Via dei Frati, stage 5: from Petralia Sottana to Gangi

The fifth stage of the Via dei Frati goes from Petralia Sottana to Gangi via Petralia Soprana: about 15 km and 5 hours of walking without stops, with about 470 metres of ascent according to the Madonie Park. It is a medium stage that the Park calls a “rest stage”. It touches three villages, two of which have won Borgo dei Borghi.

After the mountain of stage 4, here you walk between villages, drove roads and fields.

Why walk this stage

Because in one day you link three of the finest villages in the Madonie. Petralia Soprana is the highest municipality in the Madonie and Borgo dei Borghi 2018. Gangi won the title in 2014.

And because you see a side of the Madonie different from the forests: farmed hills, the valley of the salt works, country churches.

What you see along the stage

You start from Corso Agliata, in Petralia Sottana, in front of the war memorial, and climb towards the area called “della Croce”. Across the provincial road, an old drove road climbs to Petralia Soprana. From the trough you enter the village along Via Acquedotto Romano, to the centre and the church of Santa Maria di Loreto.

Then you go down towards the ItalKali works. Rock salt is one of Petralia Soprana’s resources: in the hamlet of Raffo there is also the SottoSale museum, which we describe on the Petralia Soprana page.

You climb back along the stream towards the Pira area, run alongside the main road and descend towards Gangi. After the lowest point and an area of sheds you reach the Santuario dello Spirito Santo. From here the last climb leads to the upper part of Gangi, the town hall and the Chiesa Madre.

Who it is for

Anyone who can walk 5 hours. The surface is mixed: village streets, drove roads, dirt tracks and a few stretches near the main road, where you walk in single file and with care. There are no technical passages.

When to go

Spring and autumn. In summer the stage is almost all in the sun: start early and carry plenty of water. Check the weather in Petralia Sottana and in Gangi.

There are many festivals along the way. In Petralia Soprana the feast of Saints Peter and Paul peaks on 29 June. In Gangi, on Whit Monday, there is the feast of the Spirito Santo, right at the sanctuary on the route, and from 26 to 29 December the Living Nativity.

Sleeping and eating

Gangi has plenty of choice: see where to stay in Gangi and where to eat in Gangi. If you prefer to split the stage, you can stop in Petralia Soprana: where to stay in Petralia Soprana.

The Amici della Via dei Frati association lists on its website the places that host walkers and the form to request the pilgrim credential.

Tips

• Stock up on water in Petralia Soprana: after that, reliable points are few until Gangi.
• On the stretches near the main road walk on the left, facing traffic, in single file.
• Save energy for the last climb inside Gangi: it is short but steep.

The previous stage is stage 4 from Polizzi Generosa to Petralia Sottana. It continues with stage 6 from Gangi to Geraci Siculo. The Gangi page tells you what to see in town.