Itinerary: religious
3-4 days
The Way of Saint Felix of Nicosia is a spiritual and naturalistic itinerary, as traced by the Capuchin friars, which crosses the heart of Sicily, following in the footsteps of the Capuchin saint born in the small mountain village of Nicosia in the 17th century.
The route winds through rural landscapes, silent forests, and ancient paths, passing through historic villages, hermitages, and convents that still preserve the memory of the saint's passage.
This route, from Tusa to Nicosia, offers a slow and profound experience, where the dimension of pilgrimage intertwines with the rugged and authentic beauty of Sicilian nature and the history of the villages. Along the way, a sense of meditation and contemplation is felt, fostered by the quiet of the places and the encounter with local traditions, often still strongly linked to the figure of Saint Felix.
It is a journey that brings to mind the value of simplicity, silence, and faith lived in everyday life.
Link:
https://www.visitsicily.info/itinerario/cammino-di-san-felice-da-nicosia/
The Way of San Felice da Nicosia begins at the former Capuchin Convent of Tusa (ME).
The ruins of Capo Tusa Castle, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking Sicily's Tyrrhenian coast, offer breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Aeolian Islands. Probably dating back to the Norman period (11th–12th centuries), the castle was built for defensive purposes, to protect the coast and control sea and land routes. The site is made even more evocative by the surrounding Mediterranean vegetation. The castle's strategic position allowed for visual connections with other towers and fortifications along the coast.
Tusa Castle is not just an ancient ruin, but a meeting point of landscape, history, and spirituality, where time seems suspended between sky and sea.
Starting from Tusa, where the trail begins, you leave the sea behind, walking through woods and rolling hills to Pettineo. Passing through the Fiumara d'Arte Land Art Ecomuseum, a work by artist Antonio Presti, and the surrounding woods, you reach the first stage.
This first stretch of about 14 km is an invitation to simplicity: hills, open views, small villages, a peaceful yet evocative adventure. The welcome of the Capuchin Friars in the Pettineo convent offers a serene atmosphere for an overnight stop.
The second stage connects Pettineo, Motta d'Affermo and Mistretta, for a total of approximately 17 km. It traverses mountain paths and small villages, immersed in landscapes that open up between the peaks of the Nebrodi Mountains.
It's a day rich in altitude variations, marked by an intimate and spiritual journey, culminating in Mistretta, where you can rest before the big final day.
Motta d'Affermo, a midway point on the Way of Saint Felix of Nicosia, is a hilltop village in the Nebrodi Mountains with historic streets and pristine natural landscapes. It offers pilgrims a peaceful respite amidst woods, olive groves, and local traditions.
The final stage, the longest (about 28 km), begins at Mistretta at dawn and continues toward Nicosia, the birthplace of Saint Felice. Mistretta, a medieval village, lies amidst the forests of the provinces of Messina and Palermo. It was once an “Imperial City” under Frederick II, as evidenced by the remains of the castle, historic palaces, and ancient churches.
Passing through the Sambughetti-Campanito Nature Reserve, travelers encounter rocky landscapes and small lakes, perfect for meditation, prayer, or an overnight stay.
Amid breathtaking scenery, one can glimpse the Madonie and Nebrodi mountains and even the Aeolian Islands on clear days. The journey culminates at the saint’s spiritual heart, in the convent that preserves his memory.
The Cava di San Martino, along the Cammino di San Felice da Nicosia, represents a scenic stretch immersed in the landscapes of the Nebrodi Mountains. Characterized by rocky outcrops and natural vegetation, the area offers pilgrims a quiet and reflective atmosphere, ideal for a short stop.
Here, the journey is enriched by authentic views, where the connection between land, memory, and tradition can be deeply felt.
Sugherita is a stage immersed in the natural landscape of the Cammino di San Felice da Nicosia, located between Motta d’Affermo and Mistretta.
This stretch winds through gentle hills, pastures, and wooded areas, offering pilgrims a peaceful and authentic walking experience. The largely unspoiled environment encourages a close connection with nature and invites contemplation, making the route particularly evocative and rich in spiritual value.
The Convent of San Felice, an ancient Franciscan presence in the village of Pettineo, was once home to the Capuchin Friars, consisting of a church, cloister, and adjoining garden. Dating back to the 16th-17th centuries, it housed the religious community and served as a place of hospitality for pilgrims along the Camino di San Felice.
The architecture is characterized by a simple cloister, rustic columns, round arches, and an internal meditation space surrounded by stone walls. The refectory exudes a humble and intimate atmosphere, with ochre-plastered walls and a simple floor, evocative of times gone by.
Over time, the convent was suppressed and converted to other uses; today, some rooms may be abandoned or restored. However, the complex still retains a spiritual aura, ideal as a stopover for those walking the religious-hiking trail. The silence of the cloister and the view of the surrounding landscape make it a place suspended between history and nature, perfect for a moment of inner reflection.
