The highest mountain peak in this region is Etna, southeast of Palermo. Here you can scale rugged cliffs and steep mountains as high as 6,000 ft. You can also visit the Parco delle Madonie, a protected preserve.
Within the mountain crest are picturesque small villages as old as the ninth century created by the Normans and built on ancient Sicilian, Greek and Roman villages. The area is rich with olive groves and vineyards and is a favorite spot for hiking.
Carry on further and you will reach the sea at Cefalú, which is a well-known harbor town. Here you can visit the Cefalú Cloister, which is more than 1,000 years old and the second greatest cathedral in Sicily.
