Bosco di Castelbuono: Piano Sempria and giant hollies

The Castelbuono woods cover the north side of the Madonie above the town. The finest walk starts at Piano Sempria, at about 1,300 metres, and leads to Piano Pomo, where the giant hollies grow: trees up to 20 metres tall according to the Madonie Park. It is an easy outing on a forest road, best from May to November.

You return the same way. Bring lunch: the Piano Sempria meadow is made for it.

Why go to Piano Pomo

To see holly as you will not see it elsewhere. Usually it is a shrub under the beeches. At Piano Pomo, the Park writes, a particular microclimate makes it grow in pure groves, arranged in a ring around the hollow.

Under the crowns light barely gets through and the temperature drops. The trunks grow so close that they merge, branch on branch.

The Park considers them unmatched in Europe, except for a few areas of Ireland.

What you see along the way

The road starts at the Rifugio Crispi, of the Club Alpino Siciliano, and runs along the slopes of Monte Ferro. The first trees you meet are centuries-old oaks: the Cefalù Madonie tourist district puts them at over 800 years.

Then a flat stretch and you are at Piano Pomo. There is a forestry hay hut built in the traditional way and, on clear days, a view of Etna. The hollies are a little further on.

Notice how the forest changes as you climb from Castelbuono. The district describes it in bands: chestnut between 600 and 900 metres, then holm oak and oak, centuries-old oaks and hollies between 1,200 and 1,400, beech higher up.

One rule to know

You do not walk into the giant holly stand. The ban comes from a 2010 note of the regional forestry agency and an opinion of the Park’s scientific committee: the trees are old and branches can give way.

In September 2026 the Park repeated the same advice for all monumental trees. Do not linger at the base of the trunks, and with a weather warning for wind, heavy rain or snow, stay out of the woods.

Who it is for

Anyone who can walk a couple of hours without effort. The surface is stony but wide and the gradient gentle, so it works with children too. The Park lists it as unsuitable for people with reduced mobility.

You can also ride it on horseback or by mountain bike. Cyclists give way to walkers.

When to go

From May to November. In autumn the woods turn colour and it is mushroom season: at the end of October Castelbuono holds the Funghi Fest. In summer you find shade here and much cooler air than in town.

The hollies carry their red berries in winter. With snow or ice, though, the road to Piano Sempria can become a problem: check the weather at Piano Sempria before driving up.

How to get to Piano Sempria

From Castelbuono take the provincial road to San Guglielmo, pass the old Eremo di Liccia and continue on the municipal road to the Rifugio Crispi. You need a car: public transport does not come up here.

Where to sleep and eat

Castelbuono is the natural base, with plenty of places to stay: see where to stay in Castelbuono. For food, look at where to eat in Castelbuono, and try something made with manna, the local product we cover in our article on Castelbuono manna.

At Piano Sempria there is the Rifugio Crispi: before counting on a meal or a bed, ask the Club Alpino Siciliano whether it is open.

If you want to walk further

Piano Sempria is the end point of two longer trails: the Case la Pazza - Piano Pomo - Piano Sempria trail, from the Petralia Sottana side, and the Battaglietta - Piano Sempria trail, which comes down from Piano Battaglia.