La Banda del Buco - Monte Pellegrino - Antro della Perciata

From (Mondello) Palermo reach the Addaura quarter, park at the end of Via Annone where the tarmac road ends. Via Annone can be reached via the main seaside road or easily from viale Regina Margherita, from Via Monte Ercta, the road which leads to the Santa Rosalia sanctuary on Monte Pellegrino. After the first hairpin bend continue for circa 1 km and turn off left and descend into Via Annone.

Park near a low wall with a metal railing. The gate is located 50 meters before the road becomes unpaved on the right. Go past the gate on the left and follow the trail to Grotta dell'Addaura (5 minutes), which is the sport climbing sector of Monte Pellegrino known as "Preistoria." From here, continue left along a faint path, staying close to the wall, then head straight up toward the very obvious double cave of the Antro della Perciata. The start is in the right-hand cave, on the left side, at the base of the pillar that separates the two large caves. 25 minutes from the car.

GPS coordinates:
38°10'59.6"N 13°21'30.2"E
38.183234, 13.358383

P1: 7a, 35m, 5 bolts + 3 threads
P2: 6c, 30m, 4 bolts + 3  threads
P3: 7a+/b, 35m, 6 bolts + 2  threads
P4: 7a, 30m, 6 bolts
P5: 7a, 40m. 3 bolts + 5  threads
P6: V, 5m, 1 thread

Abseil descent not recommended unless very experienced with complicated rope manoeuvres. Two options recommended:
1) when you reach the summit meadow continue straight upwards towards the wood, reach the road which leads to Mondello and descend on foot, hitchhike or take the bus. 45 minutes on foot if the bus doesn't come...
2) from the meadow traverse along the lip of the roof right (left looking out to sea) for circa 200m and join the path with red markers. This leads to the scree slope at base of the wall with some grade II scrambles. From here make your way through the shrub to the car. This isn't difficult but the vegetation is thick, slippery and thorny. 40 minutes.

To descend to the base after the second pitch either you need a rope for an 80m abseil down into the void or you need to down climb. Take particular care when doing this. 10 quickdraws, slings and kevlar threads for the threads and stalactites. Prussik loops in case either the leader or second falls.

In May 2026, the route was rebolted with 316L stainless steel gear by the mountain guides and aspiring mountain guides of the Italian Interregional Hub. The distance between the original bolts was respected.