Deep Sicily 6 days

Deep Sicily 6 days horse riding

A fascinating journey of discovery of the island’s history and culture in the heart of Sicily.

Day 1: Arrival

You will arrive at Casa “Il Bosco”, a charming restored nineteenth century country house, immersed in the wild countryside of the Madonie Park, with breathtaking views of the island’s north coast and the Aeolian Islands. You will enjoy a dinner prepared with local produce and spend the night here.

Day 2: Casa “Il Bosco” – Casalvecchio (hours of riding: 7.5)

After breakfast you will meet your assigned horse and set off from Casa “Il Bosco” at around 8.30. Riding through dense mediterranean vegetation with beautiful views of the Tyrrhenian Sea you will pass close to the town of Castelbuono before stopping for a picnic lunch. After, riding up the valley of the River Pollina, one of the most wild and least known areas of Sicily, between the territories of Castelbuono, San Mauro Castelverde and Geraci Siculo. You will ride along ancient pathways to reach Agriturismo Casalvecchio, a restored, 18th century farm immersed in the green hills of the River Rainò valley. Here, you will enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with produce straight from the farm and spend the night.

Day 3: Casalvecchio – Monte Soprano (hours of riding: 6)

9.00 am start after breakfast. Riding along panoramic ancient pathways which pass the boundary between the three provinces of Palermo, Enna and Messina, reaching an altitude of about 1200m, before passing below the great turbines of a wind farm. Descending into the forests of the Sambughetti-Campanito reserve for a picnic lunch.  Continuing on to the territory of Nicosia, after lunch, followed by Cerami, before arriving at the agriturismo Monte Soprano, a working farm with a swimming pool set on the slopes of the Nebrodi Mountains for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Monte Soprano – Baglio San Pietro (hours of riding: 6)

Setting off after breakfast for Monte Soprano you will ride through pastures and ancient pathways with beautiful views towards the centre of Sicily, before entering peaceful woods and stopping for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you will ride on through farmland to the village of Sperlinga, a fascinating place characterised by troglodyte dwellings, some of which are still in use today, and its unique castle, which is carved into the rock. A visit to the village and its castle, before a short ride to reach Baglio San Pietro, a restored farmstead dating from the seventeenth century and equipped with a swimming pool. Dinner and an overnight stay completes the day.

Day 5: Baglio San Pietro – Agriturismo Lo Sperone (hours of riding: 6)

At 8.30 am, the day begins after breakfast, by descending into the valley of the Salso Cimarosa River which is immersed in unspoilt nature and surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Erean Mountains. After stopping for a picnic lunch near the small town of Nissoria, you will follow an old railway line, out of use since the 1950s, to the town of Assoro, crossing impressive bridges, before winding down on the other side of the town through dramatic scenery and passing through several tunnels. Dinner and overnight stay at Agriturismo Lo Sperone, an old farmstead which has been restored, surrounded by citrus groves and equipped with a swimming pool.

Day 6: Agriturismo Lo Sperone – Torre di Renda (hours of riding: 7.5)

8.00 am start after breakfast, riding through endless fields of grain and forage. Reaching, after about three hours, the breath-taking and little-known Castello di Pietratagliata, a mysterious castle perched precariously atop a jagged rock. Here you’ll stop for a picnic lunch. Riding on after, through agricultural land, climbing to take in beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and as far as Mount Etna on a clear day. Continuing along sandy tracks through woods of eucalyptus and pine you will reach Torre di Renda, a restored structure which was formerly the local bishop’s residence, in the territory of the famous medieval town of Piazza Armerina.  Here you can make use of the swimming pool before a delicious dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Torre di Renda – Agriturismo Il Mandorleto (hours of riding: 6)

After breakfast, at around 8.00 am descending a scenic valley to arrive after about one hour at the Villa Romana del Casale, one of the most important historical sites in Sicily and boasting around 3500m² of spectacular mosaics dating from the fourth century. After visiting the Villa Romana, you will ride north through rolling farmland and stop for a picnic lunch in the woods. Riding on afterwards through peaceful eucalyptus forests and reaching the Lake of the Olivo Dam. Continuing on to reach Agriturismo Il Mandorleto, based in an old agricultural hamlet and famous for its production of almonds, one of the most important ingredients in Sicily’s culinary tradition. Here you will have a delicious dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

Deep Sicily 6 days horse trekking

Level: Comfortable at all three paces (walk, trot and canter), with experience of hacking out in the open.
Max 10 persons. A luxury two-day trail ride. Languages Spoken: English, French, Italian & Sicilian.

Key information/requirements: Between six and eight hours in the saddle per day. You must be comfortable at all three paces (walk, trot and canter) and physically fit. This programme is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders and it is not suitable for beginners or riders with only limited experience. The terrain is varied and there may be long trots and gallops along the way.

Meals: Evening meals consist of authentic Sicilian cuisine prepared with local produce. A typical evening meal will include a variety of starters, a pasta course, a meat/main course, dessert, wine, water and a digestif. Picnic lunches are provided by a support vehicle (together with tables, chairs and cutlery) and include fresh bread, salads, cheeses, olives, charcuterie, Sicilian specialities, wine or other drinks on request, coffee or tea.

Tack: Comfortable English saddles, with a sheepskin cover, or Western saddles on request. Guests are not required to groom or tack up the horses.