PRICE:
Eur 1750 (reserving before Jan 31)
Eur 1900 (after Jan 31)

Max 12 participants

DEPOSIT: Eur 500

INCLUDES:
11 Nights in double room w/bath in Agriturismo or 3 stars Hotel
11 breakfast and dinner
Single suppl.: Eur 250

Support:
one cycling guide and one van with driver

Bike cases have to be stored as left luggage (fee Eur 50)

Bikes for rent :Eur 150

In Sicilia we can organize custom tours, guided or self guided, from one to two weeks for groups of at least 5 participants

ASSOCIAZIONE ABCYCLE
38, Via Brecciano
65013 Città S.Angelo (PE)
Abruzzo, Italia

tel/fax: Italia 085 969410
abcycle@virgilio.it

The first day is a rest day to recover from jet lag. We take a short test ride, visit the inviting beaches of Acireale and go for an aperitif stroll in the elegant downtown of Catania that perfectly lies in the natural amphitheatre between the volcano and the Ionian sea. At dinner leave some room for granita or gelato.
First riding day we move south along Catania’s waterfront. It’s Sunday so we have the chance of share some road with local riders. After a last envious look at the people bathing on the beaches  we start an easy warmup in the Piana of Catania. After a few miles we start gently to rise and, after crossing Lentini, we ride uphill in the orange orchards. Now we see the Piana from quite above, the smoking volcano towering in the back. The landscape becomes rather mountainous with the endless dry walls terraces typical of the Monti Iblei. On top of a bare hill  we spot the village of Buccheri (820 mts). We enter town ready for refreshment. A long descent and a final climb and we get to Palazzolo Acreide (680 mts).
Palazzolo Acreide is a perfect base camp for riding to the discovery of the treasures of South Eastern Sicilia. This area was mostly destroyed by the tremendous earthquake of 1693. A feverish competition started among the gents as they start to rebuild, with a speed unknown in our days, their towns. The Baroque style dominating those days was a perfect medium to translate dreams:  in less than 10 years new astonishing towns were erected.
Spinning easily next day we move South in the morning stopping to marvel at the beauty of Ragusa and Modica. Try not to indulge with delicatessen (sweets display the same lust of the architecture) because a tough ride home expects us. To complete the day for dinner we drive the few miles to Noto, more treats for our eyes and taste.
Next morning we start with a 40k legs loosening descent to Siracusa. We visit the center of this town that was one of greatest Grecian town in his time, able to challenge Athens, Roma or Carthage. More serious riding in the afternoon: 80k mostly uphill on our way home along the quite roads of Pantalica, the valley of Anapo river, home of the most ancient Sicilian civilization.
With the 4^th stage we leave Palazzolo and move North. Riding constantly up and down we cross agricultural land: fico d’india, olive trees, vineyards. Feed zone is in Caltagirone, another gorgeous Baroque town enriched by the remarkable local ceramics. Resuming our up and down ride across the Monti Erei we get to our destination in Piazza Armerina (elev. 700mts). Before dinner we walk to the ruins of the Villa Romana del Casale* whose vast mosaic floorings are superb witnesses of the Roman era.
Next day we leave Piazza Armerina continuing our ride northbound in the innermost part of Sicilia. After an easy start we have two short but tough twin climbs. The first incline leads us to Enna (almost 1000 mts elevation). Then, as we start descending, vaguely distinguished from the high rock that holds it, we catch sight of Calascibetta. Built by the Arabs in 851 AD during their siege of Enna, it’s the top of our second climb. Time for refreshments. The peaceful landscape of the of Central Sicilia looms ahead. For the next 40k we ride on a twisted backroads in a vast, open space of sweet hills covered by wheat fields. As we enter in the Parco delle Madonie we are back to climb. Pierced on an high rock we reach Petralia Soprana (elev 1000 mts). Now the view is completely new and superb embracing most of the Tirrenean coast. After a well deserved gelato we descend to Petralia Sottana (elev 900 mts) our home for the next two days.
The 6^th stage is entirely set in the Parco delle Madonie. The first half is very easy: we reach Geraci and we start a 30k descent that, crossing also the lovely Castelbuono, leads us all the way down to the Tirrenean Coast. Then we ride along the coast till we get to Cefalù. We stop for a visit to the ancient mariner village. One of the options** for today is to end the ride here, possibly with a swim. The second option is a bit more demanding - 40k of climb in the forests of Le Madonie - but once that you top at Piano Battaglia (elev 1600 mts), we bet you’ll find it even more rewarding: the views handed out at every corner and, over the tree line, the bare peaks of Le Madonie makes it a ride to remember.
The next stage is a long ride eastward on the ridge dividing the Tirrenean and the Ionian side. It’s pretty much an highland so we never go below 600 mts with an highest of 1000 mts in the Parco dei Nebrodi. We cross only a few towns – Gangi, Nicosia, Troina – and a lot of rich agricultural land. All day the smoking Etna is constantly at the horizon. We conclude our ride at its foothills in the charm of Randazzo (elev 750 mts). This area is renowned for its fine wines so before dinner we sneak a wine taste at a local producer.
Next morning we leave Randazzo riding through the vineyards along the Alcantara river. After passing the village of Mojo there is an option: a detour of about 20k takes you up the hairpins and breathtaking views of Portella Mandrazzi (elev 1125 mts), the highest pass in the Monti Peloritani. The option includes also a winding descent down to Francavilla di Sicilia (elev 330 mts) where the short and long course get together again. We wind along the Alcantara Gorges and reach the Ionian coast at Naxos, home of the first Grecian settlement in Sicilia. Only few kms and here’s the splendid settings of Taormina. We climb the exclusive promenade of Sicilia’s most important resort town stopping only when the road ends on top of Castelmola (530 mts). The view is astonishing: Taormina, with his villas and Greek Theatre, lies beneath us in a scenario of rocks, lusty vegetation, the deep blue sea and, of course, the smoking volcano. We take our time strolling the alleys of Castelmola for gelato. A fast descent takes us back to the coast. We turn on a backroad winding through lemon and orange trees and reach our stay in Acireale.
Throughout our trip the mighty Etna has been an intimidating presence. Now we can show that our respect it’s not fear. There are two options: climbing the north and the south side or climbing just the south side. We go together for the first 30k, when we get to Linguaglossa (500 mts) the short course cuts along the side of volcano reaching easily Zafferana Etnea (600 mts). While the climbing goats start a tough incline in ever changing surroundings: orange and lemon trees soon give away to a shady forest. More higher only a few birches stand uneasy in a sea of black lava dotted by colorful flowers. We top our first summit at over 1500 mts and hold our breath for the exciting descent down to Zafferana Etnea. Our speed reduces dramatically as we turn upward again. More marvels wait us on the long climb to Rifugio Sapienza (1900 mts) and the Etna lower craters. On top we can finally toast to the end of our fatigues. A 20k descent rockets us down to Nicolosi (670 mts) where we regroup. After an adequate refreshment we reach our Agriturismo where we are waited by a memorable farewell dinner.