Sicily Cycling | The Barocco & South-East of Sicilian Island | Self Guided

Loop Bike ride from Noto to the coastline and cycling through the inland.
Today you have two options to ride around Noto.
You will ride into the verdant Val di Noto with its flourishing almond and olive groves and discover its caves carved into rock. Climb past Castelluccio and up to the coastal plateau to take in hypnotic views of the Mediterranean, then descend into Noto: the Baroque city. In town, you can taste the local granita.
A more challenging ride: Hop on your bike and pedal up a difficult climb to Avola Antica and “Cavagrande del Cassibile nature reserve”. Here the landscape begins to change from the norm and the view is now dominated by “Sicily’s Grand Canyon,” the deepest canyon in Europe, whose steep walls descend 800 feet to a picturesque river below.
Meals included: Breakfast

Today, your destination is the Southernmost point of Sicily and Italy, more precisely, Portopalo di Capo Passero, an old fishermen village. A distance of 11 km from Noto on the route, there is the Roman Villa Tellaro, a 4th century, partially‐excavated palace, boasting magnificent mosaic floors which tell stories of Roman life. Scenes of hunting, erotic dances, Illiad tales, an unusual geometric designs. A visit to Villa Tellaro cannot be missed. You set off again towards the marvellous Vendicari Nature Reserve. A visit here may only be done on foot if one wishes to enter.
Then, ride further on through Contrada Buonivini, the cradle of Nero d’Avola. Just few more kilometers and you reach Portopalo with its nice beaches and an important fishing port. Here you can taste the best local and fresh fish! We suggest to visit the village. Walk along the pedestrian central area containing popular restaurants, cafés and boutiques. The views from here welcome you to its beach and clear waters. Additional views of an ancient tuna factory and the small island of Capo Passero with its fishermen houses are also spectacular.
Meals included: Breakfast

Your ride today follows the cycle paths of wine country in Val di Noto, transitioning you through Notos countryside and cross Tellaro valley along the river. Once on top of the valley, the stunning view of the Hyblean Plateau will delight you. In this stage you will get acquainted with the varied food production of traditional peasant gourmet. Homemade breads to sauces, bio honey, cheese, olive oils and wines. From here is a lovely view of the extreme eastern spur of the Hyblean Mountains which form the border between Siracusa and Noto provinces. Here, the peaceful and quiet mule-track is shaded by the wide crowns of carob trees, allowing for cover while roaming for many cycling kilometers.
Meals included: Breakfast

This moderate challenging, rise and fall stage unrolls like a film of snapshots from the past: olive and carob trees, farmhouses and villas of the rural past aristocracy. The profile of the hilly area gradually changes its shape as we get further in a harmonious plateau area. You can enjoy the spectacular views of Tellaro valley from here.
The section of the route with its continuous series of ups and downs is quite demanding, but your effort will be rewarded by views of unequalled beauty at each turn or hilltop.
You arrive in the magnificent Baroque city of Ragusa, where you can visit the awesome Iblean Garden by foot and the Old Town, called IBLA; here you will find a lot of churches, gelaterias and street food shops. Then we will loop back to Modica for the rest of the ride. For dinner, choose from many wonderful local restaurants such as hole‐in‐the‐wall trattorias to Slow Food and Michelin‐starred restaurants. (we’ll give you some favorite suggestions)
Meals included: Breakfast

Today you leave Modica going on through the Fiumara Valley, surrounded by a lush vegetation: this wild wooded part of the route will lead you straight to Scicli’s historic center. Starting out, you go along the ancient street leading from Scicli to Donnalucata, stretching above a typical Iblean cave. After about 4 km you will reach a panoramic street hanging between countryside and sea; here you meet the Sgarlata farmhouse, renowned for its ricotta cheese and delicious flavored caciotte (you can experience a cheese-making laboratory and a tasting under request). Here you can also find the Milizie cloister, legendary battle ground between the Normans and Saracens. Further on, the cycling path goes on plunging in between olive, carob and almond orchards. Finally you arrive to the sea and in Donnalucata, you will be ready for a rewarding Italian Gelato. Also in front of the sea, a fantastic dinner awaits for you, in a romantic place.
Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, end of tour. Transfer to the train station or to Catania or Comiso Airports is available. under request
Meals included: Breakfast

We can provide extra days with arrival to Mount Etna and Taormina but it takes about 9-10 nights total. Or just one or two additional cycling days with arrival to Caltagirone to admire the artistic production of ceramics and terra-cotta sculptures. Or return to Piazza Armerina where you can visit the Famous “Villa Romana del Casale”. Just contact us to inquire on options.