Assoro – Leonforte, sulfur and water – full day

Description

The route will start from the Dittaino station, from there we will reach the Assoro mines of Vodi and Bambinello. These mining sites, now in a state of abandonment, tell of a not so distant past in which sulfur and sulfur miners were the driving force of the economy for many communities in Central Sicily.

We will then begin our climb along the old mountain railway Dittaino-Assoro-Leonforte that climbs along the rugged slopes below the ancient town of Assoro thanks to engineering works of great value, such as viaducts and tunnels, which are still passable today.

These artifacts have a great scenic impact and fit magnificently into the landscape, blending with it; allowing us to relive an atmosphere from the early 1900s, when miners and emigrants crowded the carriages of slow trains to reach the mines of central Sicily, or to try to build a better future far from the beloved, and at the same time hated, Isola.

Once we enter the town we will pedal through the characteristic alleys of the Assorino village until we reach the ruins of the castle, from here we will go back to the old railway line towards Leonforte where
we will admire the Palazzo Branciforti, the fountain of the nymphs and the majestic Granfonte. Here we will allow ourselves a wonderful stop in a splendid atelier where goldsmith micro-sculptures blend with different forms of art.

Finally immersed in the spectacle of the agricultural landscape of central Sicily we will descend to the starting point.

Information:

• Circular route length 41 km
• the route alternates stretches on asphalt and stretches on dirt
• Difficulty E (medium).
• Starting/arrival altitude 254m.
• Max altitude 886m.

Experiences:

• Agrirape Manna
• Gioiello DiFranco