Sicily Baroque Cycle Tour main pictures
Sicily Baroque Cycle Tour main pictures

Sicily Baroque Cycle Tour

The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and separated from the Italian peninsula by a narrow strait, Sicily is arguably the most captivating of Italy’s twenty regions. One could spend a lifetime unpacking it. We’ll explore the beautiful Baroque cities of Scicli, Modica, Ragusa, and Noto, then the luxurious Ortigia island, and we’ll end our great tour climbing the Etna volcano and learning more about its amazing wine tradition.
This tour has also a self-guided version, check here for dates and price

This tour starts on these dates:

| Cycling | Relax | 8days/7nights | Guided | From € 2650 |

Highlights


The baroque architectures

The baroque architectures

Vines and tasty foods

Vines and tasty foods

The ceramics of Caltagirone

The ceramics of Caltagirone

Greek legacy of ortigia

Greek legacy of ortigia

Day to Day

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner;
1Benvenuti in Sicilia!Warm UpD
2Piazza Armerina to CaltagironeCycling 50km/550mB L D
3From Caltagirone to RagusaCycling 60Km/840mB L D
4Modica and Scicli loop tourCycling 55km/850mB
5From Ragusa to NotoCycling 60Km/900mB L D
6From Noto to SiracusaCycling 65Km/750mB L D
7Siracusa to EtnaB L D
8Arrivederci!Airport TransferB

Tour Map


Day 1: Benvenuti in Sicilia!

We welcome you at Catania airport and, after about one hour of transfer, we reach the elegant Villa Trigona Hotel, surrounded by greenery in the Sicilian countryside.

After the bike fitting and a tour explanation, you can go for a short bike ride and discover the enchanting mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, considered the best-kept Roman mosaics in the world, an absolute must-see place.

You'll have dinner at the hotel. The host Emanuel, the last heir of the noble Trigona family, will introduce you to the amazing local cuisine, as well as tell you about the history of the place, of course.

Overnight: Piazza Armerina
Included: Dinner

Day 2: Piazza Armerina to Caltagirone

From the colorful Roman mosaics to the colorful ceramics of Caltagirone

We leave the lush gardens and orchards of Piazza Armerina to move the most typical landscapes of the interior of Sicily, made of bare hills drawn by fields and dry stone walls. For lunch we stop in the beautiful old town of Caltagirone where we visit the workshop of a local potter, in addition to making a stop on the wonderful staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, with 142 steps fully decorated with the local ceramics. In the afternoon we continue through the countryside of Caltagirone where we spend the night in a cozy rural residence.

Array Overnight: Caltagirone
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 3: From Caltagirone to Ragusa

The first part of the day is across olive groves and vineyards as far as the eye can see, along an undulating route. After lunch we begin the climb to the Ibleo plateau through the characteristic white limestone walls, with breathtaking views over the surrounding valley. The stage ends in one of the most magical places in Sicily: Ragusa Ibla, a wonderful monumental city known throughout the world, as well as for its beauty, for the quality of its gastronomy, awarded with three-starred restaurants.

Ragusa combines two rather different city centers. Ragusa, the new town, was reconstructed from the ground up, in the new style, after the destructive earthquake occurred in 1693. Here you can make a wonderful itinerary among churches and palaces that are symbols of the late Sicilian Baroque, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 4: Modica and Scicli loop tour

3 wonderful baroque cities Unesco world heritage sites

Ragusa, Modica and Scicli, in one day! These three wonderful baroque cities are declared Unesco world heritage sites, so the day will be like pedaling inside an enormous open space museum. Let's discover together these treasures among enchanting landscapes, ancient culture and unique gastronomy. The route is a continuous up and down between the Ibleo plateau and the karst valleys. During the ride we can choose to delight ourselves between: a dessert prepared by the famous chef Ciccio Sultano in Ragusa, or visit the ancient Bonajuto chocolate shop in Modica, where we will taste the famous chocolate (ciucculatta muricana) still made according to the ancient Atzeca recipe, imported from the Spaniards in the Modica County in the 16th century.

