Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean and long a Mecca for culture freaks, also rewards the countryside lover with its magnificent landscapes. Peter Amann knows the island intimately; he leads walking groups on Sicily and works for the preservation of its monuments. There is enough material in this book for several holidays. For those touring Sicily by car, the eight car tours (mostly circular and covering 2000 km) follow little-used secondary roads wherever possible. If you’re walking in Sicily, the routes are as varied in length and grade as the landscape itself — a distillation of the best on the island.

The best months for walking in Sicily are March to June and September to November

Area covered: the entire island except for the far southwest corner

The book assumes that most users will be touring Sicily by car. The author suggests hotels or hostels (at least one for every walk, with telephone numbers. However, if you do not want to explore the entire island, you can access several walks from the spectacular resort of Taormina: one is adjacent to the town, two others are within 10km, and there are eight in the Etna area (some 15 to 20km away).

8 car tours, 60 long and short walks, 27 picnic suggestions
136 pages + 2 touring maps (covering all but the far southwestern corner of the island),  1:50,000 topo maps
3rd ed, 2009; ISBN 978-1-85691-363-8; UK retail price £12.99 / USA retail price $17.99

Table of contents:

Preface 5
Recommended books; Acknowledgements 7
Getting about 8
Picnic suggestions 9

TOURING
AROUND MOUNT ETNA (TOUR 1) 16
Catania (centre) · Nicolosi · Rifugio Sapienza · Piano Provenzana · Bronte · Adrano · Catania (ring road)

TAORMINA, THE PELORITANI MOUNTAINS AND THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS (TOUR 2) 19
Taormina · (Forza d’Agrò · Alì) · Messina · Milazzo · (Lipari · Vulcano) · Milazzo · Novara di Sicilia · Castiglione di Sicilia · Linguaglossa · Fiumefreddo · Taormina

THE NEBRODI MOUNTAINS (TOUR 3) 22
San Fratello · Portella Femmina Morta · Cesarò · Castello Maniace · Randazzo · Floresta · Galati Mamertino · Alcara li Fusi · Sant’Agata di Militello

CEFALÙ AND THE MADONIE MOUNTAINS (TOUR 4) 25
Cefalù · Gibilmanna · Castelbuono · Geraci Siculo · Gangi · Petralia Soprana · Petralia Sottana · Polizzi Generosa · Piano Battaglia · Isnello · Cefalù

PALERMO AND THE WEST (TOUR 5) 28
Palermo · Monreale · Segesta · Scopello · Erice · Trapani · Marsala · Selinunte · S. Giuseppe Iato · Palermo

BETWEEN PALERMO AND AGRIGENTO (TOUR 6) 32
Palermo · Piana degli Albanesi · Ficuzza · Corleone · Prizzi · Palazzo Adriano · Caltabelotta · Sciacca · Eraclea Minoa · Agrigento · Sant’Angelo Muxaro · Cammarata · Caccamo · Solunto · Palermo

INLAND SICILY (TOUR 7) 37
Agrigento · Caltanissetta · Enna · Aidone · Morgantina · Piazza Armerina · Villa del Casale · S. Michele di Ganzaria · Caltagirone · Ragusa

THE IBLEI MOUNTAINS AND THE SOUTHEAST (TOUR 8) 39
Syracuse · Penisola della Maddalena · Noto · Portopalo di Capo Passero · Ispica · Modica · Scicli · Donnafugata · Ragusa · Vizzini · Palazzolo Acreide · Pantalica · Syracuse
WALKING
Waymarking, maps and grading 45
Weather 46
Safety and equipment 46
Snakes, dogs and ticks 47
A country code 47
Where to stay 48
Organisation of the walks 48
Glossary 49
Useful addresses 50

THE WALKS

AROUND MOUNT ETNA
1 Monti Rossi 51
2 The summit craters and the Valle del Bove 52
3 Pietracannone and the Valle del Bove 54
4 Monti Sartorius 56
5 Pizzi Deneri and the summit craters 57
6 Grotta del Gelo 61
7 Monte Spagnolo and the Cisternazza 64
8 Monte Ruvolo, Monti Tre Frati and Monte Minardo 66

