Facts and sources
The Madonie in numbers: area, peaks, population and sources
The Madonie Park (Parco delle Madonie) covers 39,679 hectares in 15 municipalities of the metropolitan city of Palermo and was created on 9 November 1989. Its highest peak is Pizzo Carbonara, 1,979 metres. The 16 Madonie towns, Gangi included, had 54,680 residents on 1 January 2025. The flora counts about 1,500 species and subspecies, 170 of them endemic.
Page updated on 20 October 2026
Key numbers
How big is the Madonie Park?
Area, protection zones, altitudes and recognitions of the regional park and the Geopark. Next to every value you will find the number of its source.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Area of the park About 400 km². The same document also mentions «about 40,000 hectares». | 39,679 ha | [1] |
| Area of the park according to the Parks.it page Different from the figure in the park authority's PIAO 2026: we give both. | 39,941.18 ha | [2] |
| Park created on Regional decree 1489 of 9 November 1989, provided for by regional law 98 of 1981. | 9 November 1989 | [1][2] |
| Municipalities in the park All in the metropolitan city of Palermo. Gangi is outside the boundary. | 15 | [1] |
| Zone A, strict reserve 14.4% of the park | 5,733 ha | [1] |
| Zone B, general reserve 41.7% of the park | 16,535 ha | [1] |
| Zone C, protection 1.1% of the park | 427 ha | [1] |
| Zone D, control or buffer zone 42.8% of the park | 16,984 ha | [1] |
| Lowest point of the park | just over 400 m | [1] |
| Highest point of the park Pizzo Carbonara | 1,979 m | [1][3] |
| Nature reserves absorbed by the park Monte Quacella and Faggeta Madonie | 2 | [1] |
| Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark since | 2015 | [4] |
| Area of the Geopark according to the UNESCO page The same page gives 60,000 residents and 150 residents per km²: with 1,618 km² the density would be around 37, so one of the values does not add up. | 161,800 ha | [4] |
| Geopark population according to the UNESCO page | 60,000 | [4] |
| Geosites on the park authority's map Some are outside the park, as far as Campofelice di Roccella, Valledolmo and Resuttano. | 70 | [5] |
| Area of the 16 towns Sum of the municipal territories: the park covers just over a quarter of it. | 1,436.39 km² | [9] |
| Mean altitude of the 16 towns' territory Mean of the municipal mean altitudes weighted by area: our calculation on ISTAT data. | 699 m | [9] |
Read more: Madonie ParkMadonie UNESCO Global GeoparkAll villages
What are the highest peaks in the Madonie?
The summits above 1,800 metres, from the highest, plus Monte dei Cervi. When two sources give different heights, the note says so.
| Peak | Altitude | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pizzo Carbonara | 1,979 m | [1][3][6] |
| Pizzo Antenna GrandeAlso called Pizzo della Principessa. | 1,977 m | [1][3][6] |
| Pizzo Palermo | 1,964 m | [6] |
| Monte San Salvatore | 1,912 m | [1][3][2] |
| Monte Ferro | 1,906 m | [2][6] |
| Pizzo Scalonazzo | 1,904 m | [6] |
| Monte Quacella | 1,869 m | [1][2][6] |
| Monte MufaraThe CAI page for stage SI V16 gives 1,859 m. | 1,865 m | [1][6][16] |
| Santuario della Madonna dell'AltoAltitude of the sanctuary according to the CAI page for the SI V16V variant. | 1,827 m | [16] |
| Monte dei CerviBelow 1,800 m. The Parks.it page gives 1,656 m. | 1,792 m | [1][2] |
Read more: Madonie peaksPizzo Carbonara from Piano BattagliaMadonie plateaus
How many people live in the 16 Madonie towns?
ISTAT population, area and altitudes of the 15 park municipalities plus Gangi. The altitudes are those calculated by ISTAT on a digital elevation model.