Array Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast

Day 5: From Ragusa to Noto

Our ride starts on the Ragusa Countryside. An up and down on tiny roads till Castelluccio Necropolis, with over 200 tombs carved in the steep walls of the nearby quarry. The most monumental is the so-called "grave of the prince" with a statement consisting of four fake pillars. Then a long and gradual descent takes us to the perfumed citrus orchards of Noto Valley, preparing us for the last ascent of the day to the flamboyant baroque of Noto. Its Cathedral is one of the best symbols of baroque architecture in the world.

Overnight: Noto
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 6: From Noto to Siracusa

Magnificent Ortigia and its Cathedral

Today we'll conquer the sea bastions on the island of Ortigia, the ancient Greek settlement originating the most powerful Greek colony in the Mediterranean. Ortigia, in just a square kilometre, boasts a number of impressive buildings and monuments, here stands out the wonderful Cathedral of Syracuse (Cathedral of the Nativity of Mary Most Holy). It was a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, then converted in a church by the Normans. Its Doric columns along the walls closing the side aisles are still very evident both inside and outside. An aperitif on the ancient walls, in front of the sunset over the sea, and a dinner in one of the several good restaurants in town, will close the day through south-western Sicily.

Array Overnight: Siracusa
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 7: Siracusa to Etna

At the sight of His Majesty the Etna

A 1 hr shuttle will take us to the slopes of mount Etna, the highest active Volcano of Europe. Starting from the village of Nicolosi, we’ll climb in this lava brown rock landscape until the first caldera at Rifugio Sapienza. Our way down gives us stunning views over the strait of Messina and the Calabria on Italy mainland.
Our goal is the village of Zafferana Etnea, one of the best preserved villages of the area, miraculously survived to so many eruptions during the centuries.

Optionally, you can have an e-bike for this ride or just jump on the van and enjoy this day in full relax

Array Overnight: Zafferana Etnea
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 8: Arrivederci!

Sadly today we leave, but we are sure that we will meet again on the roads of the Mediterranean!

Included: Breakfast

Guided Tour

This means you have a cycling guide riding with you showing his region. A Van support with water, electrolytes and snacks, available if you want to skip the hardest climbs. A daily picnic lunch featuring local and fresh products. Dinners at hotel or restaurants featuring traditional food. Shuttles from arrival airport and to departure airport.

With just 4 people, this tour can be ride as a Privata Tour

In our private tours you can:

  • Choose your favorite starting date.
  • Make the customization you want.
  • Stay with your private group at your pace and your times.
Ask for a Private Tour


