Sicily on Horseback

The fascination of a bucolic and uncontaminated landscape to explore, among the highest peaks of Mount Purace until you reach the top among the clouds, to touch the sky with a finger. An adventure to discover the myths of the Madonie shepherds and the most authentic and forgotten Sicily. If this is what you are looking for, you cannot miss the ‘Gratteri and its craters‘ tour.

We will meet at the Capo dell’acqua district where, together with our guides, we will climb the peaks of Mount Purace – the Gattarelle – until we reach an anthropomorphic rock, modelled by wind and snow, resembling a gigantic stone face on which millenary stories of shepherds were told.

Next, we will pass by deep karstic gorges “the abysses of Prace“, where the frozen spring of the Fridda originates and flows downstream to become the Cefalino, “purer than silver, colder than snow” which dissolves into the warm waters of a crystal-clear sea through the Cefalù washhouse.

The first refreshment point will be Piano Prato, right at the foot of Pizzo Dipilo, with a panoramic view of Isnello. At this point, as you sit and gaze across endless spaces and superhuman silences, you will truly understand what the poets called “Infinity”.

The last destination is the Grattàra cave, a must on the legendary route over Gratteri. It is a beautiful cavern with a very pure spring that probably contributed to the name of the town itself.

Inside the cave, we will tell you the mysterious story of the Old Woman and the Nymph’s spring, a legendary female entity, probably the legacy of a millenary myth linked to the existence of a primordial indigenous oracle near a Madonie outpost inhabited since prehistoric times. The tour includes the presence of a narrator who will accompany you on a fascinating journey into the heart of the Madonie Mountains.

What it includes

This itinerary includes the following stops:

• Capo dell’acqua;
• Daphnis’ Head;
• Abbisso Prace;
• Mountain cross and panoramic view of Isnello;
• Pizzo Occhio;
• View of Collesano;
• Abbey of San Giorgio;
• View of Piano Prato;
• Grattara Cave.

Information on the sites

Visite the site for more information

Excursion period and time

Time: to be chosen from 9 am to 6 pm (please arrive about 30 minutes before departure)
Lunch: at 1.30 pm

Meeting point

Departure from Cape Water

Type of excursion

Excursion with pack animals for transporting provisions

Duration

Entire itinerary takes 6-7 hours

Group size

The excursion is subject to a minimum number of 10 participants.

What to bring

Sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent, long trousers, comfortable closed-toe shoes (trainers or boots), a bottle of water, umbrella, heavier clothes for the evening (it can get cooler in the mountains).

Hiking days

• Check the calendar of events.
• Every day by prior booking with a minimum of 10 participants.

Difficulty of the excursion

Medium/high

Price of the itinerary € 60
(Excursion with guide + lunch)
The price includes transport, the assistance of a guide and a narrator, packed lunch to be enjoyed during the excursion in a characteristic place with typical Sicilian products (drinks included).

Extra costs

Cost of shuttle bus Gratteri/Cefalù – Cefalù/Gratteri
Depending on the number of participants, the time of departure and return will be established
Meeting point in Cefalù – Railway Station
Meeting point in Gratteri – Belvedere Gangi Battaglia

What to know

The itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
The company reserves the right to modify or cancel the itinerary if necessary due to availability and/or adverse weather conditions.
Participants must sign a waiver before taking part in the excursion.

Note: Guides reserve the right to judge the level of experience of each participant. If they consider the participant unsuitable, the participant will not be allowed to take part in the excursion. No refunds will be issued.