TAORMINA, THE PELORITANI MOUNTAINS AND THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS
9 Monte Venere 69
10 Forza d’Agrò 71
11 Monte Scuderi 73
12 The Gran Cratere on Vulcano 75
13 Western Lipari 76
14 Rocca Novara 78

THE NEBRODI MOUNTAINS
15 Monte Soro and the Lago Biviere 79
16 Cascata del Catafurco 82
17 Bosco di Mangalaviti and the Lago Biviere 84
18 Rocche del Crasto 87

CEFALÙ AND THE MADONIE MOUNTAINS
19 The castle rock of Cefalù 89
20 Giant hollies on the Piano Pomo 91
21 Vallone Madonna degli Angeli 94
22 Pizzo Carbonara 96
23 Gangivecchio and Monte Zimmara 98

PALERMO AND THE WEST
24 Monte Pellegrino, Palermo’s holy mountain 100
25 The Castellaccio on Pizzo del Corvo 102
26 The temple of Segesta 103
27 The Zingaro Nature Reserve 105
28 Stone Age paintings on Levanzo 108
29 Monte Iato 110

BETWEEN PALERMO AND AGRIGENTO
30 Valle del Fanuso and Cozzo Tondo 112
31 Rocca Busambra and the Bosco della Ficuzza 114
32 Palazzo Adriano and the Valle del Fiume Sosio 116
33 Eraclea Minoa and Capo Binaco 118
34 Sant’Angelo Muxaro and Monte Castello 120
35 Caccamo and Monte S. Calogero 122

THE IBLEI MOUNTAINS AND THE SOUTHEAST
36 Papyrus along the Ciane 124
37 Noto Antica 125
38 The Vendicari nature reserve 127
39 Scicli and the Colle di San Matteo 129
40 Ragusa Ibla and the Cava della Misericordia 130
41 Pantalica 132

Index 135
Fold-out touring map inside back cover

Acqua della Rocca (spring) 9
Adrano 16, 18
Aeolian Islands 19, 20
Agrigento 32, 34, 36, 37
Concordia Temple 34, 36
Hera Temple 10, 34
Aidone 37, 38
Albergo Le Betulle 61
Alcamo 29
Alcantara (gorge and valley 10, 21, 23
Alcara li Fusi 22, 24, 86
Alessandria della Rocca 35
Alì 19, 20
Alì Terme 20
Altofonte 32
Anaktoron 14, 44, 132, 133, 134
Anapo (river and valley) 132, 133, 134
Antica Iato 110-111, 111
Aragona 34
Avola 40
Avola Antica 40

Bagheria 36
Bivio (road junction)
Fondacheli 21
Gigliotti 38
Ramata 38
Bivona 35
Boccadifalco 28
Bonagia, Tonnara di 30
Bosco (wood)
Cerrita 18
della Ficuzza 112-113, 114
di Centorbi 68
di Mangalaviti 84-85
Bronte 16, 18, 66
Buccheri 43

Caccamo 32, 36, 122
Cala Dogana (Levanzo) 108, 109
Calamosche 127, 128
Caltabelotta 13, 32, 33
Caltagirone 37, 38
Caltanissetta 37
Cammarata 32, 35
Campobello di Mazara 30
Capo Bianco 13, 33, 118-119, 119
Capo Murro di Porco 40
Capo S. Alessio 19
Casalvecchio Siculo 20
Cascata del Catafurco 82, 83
Casermetta (forestry house) 62-63, 65, 66, 68
Castelbuono 25, 26, 97
Casteldaccia 36
Castelmola 69, 70
Castellamare del Golfo 29
Castellana Sicula 27
Castello degli Schiavi 21
Castello Eurialo 44
Castelvetrano 31
Castiglione di Sicilia 19, 21
Castroreale Terme 20
Catania 16, 18
Cava della Misericordia 130, 131
Cava Grande del Cassibile 40
Cave di Cusa 10, 12, 30
Cefalù 11, 25, 27, 88, 89, 90, 90
Rocca di 88, 89, 90, 90
Tempio di Diana 11, 89, 90
Cervi Mountains 94-5
Cesarò 11, 22
Christo Signor della Montagna 11
Chiaramonte Gulfi 43
Ciane (river) 12-13, 14, 124
Colle di S. Matteo 129, 129
Conca d’Oro 49
Corleone 32, 33
Cozzo Tondo 112-113
Crateri Silvestri 16
Cuba di S. Domenica 10

