Discover Pollina: Manna, Towers and Hiking Trails

Pollina combines elevated views over its rooftops with the Tyrrhenian coast below, a distinctive manna tradition and trails through the landscape. The result is a destination that brings together cultural history, local craftsmanship and harvesting practices, and outdoor activity. A prominent viewpoint is located in the square by the Church of San Giuliano. From there, you can look across Pollina and down towards the Tyrrhenian coast.

Culture between churches, theatre and towers

The Church of San Giuliano is considered Pollina’s oldest church and was already in existence in 1137. The same square combines its religious history with sweeping views. The Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo also houses a relief of the Nativity created by Antonello Gagini, as well as a statue of the Madonna della Grazie, likewise created by Gagini. The Teatro Pietra Rosa is another distinctive attraction in the town. It was built in 1979 to a design by architect Antonio Foscari and follows the natural slope of the rock. The Museo della Manna provides a different cultural focus with a permanent exhibition by Letizia Battaglia. The towers reflect different functions and periods. Francesco Maurolico used the Torre di Maurolico as an astronomical observatory from 1548 to 1550. At the same time, the Torre di Maurolico formed part of the defence system of Pollina Castle. The Torre di Finale is one of the towers built in 1597. Those visiting Pollina with children or across several generations will therefore find a range of points of interest here: art, churches, architectural history and the history of observing the sky are not confined to a single exhibition theme, but reveal different facets of the town.

Manna as a living tradition

Manna is still harvested in the Pollina area. In summer, the trunks of ash trees are scored with a special knife. The Campo dimostrativo della Manna provides an opportunity to understand what this work involves. During the harvesting season from June to September, the open-air museum allows visitors to experience the manna harvest and observe how manna is collected from the trees. The Museo della Manna and the open-air museum have different focuses: here, the permanent exhibition by Letizia Battaglia is at the centre, while there, the focus is on seasonal harvesting practices. The Feast of San Giuliano is part of the local festival calendar. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in July with four processions, including one into the surrounding area. This date complements the buildings visible throughout the year with a specific event at a set point in the annual calendar.

Hiking trails with different profiles

For active days, Pollina’s Nordic walking park offers three routes totalling approximately 10 km. The Pollina–Finale hiking trail provides a longer connection between two towns. It is approximately 5 km long, has a descent of 666 m, begins at the Torre del Maurolico in Pollina and leads to the Torre del Marchese in Finale. The Sentiero per le Gole di Tiberio offers a different landscape experience. The trail begins on the SP 130, passes through the Contrade Casale Margherita and Marcataogliastro, and ends at the Geosite. The Gole are a UNESCO-recognised geopark site. There is an approximately 400 m-long natural gorge that can be crossed by inflatable boat. This means that Pollina offers a choice of several shorter Nordic walking routes, a trail with a significant descent, and a path to a natural gorge. You can find further destinations in the same selection under Torre Colonna-Sperone, Paterna, Ciminna, Mondello, Grisì, Prizzi, Palermo and Ficuzza.

For the broader travel overview: Palermo.