Sicily – Baroque Towns
Sicily, baroque towns
You will pass through the Val di Noto, where most of the towns, after destruction during the earthquake of 1693, have been completely rebuilt in unique Sicilian Baroque style, and which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
Along the trip you will discover beautiful towns like Palazzolo Acreide, Modica, Scicli and Noto, the latter considered the most important baroque town in Sicily, as well as Syracuse, one of the most important ancient Greek settlements. Along the coast you will see further highlights like the bird and wildlife sanctuary „Oasi di Vendicari“, the fishing village of Marzamemi, and the small islands of Capo Passero and Isola delle Correnti.
The route follows mainly less frequented secondary roads. Most of the parts are flat, some are light uphill sections, but still easy to manage. This tour is suitable for all healthy persons with a little bit of bike practice. Depending on your personal preference and fitness, some days you will be able to choose between two different tracks varying in elevation profile and/or distance covered.
TRAVEL ITINERARY
7 days / 6 nights
Day 1: Palazzolo Acreide
Individual arrival at Palazzolo Acreide, handover of the bikes and the roadbook and maps with all the information you will need.
Day 2: Palazzolo Acreide –Ragusa Ibla - Modica
(approx. 50 km)
Before you start cycling today, we suggest visiting the historical Old Town of Palazzolo Acreide, with its many baroque building and the churches San Sebastiano and San Paolo, two wonderful examples of Sicilian Baroque. Then you will cycle through the beautiful territory of the Monti Iblei, an unique landscape, where rugged and wild areas alternate with pleasant green scenery, characterized by the typical stonewalls. The tour stops at Ragusa Ibla, one of the most beautiful city of Val di Noto situated on a hill in a picturesque position. The stage ends in Modica, the second baroque jewel of our tour. Do not miss to visit the church of San Giorgio.
Day 3: Modica - Pozzallo
(approx. 42 km)
Before you leave Modica you should taste the famous chocolate, e.g. spiced with hot chili peppers. The recipe has been brought from the Aztecs by the Spaniards to Sicily. Cruising downhill through a beautiful Iblei canyon, you will arrive at Scicli, another city of the “Val di Noto” and well worth a stroll through the small alleys, before you continue down to the coast to Pozzallo with its long sandy beaches. The perfect opportunity to finish the stage with a refreshing bath in the sea.
Day 4: Pozzallo - Marzamemi
(approx. 57 km)
This day the road will be completely flat. You will pass through some typical wetlands, the „Patano Longarini“ and „Patano Cuba“, a popular stopover amongst the migratory birds on their trips between Africa and Europe. Cycling along the shore you will reach the southernmost point of Sicily, the island „Isola delle Correnti“, which lies on the same latitude as Tunis and marks the watershed between the Ionian and the Mediterranean Sea. Continuing through Portopalo di Capo Passero and Marzamemi, an ancient fishing village, you will finish your ride in San Lorenzo
Day 5: Marzamemi – Noto
(approx. 35 km)
On a flat road heading north along the coast, you will reach the entrance to the natural preserve and wildlife sanctuary „Oasi di Vendicari“, a wonderful and uncontaminated coast full of interesting plants and rare birds like pink flamingos and kingfisher. You will then continue to the inland, through vineyards to Noto. Noto is the capital of Sicilian Baroque with numerous magnificent Palazzi and Churches.
Day 6: Noto - Siracuse
(approx. 35 - 55 km)
Today you have two options. Either following the coast further up north. Or a detour through the inland to the vista point of the Cavagrande del Cassible gorge and then a spectacular downhill with hairpins to the coast. Along the coast, you continue to Siracusa, the metropolis of ancient Greece, where you certainly will want to visit the stunning archaeological park with one of the biggest Greek theatres of the Magna Graecia. You should finish the day with a stroll through the picturesque historical centre, the Island Ortigia.
Day 7: Siracuse
End of tour and individual departure or extension with additional days. We recommend visiting the fascinating Ortigia island, the historical and cultural centre of the city. The Old Town of Siracusa captivates immediately with more than 3000 years of history and archeological evidence of practically all great civilizations of the Mediterranean. Also in Ortigia is the lively Fishmarket of Syracuse
Prices and dates
| Standard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Package | view calendar | |
| Half board supplement | 200 € | |
| Comfort | ||
|---|---|---|
| Package | view calendar | |
| Half board supplement | 170 € | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
| Price per night in double room with breakfast | Palazzolo Acreide | 48 € | |
| Single room supplement per night | Palazzolo Acreide | 22 € | |
| comfort: Price per night in double room with breakfast | Siracusa | From 01/01/2023 to 30/06/2023 | 130 € |
| comfort: Single room supplement per night | Siracusa | From 01/01/2023 to 30/06/2023 | -25 € |
| Comfort: Price per night in double room with breakfast | Siracusa | From 01/07/2023 to 31/08/2023 | 350 € |
| Comfort: Single room supplement per night | Siracusa | From 01/07/2023 to 31/08/2023 | -135 € |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Prices:
General information
Discover all the services we offer and book one of our tours now.
Category standard: Bed & Breakfast or 2 hotels; rural turismo in Palazzolo Acreide.
Category comfort: 3*** and 4**** hotels.
Tourist tax, if requested, has to be paid on the spot
Catania airport - Palazzolo Acreide: 60.00 € per person (minumum 2 persons)
Siracusa - Catania airport : 50.00 € per person (minumum 2 persons)
Group rates on request (minimum 4 persons).
Reservation necessary, as there are limited places; payment on the spot.
24 or 27 -gears women‘s or men‘s bicycle
E-bike (unisex bike)
Tandem
Fitnessbike / Hybrid
Bike trailer for kids
6 x accommodation in hotels of the booked category
Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
Well planned routes
Detailed maps and road book with description of the route (1 per room)
GPS-Tracks on request
Telephone service hotline
Arrival to the starting point of the tour
Departure at the end of the tour
Lunch, Dinner
Helmet and bike rental
Museum tickets
Tourist tax
Transfer to/from airport
Wine tasting and not mentioned entries
All not expressly mentioned under the item „Included services“