Donnafugata 39, 42

Egadi Islands 30
Eloro 127
Enna 13, 37
Enna Bassa 37
Eraclea Minoa 13, 32, 33, 118-119
Eremo della Quisquina (chapel) 35
Erice 28, 30

Faraglioni Islands 109
Ferla 44
Ficuzza 13, 32, 33, 112-113
Fiumefreddo di Sicilia 19, 21
Floresta 22, 24
Fontane Bianche 40
Fornazzo 17
Forza d’Agrò 2, 19, 71, 72

Galati Mamertino 22, 24, 83
Gangi 25, 26
Gangivecchio 98, 99
Geraci Siculo 25, 26 97
Giardini-Naxos 21
Giarratana 43
Gibellina Nuova 31
Ruderi (ruins) di 31
Gravina 16
Grotta del Gelo 61, 62-63
Grotta di Mangiapane 30

Iblei Mountains 40
Isnello 25, 27
Ispica 39, 42
Cava d’Ispica 14, 42

Lago Biviere 79, 80-81, 84-85
Larderia Necropoli 14
Levanzo (island) 108, 109, 109
Linguaglossa 19, 21
Lipari (island) 19, 21, 76, 77

Madonie Mountains 25, 96-7
Maniace 22
Castello Nelson 11, 22, 23
Marausa 30
Marina di Cottone 10, 21
Marinella di Selinunte 31
Marsala 28, 30
Marzamemi 41
Mascalucia 16
Messina 19, 20
Strait of 72
Milazzo 19, 20
Militello Rosmarino 24
Milo 17
Misterbianco 18
Modica 39, 42, 43
Monreale 12, 28, 29, 31, 102
Monte (mountain)
Alveria 40
Cammarata 35
Castello 120, 121, 121
Citadella 14
Erice 15
Etna 1, 16, 17, 19, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58-59, 60, 61, 62-63, 64, 65, 70
Bocca Nuova 52, 53, 58-59, 60
Cisternazza (cistern) 62-3, 64, 65
Iato 110-11, 111
Lepre 66-7
Minardo 66, 68
Pellegrino 49, 100, 101
Pispisa 104
Pomiciaro 17
Ruvolo 66-7, 68
S. Calogero 122, 123
S. Salvatore 92-93, 94
Scuderi 72, 73, 74
Soro 79, 80-81
Spagnolo 62-63, 64, 65
Tre Frati 66, 68
Venere 69, 70
Zimmara 99
Monteallegro 33
Monterosso Almo 43
Monti (pl. of Monte)
Rossi 9, 16, 51, 51
Sartorius 56, 58-59
Silvestri Superiore 53
Morgantina 11, 14, 37, 38
Scavi di 14, 38
Mozia (island) 12, 13
Imbarcadero di Mozia 15, 30

Naxos, Bay of 70
Nebrodi Mountains 22
Necropoli di Filiporto 133, 134
Nicolosi 9, 16, 51
Noto 39, 40
Noto Antica 14, 39, 40, 125, 126
Novara di Sicilia 19, 21

Oliveri 20

Pachino 41
Palazzo Adriano 32, 33, 116, 117
Palazzolo Acreide 39, 43
Palermo 12, 28, 31, 32, 36, 49, 99, 100
Pantalica 14, 39, 44, 132, 134
Parco (park)
dei Nebrodi 22
dello Zingaro 12, 29, 105, 106, 107
Forza 14, 41
Regionale delle Madonie 25, 96-97
Partinico 29
Paternò 18
Peloritani Mountains 19, 20
Penisola della Maddalena 39
Pergusa 37
Petralia Soprana 11, 25, 26
Petralia Sottana 25, 27
Pian del Vescovo 9, 16
Piana degli Albanesi 32
Piano Battaglia 25, 27, 92-93, 96-7
Piano Provenzana 16, 18, 61
Piano Pomo 91, 92-93, 93
Piano Sempria 26, 91, 92-93
Pianoconte (Lipari) 76, 77
Piazza Armerina 37, 38
Piedimonte Etneo 21
Pietracannone 9, 17, 54, 55, 58-59
Pioppo 29
Pizzi (pl. of Pizzo)
Deneri 57, 58-59
Pizzo (peak)
Carbonara 92-93, 96
del Corvo 11, 12, 28, 102, 102, 105
Polizzi Generosa 25, 27
Portella (pass)
Femmina Morta 10, 22, 79, 80-81
Gazzana 24, 84-85, 87, 88
Mandrazzi 21
Scafi 84-85
Spiria 73, 74
Porticello 36
Porto di Levante (Vulcano) 75
Porto Empedocle 33
Portopalo di Capo Passero 39, 41
Prizzi 32, 33

