Pizzo Carbonara
Mountain Sicily's second-highest peak, limestone massif in Madonie
A Madonie mountain in northern Sicily, Pizzo Carbonara features limestone plateaus and karst ridges. Day hikers come for inland views across Sicily and the highland walking routes.
Pizzo Carbonara is the highest peak of the Madonie Mountains in northern Sicily, reaching 1,979 metres above sea level and lying within the Madonie Regional Natural Park. It is the second-highest peak on the island of Sicily after Mount Etna.
The mountain is a limestone massif with open plateaus and rocky ridges popular with hikers and mountaineers. Trails from the Piano Battaglia plateau provide the most common routes to the summit and offer panoramic views of surrounding Madonie peaks and, on clear days, the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The summit and surrounding landscape are natural features rather than built landmarks; the area has long been used for grazing and local mountain activities and is managed as part of the regional park. Conservation efforts focus on protecting native flora and fauna and the karst terrain.
Pizzo Carbonara sits in the Madonie range in northern-central Sicily, not far from the towns of Petralia Sottana and Petralia Soprana, within Palermo province and the Madonie Regional Natural Park.
- Elevation: 1,979 metres above sea level, the highest summit of the Madonie range.
- Access: Common approach routes start from the nearby Piano Battaglia plateau and the towns of Petralia Sottana and Petralia Soprana.
Tips for Visiting Pizzo Carbonara #
- Start from the Piano Battaglia area (the main car park and visitor access for the Madonie range) early in the day for the clearest views across northern Sicily before afternoon haze builds.
- Climb Pizzo Carbonara during the summer months when the routes are usually snow-free; winter and early spring can retain snow and ice on the summit plateau and require alpine gear.
- On clear days, pause on the summit ridge to scan for distant Palermo and the Aeolian Islands - that panorama is easily missed if you rush the ascent and descent.
- Use marked paths from Piano Battaglia and consult local park information (Parco delle Madonie) for seasonal closures and livestock grazing; the park authority has the most current trail and access notices.
Best Time to Visit Pizzo Carbonara #
Plan climbs in late spring to early autumn for the most reliable, snow-free hiking conditions on the Sicilian massif.
Weather & Climate near Pizzo Carbonara #
Pizzo Carbonara's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -2°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (752 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 2°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 13°C. The driest month with just 14 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 13°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of 0°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (104 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
