Sicily Luxury Cycling | Etna & Baroque | Guided Bike Tour

Distance: 65km / 40mi Ascent +935mt or 80km / 50mi Ascent + 1301 mt

Today’s journey will start with a ride to Modica town center, famous for its chocolate tradition imported via trade by Arabs and where we’ll stop for our own chocolate tasting at CIOCCOLATERIA BONAIUTO. Leaving from Modica, we will climb a high plateau before reaching Ragusa, another awesome town famous for the Barocco style and where we will stop for a gelato or a coffee in the old town. Famous here are the gardens “Giardini Iblei” and the Duomo of Ragusa. Not to be missed is the promenade view in the old town. Back in the saddle for a ride to Donnalucata, situated right in front of the sea and where they used to film the “commissario Montalbano” TV series. Our last goal of today’s ride is Scicli, another perl of the Barocco Siciliano. Finish our ride with a short transfer from here to the hotel or cycle for other 20km for those who prefer.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 71km / 44mi Ascent +1212 mt.

Bike Ride from Modica to Vizzini Scalo.
Leaving from Modica, we will ride towards Gianforma, Giarratana and Monterosso Alamo where we will stop for a light picnic lunch. After lunch, continue cycling towards Vizzini and towards our final destination which is Vizzini Scalo. You will cycle through citrus orchards, olive orchards and thriving vineyards before reaching our accommodation at Castello Camemi. This is a beautiful location where you can relax and rejuvenate at the swimming pool after a long day’s effort on the bike.

Tonight, a Sicilian-style Gourmet dinner awaits us at hotel restaurant.
Lodging: Castello di Camemi, Vizzini Scalo
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance 66 km / 38 mi Ascent +900 mt

Today’s ride will start in a north direction from the Castello di Camemi towards Caltagirone which will also be our destination for today. Caltagirone is an important production center of pottery, particularly for maiolica and terra-cotta wares. The city’s name derives from the Arabic “qal’at-al-jarar”– a name that attests to the antiquity of the pottery works which are still thriving here in the same traditional manner.

The town was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. Reconstructed afterwards in the dominating Baroque style. Primarily for this reason, the city has been included together with the surrounding territory, in an area protected by the UNESCO World Heritage program.

During this ride, we will also pass trough another interesting town called Grammichele. The town was built in 1693, after the destruction by the same earthquake of the original old town of Occhialà. Grammichele is laid out in a hexagonal design with its streets following this pattern. It is one of several Val di Noto towns, with a distinctive layout.

Dinner included at hotel restaurant
Lodging: Castello di Camemi, Vizzini Scalo
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 56 km / 35mi, Ascent +700 mt

Cycling: morning transfer to Adrano and cycling to Castiglione di Sicilia.
Pedaling around Mount Etna we will come across small towns such as Randazzo and Bronte, famous for its pistachio production.
We will also enjoy a Cheese and Wine tasting in a small delicatessen shop along the way. Then, the highlight climb at “quota mille” 1000 above sea level, on sloping roads of the famous Etna Volcano before arriving to our accomodation in Linguaglossa. You may wish to rest up at the swimming pool or you can walk around the town center to visit some traditional food or dress shops or some of its many churches to visit. Linguaglossa is settled on the northern part of Etna and it is an important center for the local tourism: here are based many ski touring and hiking companies which accompany groups to the top of Etna.

Dinner at Villa Neri restaurant.
Lodging: Villa Neri resort and SPA in Linguaglossa.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 62km / 38mi, Ascent +1800 mt.

Loop: Challenging loop bike ride, climbing towards the top of Etna Volcano, at 1800 m. above the sea level.
Optional Hike: Trekking to the craters.
Here, on top of Etna the landscape is unforgettable! Pedal from the warm Mediterranean Sea to the lunar-like top of the Volcano. You will be amazed at how the scenery changes and how wonderfully beautiful everything is. The Locals call the volcano: “A Muntagna”, as a sign of majesty. Yes, the climb will be hard, but in the end you will understand why Etna is considered as a “king”, sometimes a good, sometimes a bad king.
You have the option to walk amongst the craters starting from Mareneve plateau and hike for about 12 km; in this case a private transfer will collect the participants at the hotel and they won’t ride today.
Come back to the hotel in Linguaglossa, in time for an amazing wine tasting, discovering the Syrah, Etna Rosso and Nero d’Avola wines.

Farewell dinner in Linguaglossa downtown.
Lodging: Villa Neri resort and SPA in Linguaglossa
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 47 km / 30mi, Ascent +500 mt

Our last ride of the tour to Taormina crossing the Alcantara Gorge.
The Alcantara Gorge is an ancient valley carved out by the spring water cutting its way out and down a calcareous rock formation. We pass little towns along today’s ride such as Giardini Naxos where we will stop for a light lunch by the sea. The seaside road will take us up to the breathtaking town of Taormina which will be our last and a small climb, after considering Etna. Enjoy your time in Taormina for shopping, tasting and above all, visiting the Greek theatre!
Say “CIAO” to all the group and see you again for another bike tour in the near future with us. You are free to overnight in the city or we can organize a transfer where you prefer.
Meals included: Breakfast