Self-Guided Cycling through Baroque Sicily
Self-Guided Cycling through Baroque Sicily
Self-Guided Cycling through Baroque Sicily
9 Days Starting in Ragusa and ending in Siracusa
Visiting: Italy, Sicily
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C08BS
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
13-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour 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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Arrive at your luxury 4 star hotel in Ragusa. *(Staying at the De Stefano
Palace, Half Board)*
Day 2
We strongly recommend spending some time in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of
Ragusa Ibla before setting off this morning. The simply stunning old town of
Ragusa, rebuilt in 1693 after a huge earthquake, is full of enchanting
Baroque architecture, along with a number of tempting cafes and restaurants
for lunch. Follow your visit with a climb above Modica, skirting Modica Alta
(the upper part of the city), before passing quaint, dry-stone-wall farms
through a rich, fertile valley of cacti and pomegranate orchards 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)*
Day 3
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)*
Day 4
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)*
Day 5
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) *
Day 6
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)*
Day 7
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)*
Day 8
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)*
Day 9
Leave Siracusa or maybe spend extra nights in the Island's second city.
What's Included
-
Meals
9 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 3 dinners.
* All accomodation
* 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
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request) Compulsory single supplement.
Accommodation
You'll stay in a wonderful mix of accommodation including a charming villa hotel boasting fabulous views over Noto from its outdoor pool terrace and a minimalist design hotel in the centre of bustling Portopalo. Given the wonderful local cuisine on offer, including such Sicilian specialities as Pasta alla Norma and Pasta con le Sarde, we've included three evening meals on this holiday, leaving you free to dine out on the remaining nights.
Food
Sicily's typically southern Italian cuisine is interspersed with many more
exotic dishes reflecting the island's jumbled cultural past. Italian dishes
like pasta alla norma (made with tomatoes, aubergine and grated ricotta) are
often found on menus along with couscous (a north African speciality), or
even pasta con le sarde (a pasta dish dating back to Phoenician times made
from sardines, raisins, pine nuts, fennel, saffron, parsley and capers).
The Arabs introduced citrus groves to the island and a popular drink today is
granita made with crushed ice and lemon. This was traditionally drunk with
sweet bread dipped in it as a lunchtime snack by Sicilian peasants.
Fish is of course also abundant. Local specialities include pesce spada alla
ghiotta (swordfish cooked with tomatoes, capers, onion, celery and potatoes)
or tonno fresco alla brace (grilled fresh tuna).
Sicily is famed for its desserts. Why not try cannolo, a crunchy pastry tube
filled with ricotta cheese and studded with candied fruits, pistachio and
chocolate? Or cassata, the Arab influenced cake made with ricotta cheese,
candied fruit and chocolate pieces.
Sicily is not traditionally famous for its wines, so it is surprising to
learn that the island boasts one of the largest wine producing areas in the
whole of Italy. Look out for the Etna DOC label and Corvo di Salaparuta. One
of Sicily's most popular wines is Alcamo Bianco - a soft white which goes
well with fish dishes. Let's not forget the Marsala wine, a fortified wine
made in Sicily which takes its name after the town where it is mostly
produced. Marsala is most commonly used in cooking to create nutty, rich
caramelised sauces.
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Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Only Luggage transfers between hotels
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
13+ people can go on this tour
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.