Magna Via Francigena: the Italian Camino de Santiago

Updated November 2025 · New routes and pilgrim credentials available

There are paths that don't seek shortcuts, but meaning. In Sicily, the Magna Via Francigena, the historic road that connects Palermo and Agrigento, It began to beat again like an ancient thread that stitches together past and present: a path where every step breathes history and silence, and where the pilgrim becomes a narrator of the landscape.

Walking has ceased to be a utilitarian activity and has become a form of quest. The contemporary pilgrim does not always start from a religious faith: sometimes they are driven by the need to break free from routine, to organize scattered thoughts, to rediscover the slow rhythm of walking, or simply to enjoy the landscape with all their senses.

The most well-known example is the Camino de Santiago, but Europe has other routes just as ancient and full of meaning. One of them is the Magna Via Francigena, In Sicily: 184 km connecting Palermo with Agrigento, passing through towns where Arab, Norman and medieval voices still resonate.

One key detail: This Sicilian stretch is part of the universe of the Via Francigena, a vast historical network of pilgrimage routes to Rome, whose most famous itinerary linked Canterbury with Rome. The Magna Via Francigena It's their version in Sicily: more intimate, less massive and perfect for those looking to explore Italy with the same spirit—but with a different landscape and a different rhythm.

After centuries of oblivion, this route was officially revitalized in 2017 Thanks to the combined efforts of local associations, historians, and hikers, the trail now boasts signage, credentials, and digital guides, making it a viable and contemporary alternative for those wishing to explore Sicily on foot with a spirit of discovery.

🚶 The stages of the path

The route is divided into 9 main stages, each between 17 and 26 km:

• Palermo → Santa Cristina Gela
• Santa Cristina Gela/Piana degli Albanesi → Corleone
• Corleone → Prizzi
• Prizzi → Castronovo di Sicilia
• Castronovo → Cammarata/San Giovanni Gemini
• Cammarata/San Giovanni Gemini/Santo Stefano Quisquina → Sutera
• Sutera → Racalmuto/Grotte
• Racalmuto/Grotte → Joppolo Giancaxio
• Joppolo Giancaxio → Agrigento

Palermo → Santa Cristina Gela: transition from urban bustle to the calm of the mountains.
Corleone: a city steeped in history, which forces us to confront Sicilian identity head-on.
Cammarata/Sutera: A demanding and scenic stretch; Sutera, "the balcony of Sicily", rewards the effort.
Joppolo → Agrigento: final arrival between ancient temples and the luminous Mediterranean.

⏳ Duration and pace

It takes about nine days to complete, long enough to be transformed, and short enough to be possible for different levels of preparation.

🌍 Who is walking it today

There are no crowds or mass selfies here: the Magna Via welcomes walkers seeking silence, authenticity, and human connection. Italians, curious Europeans, and solo travelers find in its paths a way to converse with the island.

✨ A journey inward and outward

The Magna Via Francigena does not offer just one route: it proposes a double journey, outwards —through hills and stone villages— and inwards, where each step becomes an echo of questions that change with the landscape.

🌍 Experiences to follow the path

Helicopter to Everest – Nepal

Trek through the Himalayas and see Mount Everest from the sky: pure epic heights.

Aerial Panorama – Patagonia / New Zealand

Mountain ranges, lakes, and fjords from the cockpit: a living map beneath your wings.

If you are drawn to paths that invite silence, you can also explore Travel Themed Series, a collection of routes where time stands still.