Quattropani 21, 76, 77

Ragusa 37, 38, 39, 42, 130-1, 131
Ragusa Ibla 14, 43, 130-1, 131
Giardino Ibleo 11, 14
Randazzo 22, 23
Rifugio (inn, refuge, hut)
Alpe Cucco 33, 112-113, 114, 115
Citelli 18, 56, 57, 58-59, 60
Saletti 62-63, 64, 65
Sapienza 16, 52, 58-59
Rocca (rock)
Busambra 112-113, 114, 115
di Cerere 13
Novara 10, 20, 21, 78
Roccapalumba 35
Rocche del Crasto 84-85, 86, 87
S. Agata di Militello 22, 24
S. Alfio 17
S. Angelo Muxaro 32, 35, 120, 121, 121
S. Basilio 82
S. Biagio Platani 35
S. Cipirello 31, 110, 111
S. Fratello 22
S. Giuseppe Iato 28, 31, 111
S. Martino delle Scale 11, 12
S. Michele di Ganzaria 37, 38
S. Stefano Quisquina 35
S. Vito lo Capo 29
Sacova 20
Santuario Maria SS di Gibilmanna 11, 25
Sciacca 32, 33
Scicli 39, 42, 129, 129
Scopello 8, 28, 29, 105
Segesta 28, 29, 102, 103, 104
Selinunte 28, 31, cover
Siculiana 33, 34
Siracusa 39, 44, 124
Scifì 20
Solazzo 10, 79, 80-81
Solunto 32, 36
Sortino 44
Sosio (river and valley) 116, 117
Strada Mareneve (road) 17,
Syracuse: see Siracusa

Taormina 19, 21, 69, 70
Terme Segestane 29
Termini Imerese 36
Tonnara di Scopello 8
Torre (tower)
del Filosofo 52, 58-59
Salsa 118-119
Tortorici 24
Trabia 36
Trapani 15, 28, 30
Tyndaris 20

Valderice 30
Valle (valley)
del Bove 52, 53, 54, 58-59
del Fanuso 112-113, 113
Vallone (small valley)
del Vescovo 9, 16
Madonna degli Angeli 92-93, 94-5
Vendicari Nature Reserve 41, 127, 128
Villa del Casale (Villa Romana) 37, 38
Vizzini 39, 43, 44
Vulcano (island) 19, 74, 74

Zafferana Etnea 17

Sicily, 3rd edition (2009) ; updated 2704/12

Updates for walks and car tours (drives) on Sicily given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book you can “upgrade” to the latest edition at half price.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

GPS TRACKS: Nine GPS tracks are now included in the authors website www.walksicily.de. If you click on “Wandern”, then on the individual areas, you will see that some walks include “Track auf Google Maps” – for example, under Ätna there is a track for Monte Ruvolo.

Car tour 5 says Segesta — Walk 26, when in fact Walk 26 is Monte Cofano, quite a few miles from Segesta. Otherwise the book is brill. (User, 1/11)

Walk 1: Difficult to follow directions given but there are plenty of well marked paths so you can do the gist of the walk without getting lost. (User, 4/11)

Walk 3 : One can park on either side of the road near the bend signs. From the bend, descend to the right and after about 75m, take the right-hand track, cobbled initially. Do NOT rely on red/white flashes (we saw only 1, but saw a few red dots). Where path narrows, follow green painted poles. At 1h15min, the track [sic] is NOT stepped, but a few steps are encountered later in the descent. The path is easily passable but has fallen trees + branches on it. The descent to saddle is IMPOSSIBLE. We tried without success as area is heavily overgrown (in May) & gave up as slope became dangerous. Retraced steps to start . (User, 7/09)

