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Getting to and around the Madonie by car

Two motorways lead to the Madonie: the A20 Messina-Palermo for Cefalù, Castelbuono and the coast, the A19 Palermo-Catania for Polizzi Generosa, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sottana and Gangi. Palermo to Cefalù is about 70 km and just over an hour; Catania to Petralia Sottana about 135 km and 1 h 50.

Guide updated on 19 October 2026

At a glance

From Palermo
Cefalù 70 km, 1 h 05. Petralia Sottana 105 km, 1 h 30
From Catania
Petralia Sottana 135 km, 1 h 50. Gangi 145 km, 2 h
Motorways
A19 Palermo-Catania (ANAS) and A20 Messina-Palermo (CAS)
Winter
Winter 2025/2026: chains on board or winter tyres on the A19 from 15 November to 15 March, on the SS120, SS286, SS290 and SS643 from 1 December to 31 March (ANAS)
Live traffic
CCISS number 1518, free, around the clock

Current alerts

Last checked: 20 October 2026, 08:41

These are the alerts we have checked against official sources, not a complete list. Before you leave, call 1518 (free) or use the live services further down.

Sources checked: CCISS Viaggiare Informati (read), Ente Parco delle Madonie (read), Città Metropolitana di Palermo (read), Comune di Caltavuturo (read), Comune di Cefalù (read), Comune di Collesano (read), Comune di Gangi (read), Comune di Petralia Soprana (read), Comune di Petralia Sottana (read), Comune di Polizzi Generosa (read), Comune di Pollina (read), Comune di San Mauro Castelverde (read), Comune di Sclafani Bagni (read)

The Madonie have two gateways. On the coast there is the A20 Messina-Palermo, run by CAS: it leads to Cefalù, Castelbuono, Pollina and the villages on the northern side. Inland there is the A19 Palermo-Catania, run by ANAS: it leads to Polizzi Generosa, Caltavuturo, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sottana and Gangi.

From Palermo you always start on the A19. At the Buonfornello junction, after Termini Imerese, you choose: the A20 towards Messina for the coast, the A19 towards Catania for the interior.

Which exit for each village?

Coastal side

  • Cefalù: Cefalù exit on the A20.
  • Castelbuono: Pollina-Castelbuono exit on the A20, then about a dozen kilometres uphill on the SS286. The same road continues to Geraci Siculo and Gangi.
  • Collesano and Isnello: Buonfornello exit, a short stretch of the SS113 towards Cefalù, then the SP9.
  • Gratteri: the SP28 from the SS113.

Inland side

  • Polizzi Generosa: Scillato exit on the A19, then 18 km on the SS643.
  • Caltavuturo: same Scillato exit, then the SP24.
  • Castellana Sicula, Petralia Sottana and Petralia Soprana: Tremonzelli exit on the A19, then the SS120 “dell’Etna e delle Madonie”.
  • Gangi: from Palermo, Tremonzelli exit and the SS120. From Catania, leave at Irosa and take the SS290 di Alimena to the SS120.

From the airports

From Palermo Falcone Borsellino airport, add about 35 km and 40 minutes to the times from central Palermo. From Catania airport the times are almost the same as from central Catania.

What are the mountain roads like?

Distances between villages are short, driving times are not. You travel on mountain state and provincial roads, narrow and full of bends. In our calculations on OpenStreetMap, Cefalù to Piano Battaglia is 45 km and about an hour, without stops.

There are three roads up to Piano Battaglia, but two are open today: from Petralia Sottana on the SP54 and from Isnello on the SP9 via Piano Zucchi. The third, the SP119 from Polizzi Generosa, has been closed since 6 February 2026 by a landslide near the Portella Colla junction, under an order from the mayor of Polizzi; in June 2026 the works had not yet started. From Polizzi you therefore drive up via Petralia Sottana: about 35 km and 45 minutes instead of 17 km. Landslides and closures do happen on these provincial roads. Before you drive up, check the alerts at the top of the page and the mountain weather.

What do I need in winter?

On the ANAS roads listed in the orders you must carry snow chains or have winter tyres fitted (motorbikes and two-wheel mopeds may only ride when there is no snow or ice). The dates are not the same for every road. In winter 2025/2026, in the Madonie, they were:

Road Section Period
A19 Palermo-Catania km 56.700-130.000, between the Scillato and Mulinello junctions 15 November 2025-15 March 2026
SS120 dell’Etna e delle Madonie km 25.000-137.440 from 7 am on 1 December 2025 to 8 pm on 31 March 2026
SS286 di Castelbuono km 15.000-42.380 from 7 am on 1 December 2025 to 8 pm on 31 March 2026
SS290 di Alimena km 0-16 and km 33.000-47.520 from 7 am on 1 December 2025 to 8 pm on 31 March 2026
SS643 di Polizzi km 0-15 from 7 am on 1 December 2025 to 8 pm on 31 March 2026

The A19 dates come from the ANAS press release of 11 November 2025; the state road dates from ANAS order no. 357/2025/PA. The rule applies where the signs are, and ANAS warns that with snow or ice it can also apply outside these periods. New orders come out for winter 2026/2027: we check every week and update this page, but before you leave look at the one in force on the ANAS website.

