Cycling Palermo: Via Francigena

Cycling in the province of Palermo: the old medieval roads of the Sicilian interior

In Medieval times Via Francigena was the road which connected Rome with distant countries. The continual flow of pilgrims heading to Rome or Jerusalem from all Europe made La Francigena the most important pilgrim route.

Cycling will help you better appreciate the numerous facets of Sicily and make the relationship between journey and traveller more significant This is similar to what used to happen with pilgrims coming from all over Europe. Indeed, in this tour opposite shores of the Mediterranean are connected in a particular way that you will discover en-route.
The trip starts from the small church of Santa Cristna La Vetere in Palermo, where pilgrims travelling to or from the Holy Land were welcomed and helped.

From this church and its wealth of religious and other significance we enter the heart of Sicily as far as the old quarter of Piazza Armerina. Here the church of Sant’Andrea Gran Priorato del San Sepolcro di Gerusalemme provides the crowning glory of the trip.

The wider itinerary includes the Ionian shores of the province of Siracusa.