Sicily Baroque Self-Guided main pictures
Sicily Baroque Self-Guided main pictures

Sicily Baroque Self-Guided

Sicily is a treasure trove of history, cuisine, and culture, and this bike tour provides a comprehensive overview of the entire island. From your saddle, you will uncover Sicily's Roman past with the Villa del Casale and its exquisite mosaics; its Greek past with the island of Ortigia in Syracuse; the Baroque splendor of Noto and Ragusa; the ceramics of Caltagirone and the indulgent chocolate of Modica. In addition, Sicily's delectable pastries, cuisine, and wines will accompany you throughout your ride, adding to the overall sensory experience of exploring this captivating island.
This tour has also a guided version, check here for dates and price

| Cycling | Relax | 7days/6nights | Self-Guided | From € 1560 € 1200* |

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;
1Welcome to Sicily!Warm up rideD
2From Piazza Armerina to CaltagironeCycling 30Km/500mB
3From Caltagirone to RagusaCycling 60Km/840mB D
4Modica and Scicli loop tourCycling 36Km/590mB
5From Ragusa to NotoCycling 60Km/900mB
6From Noto to SiracusaCycling 65Km/750mB
7Arrivederci!Transfer to AirportB

Tour Map


Day 1: Welcome to Sicily!

Start of you cycling tour in Sicily

Upon your arrival at Catania airport, we will greet you and take you on a transfer to the charming Villa Trigona Hotel. Nestled in the verdant Sicilian countryside, this elegant hotel is about an hour away from the airport. Once you're settled, we'll provide a bike fitting and tour explanation, after which you can embark on a short bike ride to explore the breathtaking mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale. These Roman mosaics are considered to be the best-preserved in the world, making it an absolute must-see destination. In the evening, you'll enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel. Your host, Emanuel, who is the last heir of the noble Trigona family, will introduce you to the amazing local cuisine and share the history of the place.

Array Overnight: Piazza Armerina
Included: Dinner

Day 2: From Piazza Armerina to Caltagirone

Countryside and famous ceramics of Sicily

Today, we will depart from the orchards of Piazza Armerina and venture into the serene countryside of Sicily. Cycling along secondary roads lined with dry stone walls, we'll experience a sense of tranquility amidst the rolling hills. As we pedal, we'll have to keep an eye out for a water supply, as we'll only pass through a few small towns along the way. Fortunately, we'll come across an excellent bar offering Sicilian pastries in one of these towns. The combination of the picturesque landscape, your bike, and you will be truly breathtaking. We'll arrive in Caltagirone in time for lunch, which we'll enjoy at one of the restaurants in the historic center. Here, we'll be able to admire the famous Santa Maria del Monte staircase adorned with beautifully decorated ceramic steps.

Array Overnight: Caltagirone
Included: Breakfast

Day 3: From Caltagirone to Ragusa

Towards the beautiful Ragusa

We'll embark on our cycling journey through picturesque olive groves and vineyards, where two of Sicily's main productions, oil and wine, flourish alongside citrus fruits. As we cycle through the first level terrain, we'll gradually ascend towards the Hyblean plateau, marked by striking white limestone walls that overlook the valley below. Our last climb leads us to Ragusa, one of the most stunning baroque cities in Sicily. Its world-renowned historic center, Ibla, boasts palaces and churches that are a part of UNESCO's heritage. The new city, where we'll be spending the night, was entirely reconstructed in a modern style after the devastating earthquake of 1693.

Array Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast Dinner

Day 4: Modica and Scicli loop tour

On the lands of chocolate and Montalbano

Today, we'll take it easy and explore Modica and, for those with a sweet tooth, Scicli. Modica, located not far from Ragusa, is renowned worldwide for its chocolate (ciucculatta muricana), which is made following the ancient Aztec recipe that the Spaniards brought to the County of Modica in the 16th century. Besides having a beautiful cathedral, which is an example of Sicilian Baroque, we may even treat ourselves to a visit to the Bonajuto chocolate shop, one of the oldest and most renowned. On the other hand, our visit to Scicli will be centered around the popular detective series, "Il commissario Montalbano". If you've seen or heard of the TV show, you simply cannot miss the opportunity to cycle to the places where the series is set.

Array Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast

Day 5: From Ragusa to Noto

Downhill towards the Val di Noto

We are presented with another opportunity to ride through Sicily's serene countryside today, following secondary roads lined with dry-stone walls from Ragusa to Noto. We'll pedal through hills dotted with olive groves and pass the Necropolis of Castelluccio with its impressive 200 rock-hewn tombs. As we make our way towards Noto, we'll enjoy a long and leisurely descent through fragrant landscapes. This is our final destination on the Baroque Bike Tour in Sicily, and its cathedral is a remarkable representation of Baroque architecture.

Overnight: Noto
Included: Breakfast

Day 6: From Noto to Siracusa

Back in time to Magna Graecia

Yesterday, we ended with a descent, but today we will begin with an ascent. The strenuous effort, however, will be worth it as the magnificent view from the plateau of the Cavagrande del Cassibile Nature Reserve stretches all the way to the sea. As we cycle alongside it, adventurous individuals may choose to venture inside and explore the reserve's river and lakes, where swimming is also possible. Our destination lies on the sea, and upon reaching the end of the plateau, we will embark on a lengthy descent that will lead us to Syracuse and the maritime ramparts of the island of Ortigia, the historic center and birthplace of Archimedes, a renowned mathematician and philosopher. Ortigia remains a testament to its Hellenic past, with the ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Apollo still visible in the Cathedral's distinct Doric columns. Before exclaiming "Eureka! Eureka!", enjoy an aperitif while taking in the breathtaking sights, as your Sicilian Baroque bike tour culminates in one of the most historically evocative locations in the entire Mediterranean.

Array Overnight: Siracusa
Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Arrivederci!

Why not consider extending your holiday?

Today marks the day of departure. Following breakfast, a transfer lasting approximately 1 hour will transport you to Catania airport for your final goodbyes.

Alternatively, you may choose to extend your holiday with two unforgettable experiences: cycling on Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, where one of the epic climbs of the Giro d'Italia is located, or diving into the glamor of Taormina, with its ancient Greek theater and picturesque beaches. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, why not both? Inform our booking team of your intention to extend your stay, and you won't regret it!

Included: Breakfast

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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