Sicily
Mia Sicilia
Just when you thought you’d learned everything about Italy, along comes Sicily with its complex and rich history and unique character. Ride the spicy training roads of Vincenzo 'the Shark' Nibali through this dramatic landscape while feasting on delicious fresh cuisine and great wine. Skirt the flanks of Italy’s only active volcano, Mount Etna and thanks to it's stratigic position and deep Greek and Roman history, you can visit more UNESCO World Heritage sites than you can shake a stick at. Sicily: Italy on steroids.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Catania.
Arrive at Catania Airport (CTA) and be greeted by your CycleVentures guide. Transfer to our hotel, build bikes and head out for a stroll around this bustling town.
Day 2: Cycle to Siracusa — 140 km
A perfect start to our trip as we depart on the flat backroads leaving Catania. You’ll soon see the rolling limestone Iblei Mountains looming in the distance and our route begins to roll up and down until the final descent to spectacular Siracusa, a city of great economic and cultural importance to Italy for 27 centuries.
Day 3: Cycle to Caltagirone — 116 km
Today’s route takes us along the southern coast of Sicily, through the Avola region which is famous for the Nero d’Avola grape. After a coffee stop in UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto we head inland and ride quiet backroads to Caltagirone. Optional longer route today to Modica and Ragusa.
Day 4: Cycle to Enna — 75 km
A full day exploring the remote roads of the truly authentic central Sicily. Today is a shorter day which will give you some time to rest up for the mountain climbs to come.
Day 5: Cycle to Capri Leon — 119 km
Today is a day to remember as you cross the remote Nebrodi Mountains and drop down to the northern coast of the island. Traditions run deep here and you’ll soon find yourself in villages where a rare ancient dialect is spoken.
Day 6: Cycle to Taormina — 144 km
Another big climbing day as we ride from the Tyrrhenian Sea up and over to the Ionian Sea. Tonight we bed down in Taormia, Sicily’s most popular town perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
Day 7: Explore Taormina
Sleep in and spend the day being a tourist in this spectacular town. Visit the Greek theater, do some shopping, have a leisurely lunch and gaze out from this town’s balcony to the sea and Mount Etna. Optional ride: circumnavigate Mount Etna.
Day 8: Cycle Mount Etna & Catania — 85 km
Leave the sea and climb 50 KMs to the Rifugio Sapienza at 1921m, the highest point that one can ascend to on Mount Etna. Then it’s all downhill to historic Catania for our last night festivities.
Day 9: Arrivaderci!
Transfer to Catania airport for mid-day flights home.
Details
| Dates: | Private trips only |
| Duration: | 9 days, 8 nights |
| Joining In: | Catania, Sicily |
| Skill Level: | Spécialiste |
| Single Room Suppliment: | €425 EURO |
| Land Cost: | €2450 EURO |
Ride Map
See the approximate route of the trip on Google maps. Register today!