| Municipality | Residents on 1 January 2025 | Estimate on 1 January 2026 | Area (km²) | Residents per km² | Altitude of the centre | Mean altitude | Highest point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltavuturo | 3,376 | 3,323 | 97.95 | 34.5 | 631 m | 655 m | 1,064 m |
| Castelbuono | 7,926 | 7,871 | 60.79 | 130.4 | 392 m | 516 m | 1,643 m |
| Castellana Sicula | 2,926 | 2,885 | 73.20 | 40 | 774 m | 712 m | 1,887 m |
| Cefalù | 13,874 | 13,846 | 66.28 | 209.3 | 23 m | 367 m | 1,034 m |
| Collesano | 3,614 | 3,609 | 108.16 | 33.4 | 470 m | 420 m | 1,649 m |
| Gangi | 6,006 | 5,918 | 127.46 | 47.1 | 964 m | 835 m | 1,320 m |
| Geraci Siculo | 1,664 | 1,636 | 113.35 | 14.7 | 1,066 m | 821 m | 1,647 m |
| Gratteri | 837 | 853 | 38.17 | 21.9 | 680 m | 600 m | 1,372 m |
| Isnello | 1,352 | 1,393 | 51.00 | 26.5 | 579 m | 1,037 m | 1,967 m |
| Petralia Soprana | 2,866 | 2,807 | 56.10 | 51.1 | 1,137 m | 893 m | 1,651 m |
| Petralia Sottana | 2,381 | 2,349 | 178.34 | 13.4 | 972 m | 871 m | 1,967 m |
| Polizzi Generosa | 2,795 | 2,745 | 134.66 | 20.8 | 892 m | 825 m | 1,847 m |
| Pollina | 2,827 | 2,807 | 49.96 | 56.6 | 664 m | 288 m | 753 m |
| San Mauro Castelverde | 1,295 | 1,279 | 114.37 | 11.3 | 1,025 m | 662 m | 1,331 m |
| Scillato | 577 | 564 | 31.70 | 18.2 | 239 m | 621 m | 1,791 m |
| Sclafani Bagni | 364 | 344 | 134.90 | 2.7 | 755 m | 633 m | 1,136 m |
| Total | 54,680 | 54,229 | 1,436.39 | 38.1 | 699 m | 1,967 m |
Source: [7][8][9]. ISTAT altitudes calculated on the NASADEM digital elevation model.
Read more: All villages
How many tourists come to the Madonie?
Arrivals, nights, accommodation businesses and beds in 2025, from the tourism observatory of the Sicilian Region, based on ISTAT data. Where you see n/a, the Region has not published the figure.
| Municipality | Arrivals 2025 | Nights 2025 | Accommodation businesses | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltavuturo | n/a | n/a | 7 | 49 |
| Castelbuono | 17,006 | 32,205 | 106 | 806 |
| Castellana Sicula | 1,036 | 2,903 | 11 | 125 |
| Cefalù | 330,178 | 1,140,878 | 1,518 | 13,152 |
| Collesano | 1,261 | 3,673 | 48 | 485 |
| Gangi | 3,962 | 6,666 | 34 | 307 |
| Geraci Siculo | 6,596 | 8,632 | 8 | 79 |
| Gratteri | 3,850 | 7,326 | 24 | 202 |
| Isnello | n/a | n/a | 24 | 235 |
| Petralia Soprana | 2,871 | 4,471 | 29 | 260 |
| Petralia Sottana | 4,238 | 6,294 | 35 | 454 |
| Polizzi Generosa | 5,876 | 14,626 | 39 | 466 |
| Pollina | 32,130 | 112,701 | 90 | 1,827 |
| San Mauro Castelverde | 987 | 1,743 | 21 | 133 |
| Scillato | n/a | n/a | 8 | 59 |
| Sclafani Bagni | 1,179 | 1,680 | 7 | 92 |
| Total | 411,170 | 1,343,798 | 2,009 | 18,731 |
Source: [10]. Arrivals and nights: total of the 13 municipalities with published data.
Read more: Where to stayWhere to eat
How many species live in the Madonie Park?
Plants, woods and flagship species. The vegetation figures come from the map of plant biodiversity of the park, published in 2004.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vascular plant species and subspecies About: 57% of the Sicilian flora, on just 1.55% of the island's area. | 1,500 | [11] |
| Endemic plants About 46% of Sicily's endemic plants. | 170 | [11] |
| Woods About: beech, oak, holm oak, cork oak and chestnut woods. | 9,600 ha | [11] |
| High-altitude beech woods About, on the north slopes of Monte Mufara, Pizzo Antenna Grande, Monte dei Cervi, Monte Daino and Monte San Salvatore. | 2,300 ha | [11] |
| Holm oak woods About | 3,000 ha | [11] |
| Cork oak woods About | 1,850 ha | [11] |
| Sessile oak woods About | 550 ha | [11] |
| Pastures About | 13,000 ha | [11] |
| Extensive farmland | 9,160 ha | [11] |
| Adult Abies nebrodensis trees in the wild The park authority writes «about thirty». In 2004 there were also 50 self-sown seedlings. | 30 | [12][13][11] |
| Griffon vultures arriving from Spain in 2026 and 2027 They join the group that returned in 2021, with an acclimatisation aviary at Isnello. | 50-60 | [14] |
Read more: Nature and landscapesMadonie floraMadonie wildlifeAbies nebrodensis, the Sicilian firMadonie beech woods
How many trails are there in the Madonie?
