Biking Sicily: Sicily is like a fabulous, venerable wine. The layers of
history and culture overlap and combine in so many intriguing ways on
the island — just
like flavors in an unforgettable bottle. So many people and cultures
have passed through and colonized this land that history is in the very
air. Greek temples— better
preserved than most in Greece— compete for space between Pheonician
ruins, while Norman fortresses and Baroque cathedrals tell their own
tales of fabulous wealth and power now lost to time. And everywhere is
the luxuriant landscape: the sea dazzles below while rugged mountains
tower above, crowding the skyline. And all long the coast, sheer cliffs
plunge into azure water.
But the smells may be what you remember most... the subtle scent of the orange blossoms, the pungent tang of eucalyptus thickets... And—Dio mio!— the food! Sicilian cuisine combines the best Mediterranean traditions with a touch of North Africa. The freshest fish, the most alluring fruits and vegetables and of course, the unforgettable cannoli, made the proper way, with whipped ricotta. It's so delicious and comforting, yet exotic and inticing. We love dining at Sicily's table!
Biking Sicily: Day 1: Scopello
We'll meet you at the airport for the transfer to Scopello. The tour of Sicily
begins in Scopello, a tiny seaside village on the Castellamare gulf, at the
entrance of the Zingaro park. For those interested, you can hike along the
stunning coastal path of Zingaro Nature Reserve, one of the best-protected
areas in Sicily In Scopello, you'll find a charming little hotel, a few cafes
in the enclosed courtyard of a baglio, and a fortified farmhouse,
now transformed into private residences. Be sure to try the famous pane
cunzato, a traditional local bread cooked in a wood oven and filled with
olive oil, fresh tomatoes, oregano, basil, sardines and fresh cheese... all
of local specialties. A welcome dinner with Cinzia, your host, will initiate
you to the week of gastronomic delights to come. Lodging: Tenute Plaia Farm
or Villa Le Grotte
Biking Sicily: Day 2 (66.2 km)
Leaving Scopello, we will head south west through a rugged interior of
towering limestone peaks to reach the coastal village of Nubia where
we'll spend two nights at a comfortable hotel in the saltmarshes. The
hotel is an old “baglio” in the nature reserve close to glistening
salt flats and surrounded by windmills so typical of the area. Lodgings
for the next two nights: Antiche Saline Country Hotel.
Biking Sicily: Day 3 (64.1 km )
Today you have many options to enjoy this corner of Sicily. Basically,
the bike trip will have you cycling steeply uphill for a leisurely
lunch in the medieval hilltop town of Erice (or you can take the easy
option and go up by cable car!). Once there, you can fully appreciate
the tranquillity and Old World charm of this mesmerising corner of western
Sicily. Erice is located on the top of the homonymous mount that towers
above Trapani. The town nowadays has a lovely medieval atmosphere but,
in ancient times, it was an important religious centre for the Elymians,
a population that lived in western Sicily before the Greek colonization.
Another option would be to take a short boat trip from nearby Trapani
to discover the remote and staggeringly beautiful Egadi Islands.
Biking Sicily: Day 4 (27.8 km)
Today offers a
nice, relaxing pedal. The route, in the interior, will lead us to the
Marsala Salt Marshes Reserve and to Mozia, a small, unspoiled Punic Island.
You’ll cycle along virtually flat roads in the open
country. Once you arrive at the sea, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view
of the salt marshes and windmills. At the landing-stage to Mozia, you may
choose to visit the Marsala Salt Marshes Reserve to learn about the process
of salt cultivation, and how the windmills made it all possible. After
Mozia, the day's last kilometers will lead us to Marsala where we’ll
visit a noteworthy wine-producing firm and enjoy a wine tasting. The origins
of Marsala, the most populous city in the province of Trapani, extend all
the way back to 397 BC when the Greeks of Siracusa defeated Mozia. However,
the town is better known today as the place where Garibaldi
and the Thousands landed in 1861 — an event that played a vital
role in the national unification of Italy. In Marsala, we recommend visiting
the renowned wine co-operative store and the museum in order to better
know the production secrets of this rare wine. Lodgings: Hotel Baglio Villa
Favorita.
Biking Sicily: Day 5 (42.1 km)
Today's ride will take us along a flat countryside lined by vineyards
until we reach the coast. A detour to the Cusa caves—a quarry
from which the Greeks took the stones for the Selinunte temples—may
be in order before you reach Selinunte itself. This cluster of age-old
columns, when viewed stark against the setting sun, is simply unforgettable.
The day ends magically in the seaside town of Marinella with a visit
to the dunes and estuary of the River Belice. A short stroll from your
inn will let us relax amid comfort and beauty to enjoy a well earned
cocktail with the sun shimmering over a tranquil ocean. Lodging: Hotel
Admento, Selinunte
Biking Sicily: Day 6 (34.2 km)
Today's ride is a challenge. You will leave the coast and make your way
along the mountain ridges to enter the secluded heart of the island.
Mythical names and stunning scenery, cradle of the Mafia and set to many
famous movies— most notably Francis Ford Coppola’s The
Godfather— all await you today. You will pass through the
Poggioreale Ruins, where a 1968 earthquake left the town in rubble. Your
destination for the evening is a secluded haven with stunning views of
the surrounding countryside. It will more than make up for the day's
hills, and you'll be well rewarded for your hard work with a sumptuous
meal prepared by Paolo and his wife at your quiet retreat. Lodging: Rocca
dei Capperi, Contessa Entellinaesi
Biking Sicily: Day 7 (36.2 km )
Another cycling day in the interior country side of west Sicily. We’ll
ride towards north, to Segesta where you’ll stay in a comfortable
accommodation close to the archaeological site.The Archaeological site
of Segesta is one of the most important and representative in Sicily. The
site is renowned for the temple, one of the most representative images
of tourism in Sicily, and for the theatre that like a shell suspended in
space looks towards the Gulf of Castellammare. Segesta, together with Erice
and Entella, was a powerful city of the Elymians, population coming from
Turkey, and was marked by several conflicts with Selinunte. During the
first Punic War, under the rule of the Romans and the Greeks the town underwent
periods of glory; then it was destroyed by the vandals and occupied by
the Saracens and ceases to exist in the Early Middle Ages. Lodgings: Relais
Angimbe
Day 8
After your farewell breakfast, reminiscing about the past week, you might
head off on your own adventures, or perhaps you've made plans to further
explore Palermo. We wish you the best in your journeys and look forward
to the time when our paths will cross again. We’ll be sad to see
you go, but happy to have made new friends!
2012 Season
April 13-20 • October 12-19
Custom Groups Anytime!
Prices
$2195 CDN (per person, based on double occupancy)
American rates are dependent upon the exchange rate
Hybrid bike rental: $225 Cdn
Inclusions
• 7 nights' accommodation
• 3 dinners, 7 breakfasts
• support van with snacks and refreshments
• guide
• first day transfer to Scopello
• detailed road book and maps
