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Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia Tour Facts Sheet This tour explores southeastern Sicily and the famous baroque towns of the Val di Noto. The Spanish occupied this area in the late 17th century when 45 towns were destroyed by a single earthquake in 1693. In rebuilding the cities in the region they left a legacy of the most significant collection of baroque churches anywhere. Add to this the culinary delicacies (like the famous chocolate from Modica and local seafood) of the region, the famous red wine "Nero d'Avola" and the "Moscato di Noto" and you have an unforgettable bicycle ride. The ride takes you along the coast of southeastern Sicily to the southernmost point of the island. This is a perfect tour in the Spring and Fall. Add mileage to the easy day rides if you want more exercise or just take it easy and enjoy Sicily! The secret recipes of Modica's Chocolate, Baroque masterpeices of Noto, Greek temples Norman castles and Arab Highlights architectures all in one island, 2,700 years old city of Syracuse, the Baroque influence in Sicilian cuisine, the homeland of Cannoli and Pistacchio pastry €1150 Single supplement: €200 Price Solo traveler supplement: €100 (in addition to single supplement) 7 days, 6 nights in 3-4 star hotels; 6 breakfasts; use of a quality 24-27 speed racing or hybrid bicycle; bike delivery and Includes collection; bike fitting and briefing; detailed route descriptions; map; GPS with preloaded tracks; luggage transfers. Countries Italy Begin/End Palazzolo Acreide/Syracuse Arrive/ Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) Depart Visit our website for tour dates, price and full Total 216 to 243 km (135-152 miles) itinerary description at Cycleeurope.com. Distance Daily 35-55 km (22-34 miles) Distance Do you need more information? Read our What to Easy rides with a few short, steep climbs Self Guided Tour FAQ Sheet here Expect to hilltop villages. Rating 1-2 View Tour Rating Descriptions Terms & Conditions Terms © 2021 Cycle Europe +39 0546 29 600 www.cycleeurope.com Property of Cycle Europe Do not reproduce without permission. Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia Tour’s Dates: Every Saturday from January 16 to November 27; on-request departures on other days are possible. Self-guided tours Collections Program: This tour is part of our Self-Guided Collections program Great cycling experiences abound throughout Europe! Since we cannot directly operate self-guided tours everywhere, we have used our vast experience and network in the continent to curate and offer self- guided tours on our website that are operated by select partners that we know and trust. These tours are similar in quality to those we operate directly in many ways – for example, the tour begins with an in-person briefing (in English); bicycles are provided in optimal condition, and each customer goes through a personal bike fitting at the tour start; the roadbook and step-by-step navigation instructions, as well as lodging/accommodations are of similar quality. If you have any question regarding this type of tours, please feel free to ask us! Your Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Palazzolo Acreide Mileage: Highlights: Fit bikes and take a warm-up ride as time allows optional Arrive in Palazzolo Acreide today to begin your tour. We fit bicycles and will Accommodation: provide you with your orientation materials for your tour. You can test your bicycles Hotel Colle Acre on a short ride to the ruins of the ancient Greek site of Akrai, just outside of Palazzolo. The small Greek theater is a beautiful remnant of this Greek colony founded in 664 BC by the Greek colony of Syracuse. Day 2: Bicycle from Palazzolo Acreide to Ragusa Ibla to Modica Mileage: 50 Highlights: Greek ruins at Akrai, the world famous chocolate of Modica, km World Heritage towns of Palazzolo and Modica (31 miles) Take time to enjoy an extra morning coffee in the square of Palazzolo or return to the ruins of Akrai to enjoy the site of this ancient Greek colony. Over the centuries Palazzolo absorbed the influence of the Arabs, Normans, and the Spanish Baroque architecture in its 16th-18th century churches. The stage stops in Ragusa Ibla, one of Accommodation: the most beautiful baroque towns of the “Val di Noto”, picturesquely located on a San Giorgio hilltop, and ends in Modica, famous throughout Sicily and Italy for its chocolate! Hotel Modica chocolate seems to be a residual treasure from the Aztec world brought to Modica by the Spanish in the 16th century. For some reason, Modica artisans picked up and preserved the craft of making traditional Aztec chocolate while that skill has © 2021 Cycle Europe +39 0546 29 600 www.cycleeurope.com Property of Cycle Europe Do not reproduce without permission. Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia disappeared everywhere else. So chocolate tasting should be on your list for this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Day 3: Bicycle from Modica to Scicli and Pozzallo Mileage: 42 Highlights: Scicli and bicycling along the coast km Before leaving Modica you might want to stock up on chocolate! There are (26 miles), something like twenty producers in town! The most famous flavors are the vanilla depending on and cinnamon flavoured chocolates. Most unique is the chocolate with the hot your choice for peppers said to be derived from the Aztec chocolatiers in the 16th century. So be today. sure and pick some up for the road. Your route today takes you across the limestone plateau to Scicli and on to the coastal town of Pozzallo. Pozzallo has some of the best beaches in Sicily and is also a departure point for ferries to Malta. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Ada Day 4: Bicycle the coast from Pozzallo to Marzamemi Mileage: 57 Highlights: The southernmost point in Sicily, coastal rides, km (36 miles) flamingos and wetlands, fishing villages You'll reach the southernmost point in Sicily today as you pedal along the coast from Pozzallo to Marzamemi. The British contingent of the allied invasion of Sicily Accommodation: occurred along this coast in July and August of 1943. Near Marzamemi you ride by Agriturismo the coastal marshes of Longarini and Cuba, important stopping points for pink Vendicari flamingoes and herons among other waterfowl. At Capo Passero you can look north Tenuta Arangio to the Ionian Sea and south to the broad Mediterranean Sea extending south to Libya and southwest to Tunisia. Stop for a delicious seafood lunch along here. Your ride ends just north of Marzamemi on the San Lorenzo Beach. © 2021 Cycle Europe +39 0546 29 600 www.cycleeurope.com Property of Cycle Europe Do not reproduce without permission. Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia Day 5: Bicycle from Marzamemi to Noto Mileage: 35 Highlights: Coastal cycling and Noto - "capital" of Italian baroque cities km (22 miles) Spend a little time on the beach today if you wish as we have a short and easy ride to Noto later this morning. We continue past more coastal marshes, including the natural reserve of Vendicari. Our destination is Noto, famous in Italy as one of the Accommodation: principal baroque towns of Italy. Noto harbors a number of baroque churches built Hotel Netum by the Spanish after the 1693 earthquake (that destroyed something on the order of 45 towns and cities in Southeastern Sicily). Day 6: Bicycle from Noto to Syracuse Mileage: 38 or Highlights: An easy ride along the coast; the ancient city of Syracuse 55 km (24 or 34 miles) An easy coastal ride again takes us to the capital of Magna Grecia and the famous depending on Greek colonial town of Syracuse. Get an early start so you can take time to explore the archeological ruins of Neapolis with the large Greek theater. In the center of old your choice for Syracuse is the island of Ortygia where the Greek goddess Leto is said to have given today. birth to Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo. Accommodation: Short option: Hotel Gargallo © 2021 Cycle Europe +39 0546 29 600 www.cycleeurope.com Property of Cycle Europe Do not reproduce without permission. Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia Long option: Day 7: Tour ends today Highlights: Syracuse and the Greek ruins The tour ends this morning after breakfast. Take more time to explore this beautiful city. Thank you for travelling with us. Buon viaggio! NOTE: This hotel itinerary is subjected to changes according to availability. City taxes are not included LODGING UPGRADE: Room upgrades are possible in some hotels. Ask for availability. © 2021 Cycle Europe +39 0546 29 600 www.cycleeurope.com Property of Cycle Europe Do not reproduce without permission. Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Eastern Sicily: from Baroque Cities to the Capital of Magna Grecia GTA: How to get there and away Starting point: Hotel Colle Acre in Palazzolo Acreide We recommend to fly into Catania (the closest airport to Syracuse). We offer a private transfer from Catania Airport Fontanarossa to your hotel in Palazzolo Acreide (See the “Services available at an additional cost” section for details). Alternatively, you can take a bus from Catania airport Fontanarossa to Siracusa then change and take a bus to Palazzolo Acreide. Ending point: Hotel Royal Maniace in Syracuse We recommend to fly out from Catania.