The park authority's network, the stages of the CAI Sentiero Italia and the trails with a page on this site.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trails in the park authority's network | 29 | [15] |
| Length of the park authority's network | almost 300 km | [15] |
| Trails with a page on lemadonie.it | 20 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Trails graded T, easy walk | 1 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Trails graded E, hiking trail | 10 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Trails graded EE, for experienced hikers | 3 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Trails with a GPX track | 15 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Kilometres of GPX tracks | 166 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
Sentiero Italia CAI
| Stage | From | To | Distance | Ascent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SI V14 | Montemaggiore Belsito | Scillato | 20.2 km | 813 m |
| SI V15 | Scillato | Piano Battaglia | 19 km | 1,703 m |
| SI V16 | Piano Battaglia | Petralia Sottana | 13.9 km | 390 m |
| SI V16Vvariant | Piano Battaglia | Petralia Sottana | 10.1 km | 453 m |
| SI V17 | Petralia Sottana | Contrada Rainò | 13.1 km | 411 m |
| SI V18 | Contrada Rainò | Sella del Contrasto | 23.3 km | 933 m |
| Total of the stages, without the variant | 89.5 km | 4,250 m | ||
Source: [16]
Read more: TrailsHiking in the Madonie
How many lifts and slopes are there at Piano Battaglia?
Lifts, slopes and altitudes of the only ski area in the Madonie. Opening days, hours and prices change every season and are in the snow section.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lifts Mufara two-seater chairlift, drag lift and magic carpet. | 3 | [18] |
| Downhill slopes Giovanni Falcone (blue), Paolo Borsellino (red), Vincenzo Mollica (black). | 3 | [18][17] |
| Length of the slopes In total, on the slopes of Monte Mufara. | 4.5 km | [17] |
| Mufara chairlift, bottom station | 1,563 m | [17] |
| Mufara chairlift, top station | 1,833 m | [17] |
| Vertical rise of the chairlift About 6 minutes up. | 270 m | [17] |
| Maximum capacity of the chairlift Skiers per hour. | 855 | [17] |
| Weeks of snow on the plain in a year Estimate by the Metropolitan City of Palermo. | 6-8 | [17] |
| Visitors on peak days Daily estimate by the Metropolitan City of Palermo. | 7,000-9,000 | [17] |
| Lift operator | Palermo Energia S.p.A., agreement extended to 31 March 2027 | [18] |
Read more: SnowSkiing at Piano Battaglia
How many events are in the Madonie calendar?
The event pages of this site, counted by category every time the site is published.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Events in the calendar | 70 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Events with the next edition already scheduled | 7 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Category | Listings |
|---|---|
| Food festivals | 21 |
| Religious festivals | 22 |
| Sport | 4 |
| Music | 4 |
| Culture | 14 |
| Nature | 2 |
| Markets | 2 |
| Other events | 1 |
Counted from the lemadonie.it listings when the site was published on 20 October 2026.
Read more: All eventsUpcoming events
Which Slow Food Presidia are in the Madonie?
Madonie products protected by a Slow Food Foundation Presidium, with the production area given by the Foundation.
| Presidium | Production area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manna delle Madonie | Castelbuono and Pollina | [19] |
| Provola delle Madonie | Madonie massif | [20] |
| Fagiolo badda di Polizzi | Polizzi Generosa | [21] |
| Albicocca di Scillato | Scillato | [22] |
Read more: What to eat in the MadonieMadonie mannaMadonie beans and ancient grainsMadonie cheeses
How far are the Madonie from Palermo, Catania and the airports?
Driving distances and times without traffic, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, from the city centres and the airports.
