Gillian Price was born in England but moved to Australia when young. After taking a degree in anthropology and working in adult education, she set off to travel through Asia and trek the Himalayas. The culmination of her journey was Venice where, her enthusiasm fired for mountains, the next logical step was towards the Dolomites, only hours away. Starting there Gillian is steadily exploring the mountain ranges of Italy and bringing them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. When not out walking with her Venetian husband, she works as a freelance journalist and translator. An adamant promoter of the use of public transport to minimise impact in alpine areas, Gillian is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club and Mountain Wilderness. www.gillianprice.eu

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Across the Eastern Alps: E5

      Alpine Flowers

      Gran Paradiso

      Italy’s Sibillini National Park

      Shorter Walks in the Dolomites

      Through the Italian Alps – The Grande Traversata delle Alpi

      Tour of the Bernina

      Trekking in the Alps (contributor)

      Trekking in the Apennines – The Grande Escursione Appenninica

      Trekking in the Dolomites

      Walking on Corsica

      Walking in the Central Italian Alps

      Walking in the Dolomites

      Walking in Tuscany

      Walking in Umbria

      Walking on the Amalfi Coast

      Walking the Italian Lakes

      Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps

      © Gillian Price 2015

      Third edition 2015

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 785 2

      Reprinted 2017 (with updates)

      First edition 2000

      Second edition 2006

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Maps: Nicola Regine

      Photos: Gillian Price and Nicola Regine

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      Dedication

      To my wonderful parents, as well as little Kieran, and Sicilian nieces Susanna and Sabrina

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/785/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time.

      We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Acknowledgements

      On early trips I dragged along Anna Z., then Marty, whose unrivalled chauffeur services were immensely appreciated; Libby, who miraculously survived Stromboli – inclusive of unpredictable wind changes; and Anna M. and Damiano, who actually enjoy picnicking in the fog.

      A special thank you to Girolamo Lombardo of the Palermo Tourist Board, indefatigable pioneer in local cartography; Giovanni Mineo and Luigia Di Gennaro of the Cooperativa Artemisia in Palermo; Gaetano Perricone and vulcanologist Salvatore Caffo of the Etna Park; Carmelo Magaraci and Sara La Rosa at the Alcantara Park; Giovanni Vacante at the Madonie Park. Forestry Department staff photocopied maps and pointed us the right way, Luciano Buccheri and his hospitable crew at Pantalica top of the list. Italian Alpine Club branches at Cefalù and Palermo were very helpful, as was Mario Vaccarella of Petralia Sottana. Melanie Kneip and Andrea Mazzaglia had good suggestions on Etna, as did the Magma Trek staff for Stromboli. Professor Schicchi of Palermo University kindly sent the photo of the rare pine tree in Walk 37. Thanks to the readers who let me know of route changes, Pamela Harris and Alan Norton in particular.

      Last, but not least, Grazie di cuore to Nick, computerised map-drawer and companion.

      Front cover: Great views from Vulcano’s crater (Walks 41)

      CONTENTS

       Map Legend

       Overview Map

       Introduction

       Background

       Walking and Maps

       Parks, Reserves and Protected Areas

       When to Go

       What to Take

       Emergencies

       Reaching Sicily

       Travelling Around Sicily

       Accommodation

       Telephones

       Food and Drink

       Tourist Information

       Flowers and Trees

       Wildlife

       The Northeast Coast