This tour is ready to book

Book now or ask for more information

Brendan NevinBrendan Nevin
15:07 07 Jun 23
Mediterras supported 8 of us on the cycling Gran Tour down the west coast. I would strongly recommend them - brilliant support, great local knowledge led routes and excellent bikes, We would use them again without hesitation.
Lesley KovarLesley Kovar
11:20 08 May 23
We just finished a custom tour with Mediterras, from Palermo to Marsala. What a fantastic experience! Our guide Gian Mario was so knowledgeable and attentive, his planning was meticulous. The choice of boutique hotels, as well as the restaurants he selected, were all wonderful. The rides were well planned, taking us through beautiful countryside and along spectacular coasts. Our van driver Giovanni was also awesome, he could be a professional naturalist. We are already planning our next trip with them (to Sardinia). What a treat to use a small local company that gave us such a memorable trip!
Bernie CreavenBernie Creaven
11:09 08 May 23
We loved traveling with Mediterrras!Mario and Giovanni were amazing, professional, detailed and thoughtful. They made planning this trip easy, they were super flexible when we had to change plans. They supplied us with excellent equipment (I loved my road bike), detailed maps, fun rides, history lessons, in fact we laughed our way around Sicily!We enjoyed our meals together and they booked us into beautiful hotels. Unfortunately, one member of our group had a medical emergency, they looked after him like they would a family member.I can’t wait to bike again with our new best friends!Go ahead book these local guys, you’re guaranteed a fabulous experience!Bernadette (Irish woman living and biking in Seattle).
Rich GundlachRich Gundlach
13:15 24 Sep 22
Great planning, exceptional guides. We enjoyed everything about our trip. We learned a great deal about the history and culture of Sardinia. Marcello at Mediterras made sure that everything was properly arranged and made adjustments when necessary. A great part of our enjoyment came from our interaction with our guides (Giovanni, Stefano and Danilo). They were all very knowledgeable and friendly. When it came time to part we felt like we were leaving old friends.
Doris ChapatteDoris Chapatte
11:53 12 Sep 22
We did the "big-loop" from the 20.08.2022.The big loop ist 12 days road bike around the island. We have booked the trip 1.5 weeks before (last minute) and everything has been organised perfectly. We had an extra break day every 4 days biking. And was great.Mediterras has answer to all our questions. On the day of departure, our bikes we ready, we got time to get full explanation of the tour. We got a navigation system with all the routes. Everything was very clear and very well organised. Our lugage was every evening delivered at the next hotels.The hotel has been wonderfully selected, and always at some nice location and not too far away from the center or the beach. Thank again to Mediterras team for the wonderful holidays.I would give more than a 5 Stars for this trip and the wonderful team.Doris & Jean-Luc - from Swizerland
Tadhg CookeTadhg Cooke
12:46 09 Jun 22
A fantastic introduction to cycling in Sardinia. I just rented the bike in Cagliari for a few days at the end of my holiday, with no particular routes in mind. Gian Mario kindly suggested two nice challenging routes, and sent the GPX files. I only had time for one of them - but it was an absolute gem. Starting in the city, cycling along Poetto, before turning towards the hills. After one tiny village, I didn't pass another café or shop for 40 or 50 km. Just me and the pain in my legs. Superb. The bike was a gem - a former Lotto Jumbo team bike which was ridden in the Paris Roubaix by Tom Leezer. I was a *bit* slower, but I probably enjoyed it more! Wonderful experience - lovely people - always available on whatsapp if I needed anything, which was very reassuring when I don't speak Italian or Sardu! I will definitely use them again if/when I return to Sardegna.Thanks again!
We did the Sicily Baroque tour with Mediterras. Self guided on bikes (el and manual). Gian and his team did adapt the tour for our needs and did all to make the tour enjoyable. Few problems surfaced but all were solved. The trail was interesting and added a lot to our understanding of Sicily, its landscape and life in the rural areas. Accommodations were all good, and the quality of the food in the restaurants Gian had arranged varied from good to excellent. At the end of our tour we did a walk in the hillsides of Etna arranged by Mediterras.The Etna tour was wonderful. We were lucky with weather given the circumstances. It was a bit foggy and a bit cold, but it did not rain. The guides did a good job of explaining the geology of Etna for us and the two geology-educated persons in the group! The hike was challenging, which suited the group well. The food and wine at Barbaras place was totally excellent! Six stars out of five.We were not as lucky in Taormina! It did rain cats and dogs. The drivers did adapt quite well. Did stop at several foto-ops and at the entry gate to the pedestrian street. We did wander through the Greek theatre and the pedestrian walk, did have a stop at a fancy coffe-shop/bar and then decided to skip the dinner and return early back to Syracusa.
W. B.W. B.
16:03 20 Oct 21
I found this company using google and right away Gian was very responsive. I told them what we were looking for, gave specific parameters for distance and elevation, and they put together an itinerary very quickly that completely matched what I asked for. The entire trip was seamless from the 1am pickup at airport to drop off after 10 days of cycling. The routes were on quiet wonderful roads and the hotels they chose were all great. A really good local company which does what they claim to do very well. Highly recommend.
Ilja WinkertIlja Winkert
11:14 17 Sep 21
I rented quite spontaneously a city bike for my whole stay here near Cagliari. The workshop is very well located. Grocery shopping, going to the beach and the city worked very well. Bike were in a good condition. I was properly advised. Fully recommend this place.
ZosiaZosia
14:46 23 Aug 21
We are so happy that we found this rental. Very nice, helpfull and professional customer service. We recommend to everyone!
juliet clarkejuliet clarke
17:20 15 Jun 21
Mediterras arranged a self guided cycling trip through South Eastern sicily stopping in beautiful baroque towns. They arranged everything with less than a weeks notice, keeping us up to date on accommodation, bikes equipment etc.My husband and I had a wonderful time. The ride was perfect, having both been off a bike for several months, the ride was the perfect combination of hills and flats for us to really enjoy it. The accommodation was far better than what we were expecting for the price and recommendations for dinner and stops spot on. We ate incredibly well and all the hosts in the villas and hotels very welcoming and helpful.I would certainly recommend them especially arranging it all with such little notice.
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