On provincial roads, such as the SP54 to Piano Battaglia, the Città Metropolitana di Palermo decides with its own orders. When we find one in force we add it to the alerts, with its source.

How do I know if a road is closed right now?

This page has no live data and does not pretend to. The alerts at the top are the ones we have found and checked against official sources, with the time of our last check: a selection, not a complete list.

For traffic right now, use the services below. The handiest on the road is the CCISS 1518 line: operators answer, the call is free from landlines and mobiles, around the clock.

Driving distances and times

From the centre of Palermo, Catania and Messina, without traffic or stops.

To From PalermoFrom CataniaFrom Messina
Cefalù 70 km 1 h 05185 km 2 h 25160 km 2 h
Castelbuono 90 km 1 h 20165 km 2 h 25165 km 2 h 05
Collesano 65 km 1 h 15155 km 2 h 15185 km 2 h 25
Isnello 75 km 1 h 25165 km 2 h 25175 km 2 h 15
Polizzi Generosa 85 km 1 h 20140 km 1 h 50215 km 2 h 40
Caltavuturo 75 km 1 h 20140 km 1 h 50205 km 2 h 45
Petralia Sottana 105 km 1 h 30135 km 1 h 50200 km 2 h 45
Petralia Soprana 105 km 1 h 30135 km 1 h 50200 km 2 h 40
Gangi 115 km 1 h 40145 km 2 h200 km 2 h 40
Geraci Siculo 115 km 1 h 40145 km 2 h185 km 2 h 25
Piano Battaglia 90 km 1 h 40155 km 2 h 10200 km 2 h 45

Between the villages and up to Piano Battaglia

Route Roads Distance
Cefalù → Castelbuono SS113, SS286 23 km 25 min
Cefalù → Isnello SP54bis, SP9 21 km 35 min
Castelbuono → Geraci Siculo SS286 22 km 25 min
Geraci Siculo → Gangi SS286, SS120 14 km 15 min
Polizzi Generosa → Petralia Sottana SS643, SS120 17 km 20 min
Petralia Sottana → Gangi SS120 16 km 20 min
Petralia Sottana → Piano Battaglia SP54 18 km 25 min
Polizzi Generosa → Piano Battaglia SS643, SS120, SP54 35 km 45 min
Isnello → Piano Battaglia SP9, SP54 24 km 30 min
Castelbuono → Piano Battaglia SP9, SP54 36 km 45 min

Approximate, rounded figures, calculated on 19 October 2026 with: OSRM su dati OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL)

Live traffic and road conditions: official services

  • CCISS Viaggiare Informati

    Live traffic for the whole Italian road network, from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. There is also the free iCCISS app.

    Open website

  • 1518

    Traffic information by phone, free from landlines and mobiles, every day around the clock.

    Call 1518

  • ANAS

    State roads and the A19 Palermo-Catania: press releases, roadworks and the VAI Anas Plus app. Pronto Anas freephone number.

    Open website Call 800 841 148

  • CAS Autostrade Siciliane

    A20 Messina-Palermo: notices on roadworks and closures.

    Open website

  • Città Metropolitana di Palermo

    Manages the provincial roads, such as the SP54 to Piano Battaglia, and decides closures and requirements with its own orders. When we find one in force, we add it to the alerts.

  • Protezione Civile Regione Siciliana

    Daily alert for weather and hydrogeological risk.

    Open website

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Palermo to Cefalù?
About 70 km and just over an hour without traffic: the A19 out of Palermo, then the A20 towards Messina to the Cefalù exit. The time is calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data and does not include traffic or roadworks.
How do you drive to Piano Battaglia?
Two roads up are open today: from Petralia Sottana on the SP54 (about 18 km) and from Isnello on the SP9 and SP54 via Piano Zucchi (about 24 km). The SP119 from Polizzi Generosa has been closed by a landslide since February 2026. From Palermo it is about 90 km and 1 h 40, leaving the A19 at Buonfornello and then taking the SP9.
Which exit do I take for Petralia Sottana, Petralia Soprana and Gangi?
From Palermo, the Tremonzelli exit on the A19, then the SS120: Petralia Sottana is about 105 km and 1 h 30 from central Palermo. From Catania, leave at Irosa and take the SS290 to the SS120: Gangi is about 145 km and 2 hours away.
Do I need snow chains for the Madonie in winter?
On the ANAS roads listed in the orders you need chains on board or winter tyres. In winter 2025/2026 the rule applied on the A19 between Scillato and Mulinello from 15 November to 15 March, and on the SS120, SS286, SS290 and SS643 from 1 December to 31 March. The dates change every year: check the ANAS order in force.
Where can I see live traffic?
On the CCISS Viaggiare Informati website, in the free iCCISS app or by calling 1518, free from landlines and mobiles. For state roads and the A19 there is also the VAI Anas Plus app. This page only shows alerts we have checked against official sources.

Sources