Description

southeast Sicily to Mount Etna on a road bike

Road cycling Holiday South Sicily – Self-guided cycling Trip South East Sicily to Mount Etna.
From February until November every Saturday. Minimum 2 participants.

For guided options from 4 persons or more send us an email.

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Road cycling Holiday from South Sicily to Mount Etna

This new stunning self-guided road cycling trip starts from the Baroque South East of Sicily. Inland you will cycle and experience the UNESCO world heritage sites like Siracusa, Noto, Modica, Ragusa, and Palazzolo Acreide. Find numerous baroque palaces and churches on your way. This road cycling tour on Sicily island leads you through the mountains of South East Sicily and ends around Mount Etna. The history of Mount Etna is not only that it is one of the most active volcanos in Europe since 2011, moreover, it’s also the history of Eastern Sicily itself. Daily you can choose short or longer routes.

Your cycle trip starts in Siracusa here you’ll cycle into the Iblei plateau with its great Canyons also called the ”Cave”. After Siracusa, you go to Sortino and here you cycle a fast downhill with some hairpins in the Anapo Valley. On your third day, you arrive in Noto which was completely destroyed after the big earthquake of 1693. Palazzolo Acreide is the next village further you will cycle through typical small mountain villages like Cassaro, Ferla, Sortino, Buccheri, and Vizzini. The stage ends in Caltagirone. From here you cycle all the way to Valguarnera. Here you leave the plain area and cycle towards the Nebrodi mountain.

Finally, you arrive at Mount Etna which will throughout the whole day lies majestically in your sight. With a bit of luck, you will see smoke from the crater. The stage ends in Bronte, known for its vast pistachio plantations. The final stage to climb is Mount Etna.

Cycle your holiday through the South East Sicily and get a great cycling Trip

Charming (3* and 4* hotels) where you’ll be able to relax
Noto which was completely destroyed by the big earthquake of 1693
Visit the Iblei plateau with its great Canyons also called the ”Cave”
You can choose every day to cycle the normal route or a shorter route
Cycle in Sortino the fast downhill with hairpins of the so-called ‘’Fusco“ to the Anapo Valley
You’ll see vast plantations of prickly pears. (Fico d’India)
And the various landscape of the Iblei plateau and 2 true jewels of baroque architecture: Ragusa Ibla and Modica

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Day 1

Check in

Check-in around 14.00 at your hotel in Siracusa. Introduction, bike fitting, and description of the tour. After the briefing, you can store your bikes or take a look at the bikes you may have rented.

Day 2

Siracusa to Noto 129 km ascent 2215m or 73 km ascent 1200m

Today you will cycle across the Iblei plateau with its numerous Canyons, called here „caves “. After having left Siracusa you will start a climb to the Climiti mountains and then along the ridge. Shortly before arriving in Sortino, you will have a stunning view over the plain of Catania and in the background the volcano Mount Etna, the goal of our tour. From Sortino, you start the fast downhill with hairpins of the so-called „Fusco“ to the Anapo Valley. You a continuous up and down brings you to the coast, where you start the last challenging climb to the Cavagrande del Cassibile. The stage ends in Noto, the capital of the Sicilian Baroque.

Day 3

Noto to Palazzolo Acreide 120 km ascent 2550m or 88 km ascent 2180m

Today’s stage shows you again the various landscape of the Iblei plateau and two true jewels of baroque architecture: Modica and Ragusa Ibla. After a first climb, you arrive in Noto Antica, the original city of Noto, completely destroyed by the big earthquake of 1693. You continue to Castelluccio where you start the downhill to the valley. Uphill again to Modica and Ragusa, two masterpieces of baroque architecture. Don’t forget to try the spicy chocolate in Modia. The stage finishes in Palazzolo Acreide.

Day 4

Palazzolo Acreide to Caltagirone 133 km ascent 2180m or 62 km ascent 920m

Today the route leads from the Iblei to the Erei mountains. On a continuous up and down you cross a number of typical small mountain villages like Cassaro, Ferla, Sortino, Buccheri, and Vizzini. The stages finish in Caltagirone, the center of Sicilian pottery craft.

