The best road cycling routes around Camporeale

What remains of what must have been a village created specifically during the twenty years of Fascism for the workers building the SP2, the road connecting Partinico to the small towns of San Cipirello and San Giuseppe Jato. Four buildings in a row. You walk along the road and suddenly you see them side by side: first a two-story farmhouse, with its classic reddish color, of which almost all that remains are a memory; then another, just like it, about twenty meters away, another at the same distance, and then yet another, but this one is different, larger, more elaborate, with porticos, balconies, and exposed stone ornaments.

Starting just outside the town of San Giuseppe Jato, this stretch of provincial road 20 climbs up to the picturesque Portella della Paglia pass, in a succession of hairpin bends and breathtaking views. The surface isn't perfect, but you can pedal safely even on a small section of landslide, which is well-marked. Tackled in autumn/winter, it almost feels like you're not in Sicily.

Located at the end of Corso Calatafimi and the road to Monreale, it is one of the four historic entrance gates to the city of Palermo, perhaps the most important.

At certain times it can be busy, even with heavy vehicles.

A village uninhabited for decades, ever since the entire population was relocated en masse to a brand-new town. Three thousand people, the exodus of survivors of the 1968 earthquake that destroyed entire towns in the provinces of Trapani and Agrigento. Today, only façades remain, baroque railings, old majolica tiles, a tangle of houses leaning against the bell tower of the main church, and stairways that look like they were cut out with scissors on a sheet of paper. Before the earthquake, Poggioreale was a delightful baroque village, with noble palaces, the square with the club, the inn, and everything else. The ruins bear witness to a tragedy from 40 years ago: fear, escape, separation. A place that, due to its beauty and the evocative atmosphere it evokes, has been the setting for numerous famous films: it is here that Tornatore filmed some scenes from Malena and The Star Man. An island out of time, with the hands of the clock stopped on the terrible night of January 15, 1968.

Palermo welcomes you with this monumental gate built in 1583 to celebrate the triumph of Emperor Charles V after the conquest of Tunis. The imposing external façade is decorated with statues of Moors in Renaissance and Mannerist style.

The road from Alcamo Marina is a climb of about 6 km, not too challenging as a gradient, the biggest problem is that it is straight and does not let you breathe even a meter.

The Cretto di Burri in Gibellina, also known as “Il Grande Cretto”, is a unique work of art that honors the destroyed town of Gibellina after the devastating earthquake of 1968. Italian artist Alberto Burri created this monumental work between 1985 and 1989 and it was completed in 2015. With its huge white concrete blocks that look like giant cracks in the ground, the work symbolizes the lasting pain and memory of the past, but at the same time, renewal and reconstruction. Walking through the Cretto almost feels like walking through the past, as if you are re-entering the streets and alleys of the old town. The approximately 80,000 square meter area is made up of concrete structures that trace the original city layout. What is particularly impressive is the fact that the blocks are made from the rubble of the old town itself. When you stand on the Cretto and take in the simple but powerful aesthetic, you can literally feel the connection between art, history and human resilience. It is not only a reminder of what was lost, but also a symbol of hope and rebirth. It is especially beautiful if you do the hike in clear weather - the view into the distance underlines the silence and grandeur of this unique place.