PRO LOCO TRABIA – SAN NICOLA APS
Corso G. La Masa n.165 – 90019 Trabia (PA) C.F. 87003570824
Tel. 0918104090 prolocotrabiasannicola@gmail.com prolocotrabia@pec.it
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Mountain Itinerary
CHURCH OF SAN NICOLA L’ARENA
Point of interest no. 1
Oriented Nature Reserve Pizzo Cane, Pizzo Trigna and Grotta Mazzamuto
The mountain itinerary winds through the Oriented Nature Reserve Pizzo Cane, Pizzo Trigna and Grotta Mazzamuto an area protected for over 4,500 meters. It lies within the territories of Baucina, Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Altavilla Milicia, Casteldaccia and Trabia. This mountain massif features not only limestone rocks but also siliceous walls. The reserve is subject to erosion caused by atmospheric agents, which have led to the development of seasonal waterways and the formation of cavities such as the three most significant caves:
- Brigli Cave very important from a speleological point of view thanks to its tunnels and large chambers.
- Lion Cave is important from an ecological point of view because inside it lives a community of lesser Iberidella, a plant that grows in caves inhabited by livestock.
- Mazzamuto Cave in which many remains of archaeological interest are found.
The Reserve boasts picturesque and varied natural landscapes in which wet and green areas give way to others that are more rocky. The mountain complex, partly of volcanic origin, has its highest peak in Mount Pizzo Trigna (1257 meters) from where it is possible to admire a unique landscape over the gulfs of Palermo and Termini Imerese.
Inside the reserve is the Hermitage of San Felice composed of a rock church of medieval origin. It was built, between 1290 and 1310, by the lay hermit Fra Guglielmo Gnoffi, today blessed and co-patron of Castelbuono, he was born in Polizzi Generosa in 1256. Friar Guglielmo dedicated the Hermitage to the Madonna and had a fresco painted depicting the Holy Mother, to the right of the altar, and even today a painted trace of the sacred image is still visible. Taking care of the hermitage for more than twenty years, now owned by the parish of San Giorgio Martire of Caccamo, is the volunteer association Friends of San Felice. Especially in the last decade, synergic work has created a network of collaborations with other associations, including the Italian Alpine Club, the Diversi Sentieri committee and the inclusion of the hermitage in various networks including the Sacred Ways of Sicily, of which the path of Blessed Guglielmo on the Chiaramonte Steps is part. San Felice, moreover, is a mandatory stop on the Via Francigena through the Palermo-Messina mountains, a 400-kilometer route that crosses the Madonie, the Nebrodi up to the Peloritani. The trails closest to the town of Trabia are those starting from the hermitage of San Felice, which is located at km 18 of the provincial road Trabia-Ventimiglia (Palermo).
From the Hermitage several trails develop:
- Acqua Ammucciata Trail (Nature trail), travel time 45 min, medium-high difficulty (E), route length 930 m.
- Trail Crafocchi (Service dirt road), travel time 1.25 h, medium-low difficulty (T), route length 2,550 m.
- Ervi Bianchi Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 1,800 m.
- Monte Cane Trail (Service dirt road), travel time 5 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 8,240 m.
- Muccicasi Trail (Nature trail), travel time 60 min, medium-low difficulty (T), route length 1,800 m.
- Portella Pizzo Nudo Trail (Nature trail), travel time 40 min, medium difficulty (E), route length 1,150 m.
- Ricottelli Trail (Service dirt road), travel time 25 min, low difficulty (T), route length 840 m.
- Santo Onofrio Trail (Nature trail), travel time 3.50 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 6,250 m.
- Vausu Russu Trail (Service dirt road). travel time 2 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 3,300 m.
These trails have been maintained and mapped by the volunteers of the Friends of San Felice association. Inside the reserve there are also other trails, twenty-seven in total:
- du Vuoi Trail (Nature trail), travel time 30 min, medium difficulty (E), route length 700 m.
- Gurgo Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1.50 h, medium-high difficulty (E), route length 2,380 m.
- Batia Trail (Nature trail), travel time 45 min, medium difficulty (E), route length 950 m.
- Artale Trail (Nature trail), travel time 10 min, low difficulty (T), route length 300 m.
- Vaddi du Puzzu Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1 h, medium-high difficulty (E), route length 1,350 m.
- Chiano di Campani (Nature trail), travel time 3 h, high difficulty (EE), route length 3,900 m
- Cozzo Torretta Trail (Nature trail), travel time 5 min, low difficulty (T), route length 180 m.
- Todisca Trail (Service lane-Nature trail), travel time 3 h, medium-high difficulty (E), route length 6,600 m.
- Pizzu di Cani Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1.30 min, medium difficulty (E), route length 2,800 m.
- Corsa dei Ladri Trail (Nature trail), travel time 20 min, medium difficulty (E), route length 600 m
- Dabbisu Trail (Nature trail), travel time 10 min, low difficulty (T), route length 350 m.
- Cavallazzi Trail (Service lane), travel time 1.35 h, medium-low difficulty (T), route length 3,700 m.
- Aguni Trail (Service lane), travel time 1.30 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 3,200 m.
- Donna Momma Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1.20 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 2,620 m.
- Orchid Trail (Nature trail), travel time 1.30 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 2,850 m.
- San Michele Trail (Service lane), travel time 1 h, medium difficulty (E), route length 2,400 m.
- dà Rina Trail (Service lane), travel time 1.40 h. medium difficulty (E), route length 3,900 m.
- Aguni Trail (Service lane), travel time 30 min. medium difficulty (E), route length 1,150 m.
Trail difficulty level :
- Easy (F)
- Tourist (T)
- Hiking (E)
- Expert Hiking (EE)
Another interesting construction inside the reserve is due to the family of the Marquises Artale who, around the 16th century, settled in the territory of Trabia.
The memory of this family has remained in the “18th-century pillars” that marked the entrance from the hunting reserve, still existing, in the ancient “Tower” at the foot of Mount S. Onofrio and in the ancient“Hunting lodge” built on Mount Sant’Onofrio surrounded by a dry-stone wall just over two meters high, largely still existing. There is no longer any trace, finally, of the Artale Mausoleum, it was pyramidal in shape, it was located on the coast of Vetrana, where now a bathing establishment stands. Along the route of the reserve, moreover, one comes across the ruins of the Buonriposo station, an ancient building for changing horses along the royal trazzera.
Sources consulted for the information: