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Strangely, the sea tends to be chilly for swimming until well into the summer but luckily retains its warmth through to the autumn months, when visibility is usually at its prime throughout Sicily. Daylight Saving Time in Italy lasts from the beginning of April to the end of October.

As already mentioned, late autumn–winter is the season when Sicily receives its lion’s share of rain, usually desperately needed by the farmers after the near drought conditions of a protracted summer. This is the time of year when sudden downpours cause stony, arid river beds to swell and become fiumare (the term for a seasonal watercourse), and the land starts soaking up moisture in preparation for the imminent explosion of green.

Walkers on the old railway track at Pantalica (Walk 12)

What to Take

In terms of footwear, as the majority of these Sicilian routes follow decent country paths, in most cases nothing more than a good pair of gym shoes is needed. Sandals (with a good grip) are suitable in several cases. However, the exceptions are the volcano routes, notably on Etna and the island of Stromboli, which demand walking boots with thick soles, as anything light will be ripped to shreds by the solidified lava. Ankle support, moreover, is a requisite for the mountainous terrain encountered, for instance, in the Madonie and on the island of Marettimo.