Mountain Bike Tour of Palermo

The route starts in Via Imperatore Federico at the foothills of Mount Pellegrino where the seamingly endless Favorita Park offers some nice trails among the orange groves, prickly pears and monuments of the former royal hunting grounds. The single track between the rocks and the road leading down to the beach resort Mondello boasts some beautiful glimpses on the deep blue sea and it is a great fun to ride. The winding road up to the Sanctuary of Palermo’s patron saint Santa Rosalia is paved and not too steep and you can enjoy a wonderful panorama on Mondello.The highlights on Mount Pellegrino include the view point under the statue of Saint Rosalia overlooks Palermo Bay (aka Conca d’Oro, the golden valley) and the beautiful paths and trails among the wild Mediterranean woods. Don’t miss out on the great street food at the lovely fishing village and beach resort of Mondello.

Public transport: Railway station at Palermo Centrale. There are several trains during the day and in the evening and bicycles are allowed on all regional trains at an extra cost (currently 3,50 euro for the whole day). Check the train timetable on www.trenitalia.com Please note: if you travel solo or as a couple, you will hardly ever have problems in finding a place for your bikes on the train, but if you are a group of cyclists please bear in mind that most trains only carry two bikes and book a private bike shuttle instead. Get in touch if you wish to book a bike shuttle. Terrain: The first section on the route runs on urban and secondary roads. The tracks around and on Mount Pellegrino are mainly off-road. Difficulty level: intermediate Bike: best for mountain bikes (hardtail) or e-mountain bikes. Rent a bike for your mountain bike tour around Palermo.