Biking Sicily: Sicily is a world unto itself; it offers so many different stories, sights, and tastes that is would take a long time to see them all. So many peoples have dominated this land and history has seeped into the landscape. Everywhere you look: Greek temples better preserved than most of the examples in Greece; Phoenician ruins; Norman fortresses; and Baroque churches: all testify to the layers of our civilisation. That should be enough to impress anyone, but then there is the unforgettable landscape: sheer cliffs dropping into the azure Mediterranean, the rugged mountains leaning against the sky.
But the smells may be what you remember most... the subtle scent of the orange blossoms, the pungent tang of eucalyptus woods... 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!
Luckily, with all the calories you'll be burning aboard your trusty steed, you can enjoy such delicacies with impunity. Have five for breakfast with nary a care!
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, you will head south west through a rugged interior of
towering limestone peaks to reach the coastal village of Nubia where you'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 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 you 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 you to Marsala
where you’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 you along a flat countryside
lined by vineyards until you 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 you relax amid comfort and beauty as you 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!
If you want to do The Myths of Sicily Bike Tour, but prefer the convenience of a guide, then we can accommodate you! As a guided tour, the charge is $2195 Cdn per person based on double occupancy. Call our office for details, after reading our guided tour of Sicily page. It's so exciting when you do!
2012 Season
Tours are available whenever you are!
Prices
$1995 Cdn(based on double occupancy)
American rates are dependent upon exchange rates
Hybrid bike rental: $225 Cdn
Inclusions
• 7 nights' accommodation
• 2 dinners, 7 breakfasts
•Detailed road book and maps
• first-day transfer to Scopello
•
luggage transfer at each change of inn
• telephone number in the unlikely event of an emergency
