View from Monte Pellegrino towards Mount Etna in Sicily by Silva Wischeropp

This magical natural landscape, featuring enchanting pine trees and a crystal-clear view of Mount Etna from Monte Pellegrino in Palermo, was captured in the early afternoon of 7 April 2026 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 along signposted paths.

The route along the pilgrimage path is known locally as ‘Acchianata’ and covers 7.8 km, 11,000 steps and has an elevation gain of approximately 450 metres. It is generally considered difficult. However, those who wish to avoid the walk can easily drive their own car, take a taxi or catch a bus to the highest point. The bus journey is often described as a special experience, as the drivers tackle the winding roads with gusto.

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

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

Monte Pellegrino, with its fragrant pine forests, 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 worshippers 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’.