| Destination | Palermo | Palermo airport | Catania | Catania airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collesano | 65 km 1 h 10 | 100 km 1 h 50 | 155 km 2 h 10 | 150 km 2 h 10 |
| Gratteri | 70 km 1 h 15 | 105 km 1 h 55 | 180 km 2 h 30 | 175 km 2 h 30 |
| Scillato | 70 km 1 h | 105 km 1 h 40 | 145 km 1 h 55 | 140 km 1 h 50 |
| Cefalù | 70 km 1 h 05 | 110 km 1 h 45 | 185 km 2 h 25 | 180 km 2 h 20 |
| Sclafani Bagni | 75 km 1 h 30 | 110 km 2 h 10 | 145 km 2 h | 145 km 2 h |
| Isnello | 75 km 1 h 25 | 110 km 2 h 05 | 165 km 2 h 25 | 165 km 2 h 25 |
| Caltavuturo | 75 km 1 h 20 | 110 km 2 h | 140 km 1 h 50 | 135 km 1 h 50 |
| Polizzi Generosa | 85 km 1 h 20 | 120 km 2 h | 140 km 1 h 50 | 140 km 1 h 50 |
| Piano Battaglia | 90 km 1 h 40 | 125 km 2 h 20 | 155 km 2 h 10 | 150 km 2 h 10 |
| Castelbuono | 90 km 1 h 20 | 125 km 2 h | 165 km 2 h 25 | 165 km 2 h 20 |
| Pollina | 90 km 1 h 25 | 125 km 2 h 05 | 165 km 2 h 45 | 165 km 2 h 40 |
| Castellana Sicula | 95 km 1 h 20 | 130 km 2 h | 130 km 1 h 45 | 125 km 1 h 40 |
| Petralia Soprana | 105 km 1 h 30 | 140 km 2 h 10 | 135 km 1 h 50 | 130 km 1 h 45 |
| San Mauro Castelverde | 105 km 1 h 45 | 140 km 2 h 25 | 145 km 2 h 30 | 140 km 2 h 30 |
| Petralia Sottana | 105 km 1 h 30 | 140 km 2 h 10 | 135 km 1 h 50 | 135 km 1 h 50 |
| Geraci Siculo | 115 km 1 h 40 | 150 km 2 h 20 | 145 km 2 h | 145 km 1 h 55 |
| Gangi | 115 km 1 h 40 | 150 km 2 h 20 | 145 km 2 h | 145 km 2 h |
Calculated on 20 October 2026 with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data. Starting points: Quattro Canti in Palermo, Piazza Duomo in Catania and the two airports. Times without traffic or stops. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Read more: RoadsHow to get to the MadonieGetting around the Madonie
How many places to stay, places to eat and events are in each town?
The pages published on lemadonie.it, town by town. The count updates itself every time the site is published.
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Places to stay with a page | 110 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Places to eat with a page | 194 | lemadonie.it, counted at publication |
| Municipality | Where to stay | Where to eat | Events | Trails |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltavuturo | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Castelbuono | 12 | 32 | 9 | 6 |
| Castellana Sicula | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Cefalù | 62 | 95 | 9 | 2 |
| Collesano | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Gangi | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Geraci Siculo | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Gratteri | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Isnello | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Petralia Soprana | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Petralia Sottana | 5 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| Polizzi Generosa | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Pollina | 2 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| San Mauro Castelverde | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Scillato | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Sclafani Bagni | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 110 | 194 | 70 | 20 |
| Places to stay by type | Listings |
|---|---|
| Mountain huts | 7 |
| Farm stays | 7 |
| B&Bs | 28 |
| Hotels | 44 |
| Holiday homes | 15 |
| Campsites | 6 |
| Hostels | 3 |
| Places to eat by type | Listings |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | 86 |
| Trattorias | 6 |
| Pizzerias | 17 |
| Farm restaurants | 1 |
| Pastry shops | 6 |
| Bars | 54 |
| Food shops | 24 |
Counted from the lemadonie.it listings when the site was published on 20 October 2026. The trail total counts each trail once; a trail crossing several municipalities appears in each of them.
Read more: Where to stayWhere to eatInteractive map
How we collect these numbers
We read every value written by hand on this page on its primary source, on the date shown in the list of sources: documents of the Madonie park authority, ISTAT files, data from the Sicilian Region, CAI pages and Slow Food Foundation pages. When two sources disagree, we give both and say so in the note.
Some tables we do not write ourselves. Trails, events, places to stay and eat, driving distances and, when available, climate averages are calculated from the site’s data every time it is published, so they stay up to date on their own.
Three caveats. The town altitudes are ISTAT’s, measured on a digital elevation model: they can differ by a few dozen metres from the ones on our village pages, taken from the municipalities or Wikipedia. The vegetation figures come from a scientific map of 2004, the latest complete one we found. The 2025 tourism data also count private rentals run without a business and cannot be compared with earlier years.
The full method, with the sources we use and the ones we avoid, is on the how we work page. If you find a wrong or more recent figure, let us know.
How to cite this page
You can cite this page or reuse its figures by giving the title, the site and the update date. For a single figure, also cite the original source: you will find it in the list below, with the date we checked it.
The Madonie in numbers: area, peaks, population and sources, Le Madonie, updated on 20 October 2026. https://www.lemadonie.it/en/madonie-in-numbers/
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key numbers of the Madonie?
