Self-Guided Cycling Through Baroque Sicily Trip Notes
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Current as of: May 20, 2019 - 15:30 Valid for departures: From July 10, 2018 to December 31, 2019 Self-Guided Cycling through Baroque Sicily Trip Notes Ways to Travel: Self-Guided 9 Days Land only Trip Code: Destinations: Italy Min age: 12 Leisurely / Moderate Programmes: Cycling C08BS Trip Overview Your journey takes you along a mix of inland and coastal routes, starting amidst the Baroque splendour of Ragusa and Modica and ending in stunning Siracusa on the east coast. You'll cycle through lush valleys filled with olive trees, almond groves, vineyards and citrus orchards and patchwork puzzles of dry-stone-wall farms, as you cycle between UNESCO World Heritage Sites rebuilt in the typical late Baroque style after the famous 1693 earthquake. At a Glance 8 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation All continental breakfasts and 3 evening meals Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent Route directions and maps High quality bikes Luggage transfers between hotels Countries visited: Italy Trip Highlights Beautiful, unspoilt, coastlines; charming fishing villages; rich fertile valleys Inspector Montalbano country - visit the haunts of the famous TV detective Authentic Baroque architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites Superb regional food and excellent Nero D'Avola wines Based on our popular 10 night, A Taste of Sicily Cycling Is This Trip for You? Cycling Conditions Classification: Self-Guided Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/moderate) Average daily distance: 44.4km (28miles) No. of days cycling: 5 Terrain and route: The majority of the route is tarmac, with a couple of streches of gravel along the way. Most of the rides are along quiet roads, with a couple of stretches of dedicated cycle tracks. Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service. Group As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain an emergency telephone number. In an emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi. They may wish to charge for this service. Adult min age: 18 Child min age: 12 Child max age: 17 Itinerary Land Only Start City: Ragusa End City: Siracusa Land Only Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Ragusa Arrive at your luxury 4 star hotel in Ragusa. (Staying at the San Giorgio Palace Hotel) Meals included: Breakfast Day 2 Ragusa to Modica You have two excellent choices today. We strongly recommend spending time in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ragusa Ibla - the simply stunning old town of Ragusa - rebuilt in 1693 after a huge earthquake and full of enchanting Baroque architecture, along with a number of tempting cafes and restaurants for lunch. Follow your visit with an undulating cycle through a rich, fertile valley of cacti and pomegranate orchards before freewheeling into the centre of Modica Bassa (the lower part of Modica City). Today's longer option climbs above Modica, skirting Modica Alta (the upper part of the city), before passing quaint, dry-stone-wall farms as you weave your way to Cava d'Ispica - a verdant gorge full of thousands of caves and grottoes, stretching for 13 kilometres between Modica and Ispica! (Staying at the Ferro Hotel, Breakfast only) Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 41 km / 26 miles Day 3 At Modica Often referred to as the Baroque capital of Sicily, the atmospheric city of Modica sits in a dramatic setting, perched between limestone cliffs. This UNESCO-listed city is home to an impressive 29 churches including two grand Baroque cathedrals, along with charming narrow streets peppered with cafes, restaurants and a number of tempting chocolate shops! Modica's chocolate is one of the Ragusa area's most famous products and to this day it's still made to ancient Aztec methods. Make sure you sample some at Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily! (Staying at the Ferro Hotel, Breakfast only) Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Modica to Marina di Modica Start today with a feel-good freewheel through a valley rich in pomegranates, cacti and quaint little farmsteads, on your way to the unmissable little town of Scicli. Overlooked by an imposing rock on which sits the magnificent Church of San Matteo, Scicli, like the other towns in the area, has been totally rebuilt in a pure Sicilian Baroque style following the 1693 earthquake. Wander its atmospheric streets and you'll feel like you're on the set of Inspector Montalbano - Via Mormino Penna is where you'll find the fictional police station from the TV show! Be sure to check out the impressive, hilltop cemetery, just out of town, full of mausoleums and surrounded by magnificent pines and tall cypress trees. You reach the coast Cava d'Aliga and Sampieri (one of Ragusa's most picturesque fishing villages and another of Montalbano's favoured locations) all offer beautiful sandy beaches where you can stop and take the weight off today. (Staying at the Torre Dantona, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Distance covered: 40 km / 25 miles Day 5 Marina di Modica to Portopalo di Capo Passero Hugging the coastline again you head to Pozzallo this morning, home to no less than four Blue Flag beaches - why not stop for a morning coffee and dip your toes in the Ionian Sea? Cutting inland you'll cycle through pantani, a series of saltwater lagoons rich in birdlife such as mallards, flamingos, herons and storks, on your way to today's highlight - the Isola delle Correnti (the 'Island of Stream'). The southernmost point of Sicily's mainland, this isolated, seemingly adrift island is also the point at which the Ionian and Mediterranean seas meet. It's quite a sight to behold! (Staying at the Portopalo Suite, Breakfast only) Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 49 km / 31 miles Day 6 Portopalo di Capo Passero to Noto Today's cycle takes you to the beautiful old fishing village of Marzamemi - one of Sicily's prettiest - with its colourful wooden boats, fishermen's houses and charming buildings such as the Baroque church of San Francesco di Paola. Marzamemi became the centre of Sicily's tuna fishing industry under its Arab influence and it keeps the tradition alive today, using artisanal fishing methods to produce a number of delicacies including canned tuna, smoked swordfish and marinated anchovies! Making your way to Noto you'll head inland on a virtually traffic-free road that winds its way through olive groves, vineyards, almond trees, sugar cane and beautifully perfumed citrus orchards - idyllic surroundings for a picnic lunch. (Staying at the Villa Favorita, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Distance covered: 45 km / 29 miles Day 7 At Noto Your hotel is located in a lovely courtyard setting with an outdoor pool and superb views over Noto. If you can tear yourself away from the 4 star luxury, you could cycle to the nearby seaside resort of Lido di Noto for a lazy day on the beach, or opt for our recommended cycle ride into atmospheric Noto itself. Perhaps the most beautiful of all the cities you visit on this holiday, Noto's current centre was rebuilt after the 17th century earthquake and is considered a Baroque masterpiece as well as being an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander down the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, overlooked by Noto's elegant cathedral, and explore the side streets filled with an array of fine architecture and cafes serving delicious local treats such as the savoury arancini and sweet cannoli. (Staying at the Villa Favorita, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Day 8 Noto to Siracusa What a final day! You'll follow the coast to the stunning city of Siracusa, built on an ancient Greek settlement and boasting a treasure trove of temples, amphitheatres and an ancient castle. On the way you'll cycle through Avola - home of the famous Nero D'Avola red wine grape. You'll also enjoy views of the majestic Mount Etna, and discover Plemmirio, an important area for flora and fauna and whose waters are home to a number of species including tuna, sea urchins, dolphins and sperm whales. After passing the Murro di Porco Cape, a striking landmark in the 1943 Conquest of Sicily, a final stretch takes you along the Bay of Siracusa and into the city itself. (Staying at the Grand Albergo Alfeo, Breakfast only) Meals included: Breakfast Distance covered: 47 km / 30 miles Day 9 Leave Siracusa Pre-booked transfer (inquire for prices) back to Catania airport, or maybe spend extra nights in the Island's second city.