Walk 6: At the start, there was no sign of the STAR office. Timing is a little ambitious: the fork at 45min is very easy to miss. You will have just passed a tall lone pine on the left, and the fork is by a cairn with 2 sticks at the top of an ascent. No sign of any yellow painted posts. At approx. 1h 25 mins, ignore a track to the right in the woods. (User, 7/09)

Walk 7: Excellent for flowers in May. The access road is at least 4km long. Even if a barrier is up at start, do NOT go through to park beyond as later the barrier will be found to be down & locked. Between the 1h15min and 1h50min-points, the timing is inaccurate – it took us almost twice as long (including time taken to check map, route and compass). But It does not take as long as 20min to descend to Rifugio Saletti (2h10mins to 2h30min). There is NO available drinking water here – the only tap has clear notice to that effect. We thought this walk nearer to 17 or 18km than 13km long. (User, 7/09)

Walk 8: Information for the start is wrong. The supermarket is much further north (approx. 200m).There is NO sign for Hotel Parco dell’Etna. One should turn into a road “SP Villa Etrusca etc” (it has a bar on the corner) & keep straight on at a junction to pass a small garage with a Renault sign… At the 48min-point, there is NO signpost, but you will pass a shrine on the left about a minute after turning. Approaching Case Zampini, there is a small shrine on the left about 5 mins before the house. It was not easy to find the mule track, but it is just before an L-shaped wooden seat and has red dot on the end of the fence; the mentioned gate is much further along the descending grass /lava track. (User, 7/09) + Previous correspondence indicates that the directions to the starting point are incorrect. Would agree, the turning is about 300 meteres past Eurospin (not level with it as indicated in the book) down the hill then turn left at big yellow signpost Villa Etrusia, which you drive past. The pick up previous correspondents directions past Renualt garage etc. The road eventually comes to a barrier near a new looking building which is presumbably a park office. This is an excellent walk with good views of Etna and clearly defined paths. We shortened the main walk by carrying straight on at the 55 min point (signposted Grotte de Neve); this path leads back to the 15 min point. (User, 4/11) + Previous updates are confusing, describing the directions to find the necessary turning off the SS284 in Bronte by user 7/09 from the south & by user 4/11 from the north. We came into Bronte from the south. Bronte is described in the guide as a village but seemed to us to be a sprawling town, hence the turning is quite a way through Bronte. You go through the town centre & come to a mini roundabout. Then take the next main road on the right. (User, 4/12)

Walks 21, 22, accommodation: The hotel/albergo Madonie has closed. Instead I would the following, both in or near Polizzi Generosa:
Ai Templari, Piazza Castello 7, tel/fax 0921 688173, mobile 340 5272933, www.ristoranteaitemplari.it. Five cosy rooms with heating in an old castle in the middle of the old town of Polizzi Generosa, great cuisine (restaurant closed on Mondays)
Agriturismo Giardino Donna Lavia, Contrada Donna Laura, tel/fax 0921 551104, www.giardinodonnalavia.com, about 5 km from Polizzi Generosa on the SS 643 in direction Scillato, turn-off at km 8,900. Former summer retreat of monks, now a secluded farmhouse with very nice rooms and excellent cuisine. (Author, 12/09)

Walks 20, 21, 26: We have just come back from western Sicily and followed these three walks without trouble and they gave us fantastic scenery. (User, 10/09)

Walk 23, accommodation and Shorter walk: The shorter walk has to be abandoned, because the Tenuta Gangivecchio went bankrupt, and Charles and Shirley Saccamano are going to move away. The hotel/restaurant is going to stay open till summer 2010. The new buyers want to revamp everything, but it will take time. In the meantime I can recommend Casale Villa Rainò, 3km northwest of Gangi, a nice farmhouse with rooms and good cuisine: Contrada Rainò, tel/fax 0921 644680, www.villaraino.it. (Author, 12/09)

Walk 25: “To return, walk a short way north from the castle (with the car park on your left), until you meet the partly overgrown, old cobbled trail.” We didn’t find the old, cobbled trail for the descent, but with the car park on our left found ourselves following a track (?just about suitable for a vehicle) that then took us down – probably too far east – so that we eventually reached the road to Portella San Martino, and had quite a long road walk back to the car. The error was probably all of our own making !!, but I wonder whether the start of “the old ,cobbled trail” could have a mark on it, or perhaps the Guide could WARN walkers NOT to follow down from the car park, assuming the old trail still exists. Not too happy about “to return, walk a short way north ” – is this the correct direction ? Having said the above, it’s a very pleasant walk. Thank you. (User, 5/11)