Day 5

Caltagirone - Caltagirone - 96 km 1650m ascent or 60 km 1300m ascent

This stage continues to the center of Sicily which is of great agricultural importance and has already been described by the Romans as the granary of Italy. You will see vast plantations of prickly pears. (Fico d’India). Possibility to visit the „Villa Romana del Casale“ near Piazza Armerina with the well-preserved polychromatic floor mosaics.

Day 6

Caltagirone - Nicolosi - 107 km - 1.560 ascent

Today there is only one version. After leaving Caltagirone you first cycle downhill into the valley before you start the first climb of the day up to the village of Mineo. From Mineo, you continue to Milittello, a small town with an interesting baroque center. Then you cycle to the plain of Catania with its many citrus plantations always with a view of the volcano, Mt. Etna which you will see the whole day in front of you. With a little luck and a good view, you can see smoke from the craters. From Paternò you climb until Nicolosi on the slopes of the Etna where the stage finishes.

Day 7

Around Mount Etna 150 km - 3550m ascent or 50 km 1535 ascent

This final stage – the circumnavigation of Mount Etna – is the highlight of every road bike tour in Sicily and with two long and difficult climbs a challenge even for ambitious road cyclists. Passing by old lava flows you will arrive at 1900m above sea level. We also offer a shorter version on the north side of the volcano. The choice is up to you.

Day 8

Departure day

Departure day... Time to say goodbye, a good flight back home, or a pleasant stay in Italy. Transfers on request

Airport

Catania is the second largest city in Sicily and has the busiest airport on Sicily Island with over more than six million passengers a year. The airport is situated 7 kilometres southwest of Catania next to highway A-19. Every 20 minutes busses leaving to Catania centre. There are regular bus services to the resort towns nearby like Taormina & Giardini Naxos. The bus ride to Palermo takes 2 hours and 30 minutes.
In Palermo is another important airport called “Falcone-Borsellino”. The airport is 32 kilometres away from Palermo’s city centre and can easily be reached by highway A29. Buses leave every half an hour to Palermo Central Station or Piazza Castelnuevo. There are busses running frequently to Agrigento, Trapani, Catania or Syracuse.

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Booking Information

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All prices are based on double rooms - for bookings & inquiries: send an email to info@cycleclassictours.com
Base package per person in double room €850
Every Saturday from February to November. Minimum 2 participants.

Extra Information

Fill out and submit the online booking request or send an email to info@cycleclassictours.com
We tend and try to send all over within 48 hours.
Please do not make travel plans until you receive our confirmation.
Please be advised that we make every effort to ensure that all the information given on this site is accurate. All statements and information have been researched and supplied by third parties.
The information given is accurate and reliable, to the best of our knowledge. Should errors be found, we will rectify them as quickly as possible. However, we accept no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies.

Included

Base package per Person in double room €850
7 nights with breakfast in 3* and 4* hotels and B&B in Caltagirone and Nicolosi
Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
Maps and GPS-Tracks
Assistance by telephone

Not Included

Extra:

Base package per Person in double room €850
Single room supplement €210
Single participant supplement €300
Half Board Supplement (drinks excluded) €210
Supplement High Season (July and August) €120
Bike rental Road bike with Shimano 105/Ultegra components €130
Bike rental Carbon with Shimano Ultegra components €160
Supplement €10 per way for transport of own bike
Transfer per person, min 2 pax (to be paid on-site)
Transfer Catania airport- Siracusa €50
Transfer Nicolosi – Catania airport €35

Transfer per person, min 2 pax (to be paid on site):

Catania airport- Siracusa €50
Nicolosi – Catania airport €35
For arrivals or transfers after 10 pm a supplement of €5 per person is applied.
Group rates for transfers for more than four participants on request

South East Sicily to Mount Etna on road bike

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South East Sicily to Mount Etna on road bike

This challenging tour offers you history and unspoilt nature. It guides you trough the baroque Southeast of the island, inland and finally to the Mount Etna, the highest active volcano of Europe.

Difficult

Feb - Nov

3-4**** Hotels

From €850

€160

€210

Description

southeast Sicily to Mount Etna on a road bike

Road cycling Holiday from South Sicily to Mount Etna

Cycle your holiday through the South East Sicily and get a great cycling Trip

Itinerary