Ancient Paths and Historical Itineraries of Sicily: XII Crossroads of the North East

Transversal not described in other web pages 

The traverse routes not previously described in other pages are as follows:

• TNO1: Enna – Piazza Armerina (connection Catania – Termini Imerese/Catania – Agrigento) (3.482)
• TNO2: Aquedolci – Cesarò (3.482)
• TNO3: Point of Furnari – Tripi  
• TNO4: Terme Vigliatore – Francavilla di Sicilia
• TNO5: Francavilla – Roccella – Falcone (3.308)

Other probable transversal ones to be studied (next phase):

• Troina – Cerami – Capizzi – Mistretta?
• Randazzo – Capo d'Orlando 

Cross single detail 

TNO1: Enna – Piazza Armerina (connection Catania – Termini Imerese/Catania – Agrigento) (3.482)

• Enna (intersection with Catania – Termini Imerese) 
• Jacopo Cozzo (CAMS) 
• Pergusa (C22) (C26) (C27)
• Cozzo Capitone (CAMS)
• Copper crossroads (C26)
• Contrada Balatella (CAMS)
• Madonna della Noce (Piazza Armerina) (3.472-3.473) (intersection with Catania Agrigento)

TNO2: Aquedolci – Cesarò (3.482)

• acquedolci
• San Fratello 
• Cesaro 

TNO3: Point of Furnari – Tripi

Punta Furnari – Tripi coincides with the route indicated on C26. A Furnari – Tripi section is also indicated in C27

• Punta Furnari (C7) (C27) (C26)
• Furnari (C7) (C27) (C26) (CAMS)
• Furnari (C26) 
• Large Patch (C26) (CAMS)
• San Biagio (C26) 
• Contrada Campogrande (C26) 
• Pizzo Cistern (CAMS) (C26) 
• Farmhouse (C26)
• Tripi (C7) (C27) (C26) (C22)

A section Tripi – Novara is indicated in C7 and C27 but at the moment I cannot find a passage on the Novara torrent.

TNO4: Terme Vigliatore – Francavilla di Sicilia

• Vigliatore Spa (C26)
• Red Stones (CAMS) (C26)
• Rhodes (CAMS) (C26) (C7) (C27)
• Pizzo Ciappa (Longane?) (CAMS)
• Contrada Mustaco (CAMS)
• Lazy Mountain (CAMS)
• Pizzo Cocuzzo (CAMS)
• Casina D'Alcontres
• St. Mark's) (C27)
• Novara of Sicily (C7, C27)
• Francavilla di Sicilia (C7) (C27) (C2) CAMS) (C20), (C2)(C5) (C22) 

The Novara di Sicilia – Francavilla di Sicilia section, except for some coincidences with the route indicated in C26, has currently been developed simply by choosing to use the current SS85 therefore it could be and is susceptible to significant changes in the near future. 

In Francavilla di Sicilia, the route joins up with the Taormina – Himera 

From C7 – Tripi – Novara section

TNO5: Francavilla – Roccella – Falcone

This stretch is inspired by what reported by Biagio Pace (3.482 and 3.308) should correspond to what Pace calls the "Augustan transversal" where the military march took place before the battle of Agrippa near Milazzo (36. BC). From Montalbano Elicona onwards, I chose the natural route formed by the river Elicona as my route. 

• Francavilla (3.308) (C22) C7) (C27) (C2) CAMS) (C20), (C2)(C5) 
• Mojo Alcantara 3.308) (C22)
• Roccella Valdemone (3.308) (C22)
• Argimuscus (C27)
• Montalbano Elicona (3.308) (C22)
• Contrada Nibidelli (CAMS)
• Falcone

 

from C22: Central and south Italy: to accompany the handbooks for travelers (1858)  

Bibliography and Reference Cartography.

(3) (99) (CAMS) (C4) C7) (C27) 

• [3] Biagio Pace: Art and Civilization of Ancient Sicily Vol. 1 pag. 453-488
• [99] Ignazio Caloggero: The Project Ancient Paths and Historical Itineraries of Sicily
• CAMS: Multimedia Archaeological Map of Sicily - Link: https://www.lasiciliainrete.it/archivio-patrimonio-archeologico-di-sicilia/
• C2: Regni & Insvlae Siciliae Tabula geographica ex Archetypo gradiori in hoc compendium redacta - 1747 author: Homann, Johann Baptist
• C4: Nova et accurate Siciliae Regionum, Urbium, Castellorum, Pagorum Montium, Sylvarum, Planitierum, Viarum Situum ac Singularium quorumque locorum et rerum ad Geographiam Partinentium Descriptio Universalis - 1721 author Schmettau, Samuel von
• C7: Sicily. Publisher: Robert Laurie & James Whittle (1799) (always referable to the Schmettau paper)
• C15C: General Map of the Island of Sicily - Officio Topografico 1826 (North East)
• C22: Central and south Italy: to accompany the handbooks for travelers (1858) Author: Murray, John, 1808-1892
• C27: Comparative Map of Modern Sicily (1859)

For the bibliography and general cartography see the page: Methodological Notes and Bibliography 

Technical and methodological note 

The Multimedia Map of the Ancient Historical Paths is created in sub-phases (not necessarily sequential):

• Phase A (Basic Path): in the first sub-phase the paths are identified in the form of a first draft divided into segments and sections (taking into account the bibliography, the historical maps analyzed and the Multimedia Archaeological Map of Sicily (CAMS) and only partially the paths on the ground). The basic route is the starting point proposed to the scientific community, preparatory to the subsequent phase of detailed analysis of the individual segments that make up the entire identified path
• Phase B (Advanced Path): in the second phase, an incremental refinement process will begin by adapting, as faithfully as possible, the individual components that make up the route to the historical routes and to the tracks on the ground and where the ancient traces have been lost, adapt them to the current routes that are closest to the ancient paths (keeping track of the historical paths, where identified). The incremental refinement process will also take into account historical roads, natural roads and further studies and contributions from the scientific community and scholars in the sector.
• Phase C (Subdivision of the paths): When fully operational, the project provides for the drafting of two paths that may diverge in some points: a path as faithful as possible to the ancient path regardless of its current practicability and another that could form the basis for proposing itineraries that take into account the actual practicability and the possibility of enjoying the historical, artistic and naturalistic beauties close to the historical route. 

Note: In cases where the ancient route is no longer identifiable or has been completely replaced by high-speed roads, or obstructed by industrial plants or other types of impediment, an attempt has been made to identify a stretch that in some way is closest to the characteristics of a naturalistic path or in any case a substitute for the fast-flowing path. In some cases, moreover, in case of doubt between two possible routes, the route that allows you to pass in the immediate vicinity of landscapes or cultural heritage considered interesting from a tourist-cultural point of view has been taken into consideration.