Sicily on Horseback

About Sicily on Horseback

Sicily on Horseback offers year round adventures into Madonie Park, the so called Dolomites of Sicily, to medieval villages and onto Mt Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Run by Franco, as a seasoned travel journalist, and Paolo, an ex-chef and pizza expert, the team knows exquisite local foods and tasty Sicilian mountain food. Enjoy high mountain horse trekking that’s a challenge for horses and riders amid the scenery, culture and history in Sicily.

What Makes This Riding Vacation Unique?

Exploring Sicily on horseback is a special experience. You’ll get to see the authentic side of this Italian island, riding to historic villages, staying at family-owned inns and taking in the beauty of Mt Etna, Lake Gurrida Nature Reserve and a variety of wildlife. Foxes, golden eagles, wild boars, peregrine falcons, and beautiful plants and flowers line the parks here, where distinctive geology makes for great photography. The horses are well trained for mountain trekking and you can reach new heights on Mt Etna.

Special Sicily Riding Tours

Trek to Mt Etna walking, trotting and cantering through ancient woods, by pretty creeks and old Shepard huts in the Sicilian countryside. Ride through areas affected by lava flows, crossing the Gurrida Lake reserve and Castelbuono Castle. Locally known as Castello di Castelbuono or Castello dei Ventimiglia, this 14th century castle mixes Arab-Norman architecture and lies in the town of the same name, in the Palermo province of Sicily. Visit the Madonna dell’Alto Mount and Monastery. Learn about how cheese is made at a Sheppard hut, where you can also taste fresh local cheeses. Enjoy massages, the spa and swimming pool at cool hotels along your route.

Join the special September pilgriminage on horseback in the village of Capizzi to honor and pray in the place where Saint Anthony of Padova slept one night during his trip in Sicily. Seven hundred riders and many festivities bring the village to life.

Travel during the winter to ride horses in the snow on an inn to inn riding vacation that’s a High Mountain Trek.

Food

These Sicily riding holidays offer a true culinary experience with homemade Sicilian mountain food and fresh local products. Enjoy grandma’s meatballs at Villa Raino, fresh macaroni with pork ragout at Masseria Rocca di Gonato, awesome wood oven pizzas, delectable pastas and special picnics on the trail. Fine local red and white wines accompany lunches and dinners. Vegetarians can also enjoy lots of menu options, including traditional cheese and pastries.

Accommodations

Stay in a variety of authentic, charming country hotels, like Masseria Rocca di Gonato, located on the farm of an ancient monastery with a swimming pool and spa. Also featured is Villa Miraglia, a luxury resort in the middle of Nebrodi Park totally restored in a fantastic fashion which offers top rooms and food. At some inns, your horses may be grazing in the pastures outside of your window.

This vacation fits well for:

Solo Travelers
Solo Female Travelers
Groups
Families
Travelers Seeking diverse activities