Pizzo Carbonara
1,979 m
Italy
Also known as Пиццо-КарбонараAlso known as
Пиццо-Карбонара
- Elevation
- 1,979 m
- Prominence
- 1,196 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: EE (Ente Parco delle Madonie)
The standard ascent of Sicily's highest non-volcanic summit: from the Piano Battaglia karst basin (about 1,600 m) up a stony slope to Pizzo Scalonazzo (1,904 m) and along the plateau to the summit, returning past the dolines of Piano della Principessa and through beech woods. About 7–9 km and 380–500 m of ascent; 2 h 30 min to 4 hours for the loop.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 4.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +410 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,979 m
- Time Up
- 1h 53m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 26m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at Piano Battaglia (about 1,570–1,600 m), a large karst basin and small ski area reached by road (SP54) from Petralia Sottana, near Rifugio Giuliano Marini. A short climb up a stony slope leads to a fork; go right for Pizzo Scalonazzo (1,904 m), recognisable by an unusual tomb and memorial to a dog named Argo. Descend briefly from Scalonazzo and follow path no. 2 across the rolling limestone plateau straight to the summit of Pizzo Carbonara (1,979 m), which is more a broad, stony plateau than a peak. From the summit the loop is all downhill: over the dolines and green terraces of Piano della Principessa and then through the beech woods of the former Faggeta Madonie reserve back to Piano Battaglia. The park gives 7.2 km, 379 m of ascent and 4 hours for the loop, graded EE; Wikipedia, citing guidebooks, gives about 2 h 30 min for a reasonably fit walker. There is no scrambling. The main difficulty is navigation. Paths across the karst plateau are not always clear, and mist often covers the summit area; the park advises going only in excellent visibility and stable weather. There is no water on the route. In winter the plateau is snow-covered and guidebooks advise against the ascent.
Start
Piano Battaglia1,583 m
- No public transport to Piano Battaglia was verified; nearest town Petralia Sottana
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piano Battaglia → Pizzo Carbonara | 4.0 | 410 | 13 | 1h 53m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Piano Battaglia1,583 m
- Shoulder: Pizzo Scalonazzo1,901 m
- Summit: Pizzo Carbonara1,979 m
Key Passages
- Pizzo Scalonazzo (Argo memorial)
- Summit plateau
- Dolines of Piano della Principessa
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The highest summit of the Madonie (1,979 m) and the second-highest mountain in Sicily after Etna, a broad limestone plateau above the Piano Battaglia karst basin. A short loop walk from the road reaches it, but mist and faint paths make navigation the real challenge.
Pizzo Carbonara crowns the Madonie, the limestone massif between Cefalù on the Tyrrhenian coast and the Petralie inland, protected by the Parco delle Madonie. With nearly 1,200 m of prominence and more than 80 km of isolation it is Sicily's highest non-volcanic summit, though Pizzo Antenna Grande nearby is only about two metres lower. The top is a rolling, stony plateau of Mesozoic limestone pitted with dolines rather than a distinct peak, and the exact high point is hard to pick out. Rainwater that sinks into the massif resurfaces near the foot of Cefalù's castle rock.
The standard walk starts at Piano Battaglia, a karst basin at about 1,600 m with a small ski area, and loops over Pizzo Scalonazzo to the summit and back via the dolines of Piano della Principessa and old beech woods. On clear days the view stretches north to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In spring the plateau has many endemic flowers, including the Nebrodi violet and alyssum and Gasparrini's spurge.
Technically it is an easy outing, but the plateau is often in mist, paths are faint, and guidebooks advise against going in winter.
Climbing Notes
Allow 2 h 30 min to 4 hours for the 7–9 km loop with about 380–500 m of ascent from Piano Battaglia. No scrambling is needed, but the park grades it EE because of navigation over featureless karst: go only in excellent visibility, carry a map with a compass or GPS track, and be ready to turn back if mist comes in. Take at least a litre of water (there is none on the route), layered clothing and a windproof jacket.
The best seasons are late spring for the flowers and early autumn; summer is good at this altitude, though midday sun on the open plateau is strong. Guidebooks advise against a winter ascent, when snow and fog cover the plateau.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Snow and fog on the plateau; not advised for walkers
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Late snow possible; poor visibility common
- Apr
- Spring; snow patches possible
- May
- Endemic spring flowers
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Hot sun on the open plateau; start early
- Aug
- Hot; afternoon storms possible
- Sep
- Good conditions
- Oct
- Autumn colours in the beech woods; mist more frequent
- Nov
- Fog and rain common; first snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Parco delle Madonie: follow the park's rules of conduct (norme di comportamento) and stay on paths
- Wildlife-control operations with firearms are occasionally announced by the park in surrounding municipalities; check the park's notices
- Getting There
Petralia Sottana
Palermo Falcone–Borsellino (PMO)
- By car to Piano Battaglia on the SP54 from Petralia Sottana; park near Rifugio Giuliano Marini
- No public transport to Piano Battaglia was verified
Hazards
- Weather