# European Geoparks Week in the Madonie

> Two weeks from late May to early June of excursions, geosites and treks in the towns of the Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark. In 2026 from 23 May to 7 June.

- Page: https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/european-geoparks-week-madonie/
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Other languages: [Italiano](https://www.lemadonie.it/eventi/settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi-madonie.md) · [Español](https://www.lemadonie.it/es/eventos/semana-europea-de-los-geoparques-madonie.md) · [Français](https://www.lemadonie.it/fr/evenements/semaine-europeenne-des-geoparcs-madonie.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.lemadonie.it/de/veranstaltungen/europaeische-geoparkwoche-madonie.md)

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| 2026 edition | 23 May – 7 June 2026 |
| Where | Geosites, trails and towns of the Madonie Park, closing at Piano Battaglia, [Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/) |
| Category | Nature |
| Recurrence | Every year, late May-early June, about two weeks |
| Organiser | Ente Parco delle Madonie (Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark) |
| Price | Sources don't give prices for individual activities. Every event in the programme has a phone number or email address for information and bookings. |
| Official website | https://www.parcodellemadonie.it |
| Source | https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi-madonie-uggp-week-2026-xxi-edizione/ (checked on 2026-10-19) |

## Programme

21st edition: opening at the Scopalacqua waterfall (Petralia Sottana) on 23 May, Festa della Transumanza in Geraci Siculo, excursions and geosite visits in various towns, closing with "Puliamo il nostro territorio" (a clean-up day) at Piano Battaglia.

European Geoparks Week is the time of year when the Madonie Park opens its geosites to the public with a packed calendar of excursions, guided visits, treks, school activities and events in the park's towns. In the Madonie it's called Madonie UGGp Week and lasts about two weeks, between late May and early June. In 2026 the 21st edition ran from 23 May to 7 June.

## What it is and why it's held in the Madonie

The week is promoted by the European Geoparks Network, the European network of geoparks recognised by UNESCO, and each geopark fills it with its own events. The Madonie Park joined the European Geopark network in 2001, because of the geological interest of the massif, studied since the 1960s. On 17 November 2015 it was added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks network, at the General Conference in Paris, and since then it's also called Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark ([park authority report](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Relazione-attivita-anno-2025.pdf)).

For the park authority the week is the main event for promoting geotourism, understood not only as visiting geological sites but as the link between geosites, monuments, landscape, food and traditions. That's why the programme mixes excursions with festivals, museums and book presentations.

## When is it held?

Recent editions have filled the last two weeks of May and the first week of June. In 2025 the 20th edition ran from 24 May to 8 June, in 2026 the 21st from 23 May to 7 June. The 2027 dates haven't come out yet; in 2026 the programme was published in May on the [park website](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi-madonie-uggp-week-2026-xxi-edizione/).

## A typical programme: the 2026 edition

The 2026 programme had 23 events, put forward by the park authority, the town councils, the Punti Qui Parco information points, CAI sections and local associations ([official programme, PDF](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/EGN-WEEK2026.pdf)). A selection:

| Date (2026) | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 23 May, 10:30 am | Visit to the Scopalacqua waterfall geosite | Petralia Sottana |
| 23-24 May | Festa della Transumanza | Geraci Siculo |
| Tuesday 26 May | Monumental Trees trail at Pomieri and Golden Eagle trail at Piano Farina, with schools; presentation of the Geosites Map at the "A. Collisani" civic museum | Pomieri and Piano Farina; Petralia Sottana |
| Thursday 28 May, 9 am | Excursion to the mills and the Oasi del Fondaco, along the Imera Settentrionale river | Scillato |
| Friday 29 May, 4 pm | Screening of the documentary "Maroneum la quinta stagione" | Cinema Grifeo, Petralia Sottana |
| Saturday 30 May | Urban geology trail and broom flowering at Pizzo di Pilo (Isnello), Battaglietta-Portella Colla geology trail, Gole di Tiberio, Caltavuturo routes | Various towns |
| Sunday 31 May | Piano Zucchi-Valle Giumenta trek with CAI Polizzi Generosa; Museo del Carretto | Piano Zucchi; Petralia Soprana |
| Thursday 4 June, 10:30 am | Guided visit to the Monte Alburchia geosite | Gangi |
| Saturday 6 June, 9:30 am | Geology excursion to Pietra Rosa and the Manna Museum | Pollina |
| Sunday 7 June, 9:30 am | "Puliamo il nostro territorio" clean-up day | Piano Battaglia |
| Sunday 7 June, 10 am | "The Mandarini stream valley: nature, history and geology" | SP54 towards Piano Battaglia |

For each event the programme gives the organiser, the meeting point and a contact for information.

## What to see: the geosites

The heart of the week is the geosites, the places where the geological history of the Madonie is visible to the naked eye. The 2026 edition opened at the Scopalacqua waterfall, led by the Torre geologists, along the educational trail where new signage had just been put up ([Madoniedintorni](https://madoniedintorni.com/2026/05/23/il-geosito-madonie-uggp-cascata-scopalacquaapre-la-settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi/)).

Others included Monte Alburchia in Gangi, Pietra Rosa in Pollina and the [Gole di Tiberio](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/gole-di-tiberio/), the Pollina river canyon at San Mauro Castelverde. If you'd rather choose a walk on your own, you'll find the routes in the [trails](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/) section.

