Rocca Salvatesta

Departure | Novara di Sicilia (Me)

• Length: 8 km
• Altitude: 1,340 m a.s.l.
• Elevation gain: 435 m
• Duration: 4h
• Difficulty: moderate

Meeting point at the parking area of the Falcone motorway exit, where the excursion begins. The Rocca di Novara, one of the most imposing mountains of the Peloritani range, rises between the municipalities of Novara di Sicilia and Fondachelli-Fantina. The hiking trail begins at an altitude of 905 meters and winds through a lush forest of pines and chestnut trees. As you advance and gain altitude, the landscape changes, giving way to a harsher environment characterized by metamorphic rocks, deep valleys, and narrow passages.

The ascent, generally manageable, becomes more demanding as the trail climbs among bare limestone rocks to reach the summit locally known as Rocca Salvatesta. At 1,340 meters above sea level, this peak is the second highest in the Peloritani range and their westernmost outpost. Its distinctive shape — which has earned it the nickname “Matterhorn of Sicily” — makes it always visible thanks to its privileged position.

At the summit stands a large black cross with the crucified Christ, from which you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking 360-degree panoramas in all of Sicily. From this vantage point you can admire the Aeolian Islands, Tindari, Milazzo, the Strait of Messina, the Nebrodi mountains, the Peloritani, the Madonie, the Alcantara Valley, Etna, and the Tyrrhenian Sea — a view that makes this excursion truly unforgettable.

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