The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and separated from the Italian peninsula by a narrow strait, Sicily is arguably the most captivating of Italy’s twenty regions. One could spend a lifetime unpacking it. During this guided bike tour, we’ll explore the beautiful Baroque cities of Scicli, Modica, Ragusa, and Noto, then the luxurious Ortigia island, and we’ll end our great tour climbing the Etna volcano and learning more about its amazing wine tradition.
This tour has also a self-guided version, check here.
Sicily baroque guided tour
From Piazza Armerina to Zafferana Etnea
A cycling guide we’ll ride with you showing his region. A Van support with water, electrolytes and snacks, will be available if you want to skip the hardest climbs. Daily lunch featuring local and fresh products and dinners featuring traditional food.
Stages up to 50 km per day with a maximum of 600 meters of climbing. They are conceived for guests that ride their bikes twice per week on roads without major climbs. Usually, you are back at the hotel in the early afternoon.
50 – 70 km / day
In: Catania (Google Map)
Out: Catania (Google Map)
We welcome you at Catania airport and, after about one hour of transfer, we reach the elegant Villa Trigona Hotel, surrounded by greenery in the Sicilian countryside.
After the bike fitting and a tour explanation, you can go for a short bike ride and discover the enchanting mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, considered the best-kept Roman mosaics in the world, an absolute must-see place.
You’ll have dinner at the hotel. The host Emanuel, the last heir of the noble Trigona family, will introduce you to the amazing local cuisine, as well as tell you about the history of the place, of course.
Overnight: Piazza Armerina
Included: Dinner
We leave the lush gardens and orchards of Piazza Armerina to move to the most typical landscapes of the interior of Sicily, made of bare hills drawn by fields and dry stone walls.
For lunch, we stop in the beautiful old town of Caltagirone where we’ll visit the workshop of a local potter, in addition to making a stop on the wonderful staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, with 142 steps fully decorated with the local ceramics.
In the afternoon we continue through the countryside of Caltagirone where we spend the night in a cozy rural residence.
Overnight: Caltagirone
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
The first part of the day is across olive groves and vineyards as far as the eye can see, along an undulating route. After lunch, we begin the climb to the Ibleo plateau through the characteristic white limestone walls, with breathtaking views over the surrounding valley. The stage ends in one of the most magical places in Sicily: Ragusa Ibla, a wonderful monumental city known throughout the world, as well as for its beauty, for the quality of its gastronomy, awarded with three-starred restaurants.
Ragusa combines two somewhat different city centers. Ragusa, the new town, was reconstructed from the ground up, in the new style, after the destructive earthquake in 1693. Here you can make a wonderful itinerary among churches and palaces that are symbols of the late Sicilian Baroque, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Ragusa, Modica and Scicli, in one day! These three incredible baroque cities are declared Unesco world heritage sites, so the day will be like pedaling inside an enormous open space museum. Let’s discover together these treasures among enchanting landscapes, ancient culture, and unique gastronomy. The route is continuously up and down between the Ibleo plateau and the karst valleys. During the ride, we can choose to delight ourselves between: a dessert prepared by the famous chef Ciccio Sultano in Ragusa, or visiting the ancient Bonajuto chocolate shop in Modica, where we will taste the famous chocolate (ciucculatta muricana) still made according to the old Atzeca recipe, imported from the Spaniards in the Modica County in the 16th century.
Overnight: Ragusa
Included: Breakfast
Our ride starts on the Ragusa Countryside. An up and down on tiny roads till Castelluccio Necropolis, with over 200 tombs carved in the steep walls of the nearby quarry. The most monumental is the so-called “grave of the prince” with a statement consisting of four fake pillars. Then a long and gradual descent takes us to the perfumed citrus orchards of Noto Valley, preparing us for the last ascent of the day to the flamboyant baroque of Noto. Its Cathedral is one of the world’s best symbols of baroque architecture.
Overnight: Noto
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Today, we’ll conquer the sea bastions on the island of Ortigia, the ancient Greek settlement originating the most potent Greek colony in the Mediterranean. Ortigia, in just a square kilometer, boasts many impressive buildings and monuments. Here stands out the wonderful Cathedral of Syracuse (Cathedral of the Nativity of Mary Most Holy). It was a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, then converted into a church by the Normans. Its Doric columns along the walls closing the side aisles are still very evident both inside and outside. An aperitif on the ancient walls, in front of the sunset over the sea, and a dinner in one of the several good restaurants in town will close the day through south-western Sicily.
Overnight: Siracusa
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
A 1 hr shuttle will take us to the slopes of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Starting from the village of Nicolosi, we’ll climb in this lava-brown rock landscape until the first caldera at Rifugio Sapienza. Our way down gives us stunning views over the Strait of Messina and the Calabria on Italy’s mainland.
Our destination is the village of Zafferana Etnea, one of the best-preserved villages in the area, having miraculously survived numerous eruptions.
Optionally, you can have an e-bike for this ride or just jump on the van and enjoy this day in full relax.
Overnight: Zafferana Etnea
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
As your journey with us draws to a close, we’re confident that Sicily has left an indelible mark on your heart, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon in one of the Mediterras destinations. Following a delightful breakfast and a chat about your entire tour, we’ll assist you with bikes and luggage and provide a shuttle to Catania airport. Ciao amici, until we meet again!
Included: Breakfast
You can bring your own bike or rent one from us, we offer great bikes from selected Italian and international brands: road bikes, leisure cycling, mountain bikes, e-bikes, all in perfect working conditions. You can book your rental bike at the end of the reservation process.
Atop the Rock of Taormina, the Splendid Hotel captures center stage for its impressive panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, just minutes from the city’s charming old town and the famous Greek Theatre.
Nestled within the heart of the authentic Sicilian countryside at just one km from Baroque Noto, Villa Landolina is an unforgettable gateway for discovering an incredibly unspoiled and typical landscape, more and more rare to find in our modern world.
The villa is an historic residence with elegant and romantic rooms. Few steps from the historic centre, and with a beautiful garden.
In a strategic position, in front of the Archaeological Park, the Greek Theater, and a walking distance from Ortigia. Contemporary design, with panoramic swimming pool and solarium, SPA, fitness area.
Villa Trigona is an excellent base for cycle tourists. An old Villa with a garden and pool close to the famous UNESCO site Villa Romana del Casale.
Just few steps away from Noto cathedral, with wellness area, an excellent restaurant and a splendid swimming pool.
Located in a strategic position for your bike rides, the hotel overlooks the southern side of Etna. A lovely SPA is waiting you for an after bicycle relax.
We are humans, we are locals, we are bike guides.
We take care to provide a tour customized for you.
Let’s do a chat and book a free call with us today!
In our private bike tours, you can:
Cycling the West Coast of Sardinia from Alghero all the way south to Cagliari. Your bike holiday will bring you to Bosa, the Sinis peninsula and Cabras, the Green Coast, and the islands of Sant’Antioco and San Pietro.