Our "Coast to Coast Trail" is a fantastic adventure that allows us to travel through the island from north to south and to immerse ourselves in its real essence.
It is in fact a total immersion in its deep history made of agriculture, magic and legends.
The landscapes are mainly made of hills covered with endless fields of wheat and fodder, but there are also many "wild" traits and we also cross several villages of the interior whose origins are lost in history and legends, ancient farms abandonate witness of a not too distant past when Sicily drew its wealth from the earth, rivers and streams, olive and almond groves, and many amazing curiosity.
In the organization of our trail are included:
- Transfer from/to Cefalù train station
- All meals with drinks (from the dinner of the arrival day to the breakfast of the departure day)
- Seven nights in quality accommodations (see partners)
- Horse hire with english or western saddle
- One or more local English speaking guides, experts in the area that is crossed throughout the journey.
Our horses stay with us throughout the duration of the trail and are greeted by the same structures so guests never need to use other means of transport not even for short distances.
All meals are made from local produce from picnic lunch to dinner in farmhouse that include a minimum of four litters.
Dates 2024: 18-25/05; 22-29/06; 21-28/09
Price: €1750 double room, €1950 single room.
1st Day (Tenuta Luogo Marchese - Casalvecchio Geraci): hors on horseback: 8
Breakfast. Assignment of the horses and departure from Luogo Marchese around 8,30.
Step around the historical town of Castelbuono that have been for several centuries the administrative headquarters of Ventimiglia barons, who were feudal aristocrats among the most powerful of the island, mainly through cultivated fields with olives and manna ash. Ascent of the river Pollina and its tributary Rainò, in the territories of San Mauro Castelverde and Geraci Siculo covered with bush and scrub alternating semi-abandoned fields of ancient olive trees, notorious in the years between the late 800 and early 900 to the legendary exploits of bandits and outlaws who infested the area. Picnic with local products along the way. Arrival in the late afternoon in "Casalvecchio Geraci", a farm of IXX century restored. Dinner with local organic products made in the farm and overnight stay.
2nd Day (Casalvecchio Geraci - Feudo Tudia): hours on horseback: 7
Breakfast and departure from Casalvecchio at around 8,00.
Through an old "trazzera" we reach Gangi, a typical medieval village among the most beautiful in Italy (awarded in 2014) at about 1000 meters above sea level, proceed to the territory of Petralia, crossing characteristics villages until the arrival at the Shrine of Our Lady of the oil, in the territory of Blufi, where there is an outcrop of oil, for centuries considered miraculous, where it is eaten lunch / picnic. In thevafternoon continuation towards Resuttano, crossing the river Imera, passing through ancient farms semi-abandoned, fields and pastures and late afternoon arrival at "Feudo Tudia", an old farmhouse restored within an agricultural village now almost completely uninhabited.
Dinner based on local products and overnight stay.
3th Day (Feudo Tudia - Agriturismo Mappa): hours on horseback : 6
Breakfast and departure from Tudia at around 8,30.
Step through organic vineyards of the farm and then deep immersion in the granary that is Sicily since ancient times, that is traversed along the "royal trazzere", routes established by the Bourbon government in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to ensure the free movement of herds and people across the island. Passage from the sanctuary of Our Lady of Bilici, the Train Station of Marianopoli, a eucalyptus forest today private game reserve and arrival in "Mappa" the ancient residence of Spadafora Prince.
Sumptuous dinner and overnight stay.
4th Day (Agriturismo Mappa - Agriturismo Casale Leto) hours on horseback: 8
Breakfast and departure from Mappa at around 8,00.
Walkway across fields to the charming and really old town of Sutera, considered one of the oldest of the known history of humanity, with several prehistorical remains. Crossing and short stop in the village and continuation to the valley of the river Platani, one of the major rivers of western Sicily, after passing through the picturesque nature reserve of Monte Conca. Picnic and continuation through the valley up to our next stop: the farmhouse "Rifugio di Dedalo" an other old farmhouse restored.
Dinner and overnight stay.
5th Day (Agriturismo Casale Leto - Principe di Aragona) hours on horseback: 6
Breakfast and departure around 8.30 in the direction of Sant'Angelo Muxaro, another little town of earliest origins that would have been the seat of Kokalos, king of Sicans, mysterious indigenous people that inhabited the island before the Greeks and Sicules.
Walk along the prehistoric tombs carved into the rock at the base of the town, some of which turned into stables during centuries. Tour inside the quaint town and stop for a tasting and demonstration of ricotta production, fresh tipycal Sicilian cheese. Continuation and picnic in a wooded area of eucalyptus. In the afternoon stop at the Tower of Anjou, ancient aristocratic mansion of the thirteenth century, then in an old abandoned sulfur mine, and arrival at our farm "Principe di Aragona". Dinner and overnight stay.
6th Day (Principe di Aragona - San Leone) hours on horseback: 5
Breackfast and departure around 8,00.
After going through an agricultural area near the town of Aragona, arriving at "Macalube" curious resurfacing of methane gas which in its ascent from the depths of the earth carries with it the clay mud, leaving small cold craters. Continue in the direction of Agrigento, the ancient Agrakas, founded by people originating in the islands of Crete and Rhodes around 580 BC. Short stop in the typical village of Monte Aperto and picnic near by the city under the shade of a little wood. In the afternoon ride in the direction of the temples, guided tour of the monuments of greater importance in the list of Unesco (temples of Hera, Concordia,Hercules, Zeus, Castor) and then continuation in the direction of the animated seaside village of SanLeone, where is spent the last night of our journey, in the B&B "Villa Maiolica".
Dinner of fish in a prestigious local restaurant and overnight stay.
