Sicily and The Baroque

10 days 9 nights

9 nights Half Board accommodation
from £1,818 per person (sharing a twin/double room)

Contact

If you wish to enquire about this tour please contact us on +44 7727 3475 or +39 378 0655 884 or email: cycling@vyvigo.co.uk

Guided: minimum 6 people

or

Custom dates for groups of 6 or more  

 7 Stages / 1 Rest day

Total distance: 493 km Total climb 6050 mts
average mileage: 70 km/day
average climb: 860 mts/day

Sicily has been a meeting point of peoples since the dawn of civilization. Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans, French, Spaniards, all ruled here before Garibaldi’s 1000 Red Shirts defeated the Bourbon king in 1860. We explore the South East corner of this magical island by riding twisted and quiet roads among olive and carob trees, wild flowers and wheat fields, forests, along the coasts and over sweet hills and rugged mountains. We cross some of the island’s most amazing towns, sit at the piazza cafes puzzled in front of the mouthwatering offer of gelato, granita and pastry. At dinner we taste the art of the regional cuisine sipping Nero d’Avola and the other superior local wines.

our price Includes:

• 9 nights Half Board accommodation in Agriturismo and 4 star hotel

• Transfers from and to Catania airport

• Baggage transfers throughout the tour

• On-call assistance

• Daily maps and cue sheets

• Cycling guide

• Full van support throughout the tour

The itinerary

Day 1
Arrival Catania
We meet you at the airport for transfer to Palazzolo Acreide, the ancient Akrai founded by the Greek in 600 BC, a perfect base to discover the UNESCO WHS treasures of the Noto Valley. The area was mostly destroyed by a tremendous earthquake in 1693 after which a feverish competition took place as its rebuilding took place at a rate of speed unknown in our day. The magnificent Baroque style dominated at the time and, in less than 10 years, new astonishing towns were erected. Palazzolo itself displays valuable examples of Baroque architecture, as you will discover when we drive uptown for dinner.

Day 2
Stage 1: Palazzolo Acreide loop 57 km - tot climb 1000 mts
Most of the first ride is a fairly easy spin on the quiet back roads departing from our farm inn and winding through a colorful countryside. After skirting Palazzolo, a long descent takes us to a valley of orange groves. A steepish climb with great views takes us to Castelluccio and its remarkable abbey. After a coffee stop at Testa dell’Acqua, we loop around the ancient settlement of Noto Antica (visible within its rocky surroundings and drywalls). The ride back to our base is an easy steady false flat. In the evening we drive you to Siracusa for dinner and for a guided tour of this lively city that was one of greatest Grecian towns, home to Archimedes and able to challenge Athens, Rome and Carthage in its time.

Day  3
Stage 2: Palazzolo Acreide loop 72 km - 1716  mts
A few miles of false flat to start with: the road winds through wheat fields giving you many photo opts. A 20 km descent leads down to Solarino. We cross town and start following the course of the Anapo river. The first climb of the day is set in a typical Sicilian scenario of dry stone walls and blossoming cactuses. The climb tops at Sortino. We are now in the ancient kingdom of Pantalica. The deep gorges dug by the Anapo river where home to Sicilia’s most ancient civilization. Our ride continues on the highlands alternating climbs, descents and great views. We stop for lunch in Ferla: this has to be light as another couple of climbs waits us on the way to Palazzolo!

Day 4
Stage 3: Palazzolo Acreide-Marina di Ragusa 71 km - 700 mts
We move South riding mostly downhill for almost 40k then a couple of switchbacks leading up into Ragusa. We sit for a break in the main square surrounded by the beautiful architecture of this town. It’s hard not to indulge with the delicious ice-cream, pastry and granita (which display the same lust of the architecture) as lunch is not far away: another few miles and we see Modica in all of its pink-stone splendour. After lunch we head towards the sea. Now the road is always slightly downhill. We cross beautiful Scicli (where Montalbano has been filmed) and touch the coast at the marine village of Donnalucata. On the flat coastal route we reach Marina di Ragusa, the charming beach resort where we spend the next 3 days. Our 4 star hotel is by the beach. This evening, and on the next two, we dine in one of the finest seafood restaurant in town.

