ペトラリーア・ソプラナのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

The dedication of this shrine, dedicated to the Madonna, refers to the town of Loreto. This is one of the major and most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Europe, along with Lourdes in the French Pyrenees and Fatima in Portugal. Unlike the other two, however, Loreto is not known for apparitions of the Virgin Mary. There, pilgrims can see something very tangible: the house where Mary grew up in Nazareth (Israel). Her parents—not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament—are named in apocryphal traditions: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim are thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ (their feast day in the liturgical calendar is July 26). It is likely that Crusaders, as the era of the Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land came to an end towards the end of the 13th century, dismantled the venerated building in Nazareth and transported it to Europe. However, this very sober assumption is contrasted by a much more interesting legend: According to this legend, four angels carried out the translation and flew the house across the Mediterranean.

Here you can also use a wooden table and benches for a nice picnic surrounded by greenery.

Wayside cross, located directly on the hiking trail.

Beautifully situated village on the edge of the Madonie Park

Beautiful old bridge. The official hiking trail leads over it.

This picturesque village, with a population of about 6,183, is known for its hilltop location and for having been voted the most beautiful in Italy. It was long identified with the legendary Cretan city of Engyon.

"This charming medieval village is located on the southern slope of the Madonie, a mountain range that offers breathtaking landscapes and a rich history. With its 2,920 inhabitants, Petralia Soprana is the highest municipality of the Madonie and one of the highest in the whole of Sicily. The town is included in the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy and was proclaimed "Borgo dei borghi 2018"."

The town is located on a slope between 900 and 1,100 meters above sea level, surrounded by extensive forests of broadleaf and coniferous trees. The municipal territory extends mainly in latitude, from the Madonie watershed in the north to the province of Caltanissetta in the south.