A certain magic
The Madonie Mountains, an hour or so south east from the capital Palermo and at the back door of the medieval seaside town of Cefalu, are dotted with towering stone villages, mighty mountains, a slow pace of everyday life, forests, winding roads, walking tracks, simple food, narrow streets and balconies in bloom, wildflowers and art, centuries old ruins, noble architecture and traditions not lost.
It has a certain magic.
Travel slowly
From the splendour of Cefalu to the quiet cobblestone streets of small mountain villages like Petralia Soprana, Gangi and Polizzi Generosa the Madonie is very good at beckoning the traveller who wants to 'slip away' and enjoy another Sicilian world.
A little bit of the Madonie magic
Below are a few snapshots from times spent in the mountains of the Madonie which tell something of the magic.
Ruins of La Commenda Church outside Polizzi Generosa
Cefalu
Trattoria da Salvatore, Petralia Soprana
Sheep grazing outside Polizzi Generosa
Rooftops Gangi
Road through the Madonie
Petralia Soprana flower filled balconies
Ricotta making outside Polizzi Generosa
Pork and fennel sausages cooking, in the mountains outside Polizzi Generosa
Petralia Soprana's town hall
Evening light Polizzi Generosa
Petralia Soprana
Polizzi Generosa rooftops
Sunset over the Madonie
Soaring mountains on the road to Piano Battaglia
Wild sweet peas
Salve,
Suzanne
A Note: photos 3,10,12 &15 are by L. turrisi