Things to do
Caving in the Madonie: deep caves, Park rules and safety
Caving in the Madonie: the Abisso del Vento in Isnello and the Abisso del Gatto in Cefalù, the Park rules, CAI courses and who to call in an emergency.
Gratteri · 680 m a.s.l.
Things to do in Gratteri
In Gratteri the two outings not to miss are on foot. The first leads to the Grotta Grattara: you climb from the San Nicola plateau through the pine wood to the cave, with a view of the coast. The second follows an easy path of about 1.7 km to the Norman ruins of the Abbazia di San Giorgio, among oak woods. In the village, wander between the Matrice Vecchia, Via Fiume with its three medieval bridges and the clock tower. In summer, at the end of August, the Early Music Festival brings free concerts to the church and the square. The sea is close: Cefalù is 17 km away, and in half an hour you can also reach Isnello or Collesano.
For Gratteri we have 14 guides, 2 trails and 2 itineraries.
What to see in town
- Grotta Grattara
- Ruins of the Abbazia di San Giorgio
- Matrice Vecchia (San Michele Arcangelo)
- Santa Maria di Gesù church
- Sant'Andrea church
- San Giacomo church
- Via Fiume and its three medieval bridges
- Clock tower
Guides
Info
Getting around the Madonie: distances, roads and buses
Getting around the Madonie: driving distances and times between the 16 towns, the roads to know, the buses from Cefalù and how to manage without a car.
Nature
Gole di Tiberio, caves and waterfalls of the Madonie
Gole di Tiberio, Grotta Grattara, Abisso del Vento, Abisso del Gatto and Scopalacqua falls: where they are, how to visit and what is banned in the Madonie.
Nature
Madonie beech woods: ancient trees and autumn colours
Madonie woods: beech forests up to 1,900 m, holm oaks, cork oaks, giant hollies and trees 800 years old. Where they are, how to tell them apart and when to go.
Food
Madonie cheeses: provola, caciocavallo and ricotta
Madonie cheeses one by one: Slow Food provola, caciocavallo, Gratteri's canestrato, ricotta and tuma, with farms to visit, cheese festivals and pairings.
Food
Madonie desserts: testa di turco, sfoglio and more
Madonie desserts town by town: Castelbuono's testa di turco, Polizzi's sfoglio, manna panettone, Gratteri's biscuits, and where to buy them.
Food
Madonie food festival calendar, season by season
Madonie food festival (sagre) calendar by season: usual periods, villages and what you eat, from Scillato oranges to Polizzi hazelnuts and mushrooms.
Nature
Madonie Park: towns, protection zones, rules and what to see
Madonie Park (Parco delle Madonie): 39,679 hectares and 15 towns between Cefalù and the Petralias, founded in 1989. Zones, rules, sights and how to get there.
Nature
Madonie peaks: heights and summits over 1,800 metres
The peaks of the Madonie: Pizzo Carbonara 1,979 m, Pizzo Antenna Grande, Monte San Salvatore, Quacella and Mufara. Table of heights, trails and practical tips.
Food
Madonie recipes: sfoglio of Polizzi, vastedda and more
Documented Madonie recipes step by step: Castelbuono's testa di turco, Polizzi's sfoglio, Gratteri's vastedda fritta and taralle, bread and broad beans.
Nature
Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark: geosites, fossils and trails
Madonie UNESCO Global Geopark: a geopark since 2001, UNESCO since 2015, 70 geosites and 220 million years of history. What to see, geological trails, museums.
Nature
Madonie viewpoints: views of Etna and the Aeolian Islands
The best viewpoints in the Madonie: Pizzo Carbonara, Madonna dell'Alto, Monte San Salvatore, Pollina and the SP54 lookouts. Where to see Etna and the Aeolians.
Culture
Museums of the Madonie: what to see town by town
Museums of the Madonie: the Mandralisca in Cefalù, the Museo Civico in Castelbuono castle, Minà Palumbo, the Targa Florio, salt sculptures and rural life.
Food
What to eat in the Madonie: typical dishes and produce
What to eat in the Madonie and in which town: cheese, badda beans, mushrooms, manna and desserts, a seasonal food calendar and which type of place to choose.
Trails from Gratteri
Itineraries through here
3 days
A Madonie road trip: 16 villages by car in 3 days
Madonie road trip: a 262 km loop from Cefalù in 3 days, 16 villages from the sea to the Petralias. Roads, distances, driving times, stops, where to stay.
7 days
A week in the Madonie: a 7-day itinerary
The Madonie in 7 days with 2 bases, Castelbuono and Petralia Sottana: 10 towns, Pizzo Carbonara, the Abies and the Gole di Tiberio. Stops, km, driving times.
In nearby villages
Villages within 15 km of Gratteri as the crow flies, nearest first:
- Things to do in Isnello 41 entries · 3.9 km
- Things to do in Collesano 24 entries · 6.1 km
- Things to do in Cefalù 29 entries · 9.2 km
- Things to do in Castelbuono 43 entries · 11 km
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to see in Gratteri?
- What to see in the village: Grotta Grattara, Ruins of the Abbazia di San Giorgio, Matrice Vecchia (San Michele Arcangelo), Santa Maria di Gesù church and Sant'Andrea church. For Gratteri we have 14 guides, 2 trails and 2 itineraries.
- What is there to do near Gratteri?
- Within 15 km as the crow flies: Isnello (41 entries, 3.9 km), Collesano (24 entries, 6.1 km), Cefalù (29 entries, 9.2 km) and Castelbuono (43 entries, 11 km).