, along ancient roads that linked the two seas, passing through towns such as Corleone, Prizzi, Castronovo di Sicilia, Sutera and Racalmuto. It is about 180 kilometres long and divided into nine stages of 12 to 26 kilometres.
Mountain Via Francigena (Palermo-Messina)
A long route of about 380 kilometres in some twenty stages, linking the Madonie to the Nebrodi and the Peloritani as far as the port of Messina. It is the route closest to the Messina area and Taormina: it crosses woods, mountain villages and places linked to Basilian monasticism.
Other Vie Francigene of Sicily
- Via Francigena Fabaria, which climbs from the south of the island towards the interior and the Nebrodi area.
- Via Francigena Mazarense, from Mazara del Vallo to Palermo.
Itinerarium Rosaliae
The Way of Saint Rosalia links the hermitage of Santo Stefano Quisquina, in the Sicani Mountains, to the Shrine of Monte Pellegrino in Palermo, retracing the places of the hermit saint. It is about 185 kilometres long, in around ten stages, and can be walked, cycled or ridden on horseback.
Way of Saint James in Sicily
It links Caltagirone and Capizzi, two towns devoted to Saint James, through inland villages: about 130 kilometres in six stages plus one.
Antica Trasversale Sicula
More a great historical route than a religious one: about 650 kilometres in 37 stages from Motya to Kamarina, along roads used by Greeks, Romans and Byzantines. It also passes many places of faith.
Tips for pilgrims
- Season: spring and autumn are ideal; in summer the inland heat is very strong.
- Preparation: many stages exceed 20 kilometres with climbs; train beforehand.
- Credential: some routes issue a pilgrim credential; ask the associations that manage them.
- Poles: they help on climbs and descents, as in Nordic walking.
- Up-to-date information: routes, stages and accommodation change; check the official websites before setting out.
Walking in prayer
A walk becomes a pilgrimage when every step is offered to God. You can walk in silence, pray the rosary, repeat the prayer of the heart, stop in the churches along the way. I write about this on the pages about spiritual walks and Christian meditation in nature.
A day of walking near Taormina
If you do not have time for a walk of several days, you can live a spiritual day near Taormina: walks in the countryside, common prayer and a shared meal, with no overnight stay and entirely free, reserved for Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
How to take part
The days take place near Taormina, in Sicily. The places to visit are agreed together each time. There is no overnight stay: we share one day, and in the evening everyone returns to their own home. Hospitality has no price and does not depend on any offering: whoever comes is welcomed for who they are. Everyone contributes as they can: anyone who cannot leave anything is welcomed like everyone else, and takes part by giving a little of their time.
The days are reserved for Catholic and Orthodox Christians, because they are lived in shared prayer. To ask for a date, simply write to me on WhatsApp. The spirit of the days is told in the manifesto of hospitality.
If you would like to know what makes this mission possible, read The circle of love.
Explore the other pages
The days: Christian spiritual days in Sicily · The Philoxenia of Abraham · Spiritual search and finding yourself · Day retreat, silent retreat and pilgrimage: the international names
Spiritual travel in Sicily: Spiritual tourism in Sicily: the guide · Holy Week and Easter in Sicily · Religious festivals in Sicily: the calendar · Orthodox pilgrimage in Sicily · Spiritual Nordic walking and ski walking in Sicily
Nature and places: Spiritual Taormina · Spiritual walks in nature · Christian meditation in nature in Sicily · Places to meditate near Taormina and Messina · Places to meditate in Sicily
Prayer: Christian asceticism: the spiritual struggle · The prayer of the heart or Jesus Prayer · Hesychasm: the prayer of stillness · The Philokalia: the Neptic Fathers
The saints of Sicily: Byzantine Sicily and the Italo-Greek saints · Saint Hilarion the Great in Sicily · Saint Methodios of Syracuse · Saint Joseph the Hymnographer · Saint Elias the Younger of Enna · Saint Agatha of Catania · Saint Lucy of Syracuse · Saint Pancras of Taormina
Sources
- Sicilian Region, VisitSicily – Sicily's Vie Francigene
- VisitSicily – Sicily Walks
- VisitSicily – Pilgrims' way: the Itinerarium Rosaliae
What this story teaches
The pilgrim does not count kilometres: he counts the encounters, the prayers and the silence along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous walking route in Sicily?
The Magna Via Francigena, from Palermo to Agrigento: about 180 kilometres in nine stages through the interior.
Is there a Via Francigena in Sicily?
Yes, more than one: Sicily's Vie Francigene include the Magna Via Francigena, the mountain Via Francigena from Palermo to Messina, the Fabaria and the Mazarense.
Is there a walking route near Messina or Taormina?
The mountain Via Francigena reaches Messina through the Nebrodi and Peloritani. Near Taormina you can take one-day spiritual walks.
What is the Itinerarium Rosaliae?
It is the Way of Saint Rosalia, about 185 kilometres long, from the hermitage of Santo Stefano Quisquina to the Shrine of Monte Pellegrino in Palermo.
When is the best time to walk in Sicily?
In spring and autumn. In summer the inland heat makes long stages tiring and risky.
Do I need a pilgrim credential?
Some routes issue one, giving access to affiliated accommodation. It is best to ask the associations that manage the route.
Are Sicilian walking routes suitable for beginners?
Some stages are, others are long with significant climbs. You can start with short stages or a one-day walk.
Can I walk with poles?
Yes, trekking or Nordic walking poles help on climbs and descents and reduce the load on the knees.