Walk 26: A few signs are missing, but otherwise as stated. (User, 3/12)

Walk 27: As per the book. (User, 3/12)

Walk 33: As per book. (User, 3/12)

Walk 36: Couldn’t find the starting point described but the reserve is well signposted if following the road directions. The road is eventually blocked off by a barrier and there is a nearby sign for the reserve. There is also a well marked trail which takes you past plenty of papyrus and you can also see the eucalyptus line ditch but we couldn’t see the path as described. (User, 4/11) + Once you reach Fonte Ciane, the start of the walk is not the track but is behind the pool. The path was very overgrown for much of the way but we did find the river at the far end. (User, 4/12)

Walk 37: It was difficult to find the trail at the 20 min point but if you follow the sign from the 15 min point behind the shrine to St Mary (SP Cava Del Carosello) the path will take you into the gorge to the 40 min point. At the 1 hour point there is a sign for the footpath after you have ascended past the old mill (the text in the book says dont miss the turn to the right but this has the signpost). (User, 4/11) + This walk was as per the book. Helpful extra points. From the cart track at the 20 min point you cannot see the eremo (hermitage). If you can see the eremo and a path on the right you have gone too far, go back. When the track reaches the open field, go right along a path. I would not call it a track beyond the field. At the 30 minute mark there is a barbed wire fence across the gap in the dry stone wall but it is negotiable with little difficulty. At the stile at the 30 minute mark there is a sign in Italian saying access prohibited to unauthorised personnel. Ignore it. There is now good signage from the 40 minute point up to the top of the canyon. (User, 03/12)

Walk 38: Our first day on Sicily and off to bird-watch ! However, to judge from our experience “stout shoes” were not what was required in April and I think footwear could be a problem at any time before summer really gets going. We had sopping wet feet despite good, waterproof walking boots : we followed the trail to the south, and found that in places it was very wet indeed, to some depth, impossible to use without getting feet soaked. The trail starts off very well as it’s been given boardwalk, but once that runs out it’s very wet – as we should have expected, perhaps, at a wetland reserve. But we hadn’t packed wellies in our suitcases !!

“The outflow of the Pantano Roveto” was surprisingly dry, but after crossing there we were unable to find the way south-west before the “path branches off right”. We were in unpleasant scrub, but did eventually find the signed path that let us get up to the necropoli and the old church. A clear path marker at Pantano Roveto would have been appreciated. Anyway, we had our lunch near the church and returned – via the shore – to our starting point. We’d intended to take the northerly path at that stage to Torre di Vendicari etc., but we gave up as that path also was too wet for passage. But all was not lost, as we followed your advice and visited the Villa Romana del Tellaro. Wow ! Those few mosaics are so beautiful, and it was very difficult to tear oneself away from them. As a Classicist I thank you for that find – a lovely Odysseus and Achilles – and my husband is enchanted with the tiger ! (User, 5/11) + This update about flooding was not relevant, a week after 2.5 days heavy rain. (User, 03/12)

Walk 40: Not possible to cross Carva San Leonardo river coming out of Ragusa after heavy rain. Alternative with car to drive on SS 194 out of Ragusa north towards Giarratana. Immediately after crossing the Carva San Leonardo river there is a track on the left hand side. Can either park near bridge on track and walk up track to crossing point or drive up the track and park near the crossing point, then continue walk as per book. At the 2 hour point crossing the Carva della Misericordia was not possible after heavy rain. Also there was erosion and trees down, so not sure how easy it is to progress beyond this point. (User, 03/12) + An alternative start is the large car park below Piazza della Republica. Car park costs 0.9 euro per hour per car. Its Lat/long is 36deg55min30.39sec N, 14deg44min10.31sec E. Note the river San Leonardo stepping stones can be difficult early spring. The start of the “Old cobbled trail” has covered cobbles for the first 40 yards. Some 400 to 500 yards beyond the spring and iron gates, rough narrow stone steps on the right lead down a short distance to a lovely footpath which follows the river (with occasional red & white waymarks) to Grotto del Gigante where the footpath continues, or you can rejoin the forest track. (User, 4/12)