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TOUR OF EASTERN SICILIA
DATES 2010:
May 16 - 26
PRICE:
Eur 1650 (reserving before Jan 31)
Eur 1800 (after Jan 31)
Max 12 participants
DEPOSIT:
Eur 500
INCLUDES:
10 Nights
in double room w/bath in Agriturismo or 3 stars Hotel
10 breakfast and dinner
All van transfers
Support:
one cycling
guide and one van
NOT
INCLUDES:
Single suppl.: Eur
250
Bikes for rent :Eur
150
In Sicilia we can
organize guided custom tours from one to two weeks
for groups of at least 5 participants.
For
an easy Biketour in Sicilia check:
EASY
SICILIA
ASSOCIAZIONE ABCYCLE
38, Via Brecciano
65013 Città S.Angelo (PE)
Abruzzo, Italia
tel/fax: Italia 085 969410
abcycle@virgilio.it
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Our
van takes you from Catania Airport to Palazzolo Acreide (travel time 1
hr).
Palazzolo Acreide (elev 680mts) is a perfect base camp
for riding to the discovery of the treasures of Southeastern 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. The road
unwinds in the wild scenery of Monti Iblei and for many miles the
ancient stone dry walls are the only human features. 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 4th 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 (elev
1000 mts). 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 6th 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). Our host here is a fine
wine producer and he will be more than happy to let us sample his
work.
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.
We spend our rest day in this fine Agriturismo immersed in a citrus
grove. Our proposals for a pleasant day go from a guided trekking to
the Etna Volcano (3300 mts) in the morning to a relaxing stay on one
of the beaches nearby for the afternoon.
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.
*admission
to museums or wherever else a ticket is required is not included in
the tour price
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