- The Madonie Park covers 39,679 hectares according to the park authority, includes 15 municipalities and was created on 9 November 1989. Its highest summit is Pizzo Carbonara, 1,979 metres, second in Sicily after Etna. The 16 Madonie towns, Gangi included, had 54,680 residents on 1 January 2025 according to ISTAT. About 1,500 plant species and subspecies grow in the park, 170 of them endemic.
- How many people live in the Madonie towns?
- On 1 January 2025 the 16 towns had 54,680 residents according to ISTAT, and the estimate for 1 January 2026 falls to 54,229. The largest is Cefalù with 13,874 residents, followed by Castelbuono with 7,926 and Gangi with 6,006. The smallest is Sclafani Bagni, with 364 residents. Only Gratteri and Isnello grow in the 2026 estimate.
- Which is the highest and which the largest town in the Madonie?
- According to ISTAT altitude data the highest town centre is Petralia Soprana, at 1,137 metres, followed by Geraci Siculo and San Mauro Castelverde, both above 1,000. The largest municipality is Petralia Sottana, with 178 km² reaching up to Piano Battaglia and the Carbonara peaks. The smallest by area is Scillato, with less than 32 km².
- How many peaks in the Madonie are higher than 1,800 metres?
- Eight peaks rise above 1,800 metres: Pizzo Carbonara (1,979 m), Pizzo Antenna Grande (1,977), Pizzo Palermo (1,964), Monte San Salvatore (1,912), Monte Ferro (1,906), Pizzo Scalonazzo (1,904), Monte Quacella (1,869) and Monte Mufara (1,865). The Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Alto also stands above 1,800 metres, at 1,827 metres according to the CAI. The heights come from the park authority and Wikipedia.
- How many tourists visit the Madonie every year?
- In 2025 the Sicilian Region counted 411,170 arrivals and 1,343,798 nights in the accommodation of the 13 towns with published data. Cefalù alone accounts for 85% of the nights; Pollina and Castelbuono come next. The 16 towns have 18,731 registered beds in 2,009 businesses. Since 2025 the count also includes private short lets, so it cannot be compared with earlier years.
- How many Abies nebrodensis trees are left?
- About 30 adult Abies nebrodensis trees survive in the wild, according to the CNR and the Madonie park authority, all in the municipality of Polizzi Generosa, in and around the Vallone Madonna degli Angeli. It is one of the rarest conifers in the world. The LIFE4FIR project, led by the CNR, worked to increase its genetic diversity and plant new trees.
- How far is Palermo from the Madonie by car?
- From central Palermo to Cefalù it is about 72 km and just over an hour by car. Petralia Sottana is about 105 km away, Gangi about 117 km and an hour and three quarters. From Palermo airport to Cefalù it is about 108 km. The figures are calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data and ignore traffic and roadworks.
Sources
The number in square brackets next to each figure points to the source in this list.
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, Piano integrato di attività e organizzazione (PIAO) 2026: territorio, zone e quote (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Parks.it (Federparchi), scheda del Parco Regionale delle Madonie (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, L'ambiente naturale (quote delle vette) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- UNESCO, Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark (scheda del programma IGGP) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, Carta dei geositi 2026 (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Wikipedia, Madonie (elenco delle cime) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- ISTAT, Popolazione residente per età e sesso al 1° gennaio 2025, comuni (demo.istat.it) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- ISTAT, Popolazione residente al 1° gennaio 2026, stima, comuni (demo.istat.it) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- ISTAT, Altimetria dei comuni al 31 dicembre 2021 (superficie, quote del centro, medie e massime) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Regione Siciliana, Osservatorio turistico: movimento turistico e capacità ricettiva per comune, 2025 (dati ISTAT) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Raimondo, Schicchi e Surano, Carta del paesaggio e della biodiversità vegetale del Parco delle Madonie, Naturalista siciliano XXVIII (2004) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- CNR, progetto LIFE4FIR per l'Abies nebrodensis (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, Abies nebrodensis (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, Progetto per la reintroduzione del grifone (ottobre 2026) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Ente Parco delle Madonie, Trekking (rete dei sentieri del Parco) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- CAI, Sentiero Italia: schede delle tappe SI V14-V18 (distanza e dislivello) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Città Metropolitana di Palermo, relazione illustrativa del bando di concessione degli impianti di Piano Battaglia (2026) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- PalermoToday, Piano Battaglia: bando deserto, gestione prorogata (5 ottobre 2026) (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Fondazione Slow Food, Presidio Manna delle Madonie (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Fondazione Slow Food, Presidio Provola delle Madonie (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Fondazione Slow Food, Presidio Fagiolo badda di Polizzi (checked on 20 October 2026)
- Fondazione Slow Food, Presidio Albicocca di Scillato (checked on 20 October 2026)
Page updated on 20 October 2026