## Festivals and culture in the programme

The week overlaps with the late-May festivals. In 2026 the programme included the [Festa della Transumanza in Geraci Siculo](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/festa-della-transumanza-geraci-siculo/) on 23 and 24 May and the [Infiorata di Castelbuono](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/infiorata-di-castelbuono-flower-festival/) from 30 May to 2 June. There were also book presentations in Petralia Soprana, the "Un albero per Falcone" tree-planting at the park headquarters, a visit to GAL Hassin in Isnello and a day at the Pollina Adventure Park.

## The finale at Piano Battaglia

The 2026 week closed at Piano Battaglia on Sunday 7 June with "Puliamo il nostro territorio", organised with the regional Department of Rural and Territorial Development and AMA. Taking part were the CAI clubs of Cefalù, Petralia Sottana and Polizzi Generosa, the Consulta Giovanile Madonie, volunteers and local people, who met up at the end at the Savochella picnic area ([Madonie Press](https://www.madoniepress.it/2026/06/08/puliamo-il-nostro-territorio-a-piano-battaglia-il-gran-finale-della-settimana-europea-dei-geopark/)).

## Practical tips

- **Call ahead.** Each outing has its own contact and meeting point. Some activities require booking.
- **Gear.** The CAI programme gives the difficulty grade of the treks ("E" for hiking, "T" for easy tourist routes). For high-altitude outings read our advice on [mountain safety](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/magazine/cai-scale-trail-difficulty/).
- **Getting there.** Activities are spread across the whole park. For roads and journey times from the main towns see [getting to the Madonie by car](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/roads/).
- **Where to stay.** If you base yourself in Petralia Sottana, home of the park authority, see [where to stay in Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/where-to-stay/).
- **Weather.** In late May the weather at altitude changes fast: check the [Piano Battaglia weather](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/weather/piano-battaglia/) before heading out.

## Past editions

| Edition | Year | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20th | 2025 | 24 May-8 June | In the same period, from 28 May to 2 June, the Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark went through its revalidation |
| 21st | 2026 | 23 May-7 June | Opening at the Scopalacqua waterfall, closing at Piano Battaglia |

More outdoor events are in the [Madonie nature events](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/nature/) calendar.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is European Geoparks Week?

It's the week promoted every year by the European Geoparks Network, the European network of geoparks recognised by UNESCO. In the Madonie it's called Madonie UGGp Week and lasts about two weeks, with excursions, geosite visits, school activities and cultural events in the park's towns.

### When is Geoparks Week in the Madonie?

Between late May and early June. The 21st edition ran from 23 May to 7 June 2026, the 20th from 24 May to 8 June 2025. The 2027 dates haven't been published yet: they come out on the Ente Parco delle Madonie website.

### Why are the Madonie a geopark?

Because of the geological interest of the massif, studied since the 1960s. The Madonie Park joined the European Geopark network in 2001 and on 17 November 2015 it was added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks network, at the General Conference in Paris. Since then it's also called Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark.

### Do you need to book the excursions?

In the 2026 programme each activity had its own contact, with a phone number or email for information; for some, such as the visit to the Museo del Carretto in Petralia Soprana, booking was explicitly required. It's best to call ahead, because each outing has its own meeting point.

### Which excursions were in the 2026 programme?

Among others, the Scopalacqua geosite in Petralia Sottana, the mills of Scillato, the Gole di Tiberio in San Mauro Castelverde, the Monte Alburchia geosite in Gangi, Pietra Rosa in Pollina, the CAI Polizzi Generosa treks at Piano Zucchi and Bosco Pianette, and the valley of the Mandarini stream.

### How does the week end?

In 2026 it closed on Sunday 7 June at Piano Battaglia with "Puliamo il nostro territorio", a clean-up day with the Madonie CAI clubs, the Consulta Giovanile Madonie, volunteers and local people, followed by a get-together at the Savochella picnic area.

## Sources

- [Ente Parco delle Madonie, Madonie UGGp Week 2026 (XXI edizione)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi-madonie-uggp-week-2026-xxi-edizione/)
- [Ente Parco delle Madonie, programma della Settimana Geopark 2026 (PDF)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/EGN-WEEK2026.pdf)
- [Ente Parco delle Madonie, relazione attività 2025 (PDF)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Relazione-attivita-anno-2025.pdf)
- [Madonie Press, presentazione della settimana 2026](https://www.madoniepress.it/2026/05/07/escursioni-trekking-e-natura-nelle-madonie-torna-la-settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi/)
- [Madoniedintorni, apertura al geosito Scopalacqua (2026)](https://madoniedintorni.com/2026/05/23/il-geosito-madonie-uggp-cascata-scopalacquaapre-la-settimana-europea-dei-geoparchi/)
- [Madonie Press, chiusura a Piano Battaglia (2026)](https://www.madoniepress.it/2026/06/08/puliamo-il-nostro-territorio-a-piano-battaglia-il-gran-finale-della-settimana-europea-dei-geopark/)

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Markdown version of the page https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/european-geoparks-week-madonie/, from Le Madonie (lemadonie.it), an independent guide to the Madonie. Facts with source and date of check.