Panoramic view from Monte Pellegrino, looking towards Mount Etna by Silva Wischeropp

This magical natural landscape on Monte Pellegrino in Palermo was photographed on 7 April 2026 in the early afternoon using a NIKON D800 (lens: NIKKOR 24–70 mm f/2.8).

Monte Pellegrino, the ‘Pilgrim’s Mountain’, lies just four kilometres north of Palermo. You can walk out of the city and up the mountain on signposted paths.

The route along the pilgrimage path is known locally as the “Acchianata” and covers 7.8 km, 11,000 steps and has an elevation gain of approximately 450 metres. It is generally considered to be difficult. However, those who find this hike daunting can also drive comfortably to the highest point in their own car, by taxi or by bus. The bus journey is often described as a special experience, as the drivers tackle the partly winding roads with gusto.

The pilgrimage mountain consists largely of limestone and stands at an impressive 606 metres. This makes it a Sicilian highlight and an imposing landmark towering over the city.

In 1996, the area around Monte Pellegrino was declared a nature reserve with the evocative name “Riserva Naturale Monte Pellegrino”.

With its fragrant pine forests, Monte Pellegrino is a popular destination for both the residents of Palermo and visitors to the city. The mountain is particularly popular at weekends, with many cars making their way up Via Bonanno Pietro towards the summit. Countless families gather in the woods for picnics, hikers climb the mountain, and the faithful make a pilgrimage to the Chapel of Saint Rosalia.

As early as the beginning of the 18th century, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe mentioned Monte Pellegrino in his travelogue “Italian Journey” and raved about “the most beautiful promontory in the world”.