Day 5
Stage 4: Marina di Ragusa loop 58 km - 750 mts
We ride west along the spectacular coastal route towards Scoglitti. We cross the marine park of Camerina and then we move inland. A 5k climb gets us to Donnafugata castle. Built in the 17th century in an extravagant Venetian Gothic style this castle is famous for being the set of “Il Gattopardo” (The Leopard), one of the main novels of Italian literature. From this book director Luchino Visconti made a movie starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon. The ballroom scenes shot at the castle are a milestone of Italy’s movie school. Another extravagance of the castle is its garden which also displays a stone maze. We stop for lunch here so, if you want, you can visit the castle (tickets are not included in tour price). After lunch a long descent takes us back to the sea.

Day 6
Stage 5: Marina di Ragusa loop 74 km - 350 mts
Today we ride east all along the coast. We cross a few beach resorts: Donnalucata, Sampieri, Pozzallo. We move inland just a few miles to ride among the ponds of Pachino, a bird haven. This way we arrive at Portopalo, a fishermen harbour sitting between two seas. We are now at Capo Passero (Cape Sparrow) the southernmost tip of Sicilia, closer to the equator than Tunis. We round the cape and ride north to Marzameni, a well preserved old fishermen village where we have lunch. After lunch our van takes you back to the hotel

Day 7
Rest day
Today we drive to Giarre where we spend the last 3 nights in an Agriturismo immersed in a citrus grove at the foot of the Etna volcano. The ladies that run this Agriturismo will use all of their culinary art to make sure you gain as much weight as possible! That’s why we have organised an optional hike on the slopes of the volcano.

Day 8
Stage 6: Etna loop 58 km - 1100 mts or 76 km - 2200 mts
The ride starts on the coastal route that touches the beaches of Torre Archirafi, Riposto and Fondachello. At Fiumefreddo we start climbing. We cross Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa, the last towns on the north side of the Etna. Here one must choose whether to climb up to Piano Provenzana (an 18km climb, averaging 6-7% but with the last 3km over 10%) or take the easier route to Milo climbing to 888m. They are both very beautiful, flanked by lava stone walls. The long climb, a Giro stage in 2011, reminds riders of the best Alpine stages; the chestnut trees interspersed with gorse give way to pine and larch forests. After 10 km, two chalets offer drinks and ready made panini. Back on the saddle and after a few kms, we meet the spectacular 2002 lava flow, and then the punishing push to Piano Provenzana. The easier route on the other hand has always the sea in sight and the rich volcanic soil lush with green and flowers make it look like a tropical island. As you go up the vegetation keeps changing: citrus groves and vineyards leave room to hazelnut and chestnut. The two routes rejoin at Milo and the downhill continues all the way to the Agriturismo. In the afternoon we drive to the beach for a well deserved restoring swim.

Day 9
Stage 7: Giarre-Castelmola 38 km - total climb 550 mts
We start again along the Ionian coast all the way north to the charming beach resort of Giardini Naxos, the most ancient Grecian settlement in Sicilia. From here we start the 8 km climb that, crossing Taormina, takes up to the hamlet of Castelmola (530 mts), perched on a high rock. Here we can toast to the end of our fatigues! We eat lunch delighted by the view: Taormina, its villas and the Greek Theatre, the deep blue sea and the smoking volcano. After lunch we drive you to Taormina for a shopping stroll. And then back to our Agriturismo where the ladies will be already at work for an unforgettable farewell dinner!

Day 10
Today we transfer you to Catania airport for your journey back home.

 Extras

• Flights

• Lunches and beverages

• Single room supplement of £227

• Transfers from and to airport other than Catania

• Bike hire: from £180 (includes cycle computer, repair kit, pump, lock)

• Gratuities and items of a personal nature

• Bicycle case storage

For groups of 6 or more:
All our cycling itineraries can be customized to your specific tastes and requirements.