Via dei Frati, stage 7: from Geraci Siculo to Castelbuono

The seventh stage of the Via dei Frati goes down from Geraci Siculo to Castelbuono: about 21 km and 6 hours 30 minutes of walking without stops, with over 1,100 metres of descent according to the Madonie Park. It is a demanding stage, more for its length than its difficulty. It passes San Cosimano, the Serre d’Alfano, Rocca di Gonato and San Foca.

You start above 1,000 metres and finish at just over 400, beneath the Ventimiglia Castle.

Why walk this stage

Because you cross the Madonie from south to north and feel everything change: the air, the trees, the light. You leave the high pastures of Geraci and descend towards the Tyrrhenian side, greener and warmer.

And because you go from one Ventimiglia castle to another. The Ventimiglia were counts of Geraci, and from 1454 the castle of Castelbuono became their main residence: we cover the story in our article on the Ventimiglia castles.

What you see along the stage

From Piazza del Popolo in Geraci Siculo you reach the large Bevaio della Trinità. From here the route heads to the country chapel of San Cosimano, at the end of a large meadow. After the visit you go back and follow the profile of the mountain, on a path partly hidden by vegetation.

Past a rocky area and some livestock gates you reach the Serre d’Alfano. Then you descend towards a valley, with a farmhouse as a landmark, and continue south to the provincial road.

A few hundred metres later you go back onto the path, into a dense, shady area, as far as Rocca di Gonato, where there is a farm stay. You pass the San Foca picnic area and from there a long descent leads to Castelbuono.

Who it is for and when to go

For walkers trained for long days. The first section needs attention to route finding, the final descent needs good knees: poles help.

Spring and autumn are the right seasons. In summer the second half, low and exposed, is very hot. Check the weather in Geraci Siculo and in Castelbuono before you go.

Castelbuono, the finish

Castelbuono is full of restaurants and shops, and after 21 km an evening here does you good. You will find accommodation in where to stay in Castelbuono and restaurants in where to eat in Castelbuono. The Castelbuono page covers the castle, churches and manna.

If you arrive at the end of July there is the feast of Sant’Anna, the town’s patron saint. At the end of October, the Funghi Fest.

Sleeping in Geraci Siculo the night before

Geraci Siculo has few beds: book ahead. See where to stay in Geraci Siculo. The Amici della Via dei Frati association lists on its website the places that host walkers.

Tips

• Bring a packed lunch and all the water for the day.
• Close the livestock gates you find on the first stretch.
• Download the track: at the start the path is not obvious among the vegetation.
• In autumn count the daylight hours: 21 km is a lot.

For the GPX track, profile and technical details of the stage there is the page on sentierisiciliani.it, in the box alongside. You arrive from stage 6 from Gangi to Geraci Siculo and continue with the last one, stage 8 from Castelbuono to Cefalù.