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The Baroque Towns Cycling Tour
The Baroque Towns Cycling Tour is an 8-day self-guided bike tour of south-eastern Sicily, riding from Piazza Armerina to Syracuse through the UNESCO-listed Late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto at a moderate level. Along the way you'll discover the Roman mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale, the ceramic staircase of Caltagirone, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli, Noto and the island of Ortigia. Hotels with breakfast, daily luggage transfer, a rental bike and our navigation app are all arranged for you.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Piazza Armerina
Arrive independently in Piazza Armerina, a historic hill town in the heart of Sicily. Its winding lanes lead up to the 18th-century cathedral that crowns the hilltop, past the town hall and old palaces such as Palazzo Trigona. Don't miss the Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th-century imperial villa whose mosaics – among the finest and best preserved of their kind – earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997. Overnight in Piazza Armerina.
- Day 2
Piazza Armerina – Caltagirone
35 km · +635 mElevation profile ↗
After the bike handover and route briefing, you ride through the village of Mirabella Imbaccari to Caltagirone, one of the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and Sicily's city of ceramics. Its highlight is the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte: 142 steps linking the lower town to the old upper town, each riser decorated with colourful ceramic tiles. Overnight in Caltagirone.
- Day 3
Caltagirone – Palazzolo Acreide
70 km · +1,200 mElevation profile ↗
The longest stage of the tour follows a scenic route into the Iblei Mountains, through hill villages such as Vizzini and Buccheri. You finish in Palazzolo Acreide, the ancient Greek Akrai, known for its archaeological site and for the Baroque churches and palaces that have earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2002. Overnight in Palazzolo Acreide.
- Day 4
Palazzolo Acreide – Ragusa Ibla
42 km · +720 mElevation profile ↗
Today you cross the Iblei plateau, a patchwork of fields divided by dry-stone walls and home to some of Sicily's best red wines and handmade cheeses. Ragusa has three parts – the modern town, Ragusa Superiore and the old quarter of Ragusa Ibla, the most rewarding to explore. The city belongs to the UNESCO site that represents, in UNESCO's words, the culmination and final flowering of Baroque art in Europe. Overnight in Ragusa Ibla.
- Day 5
Ragusa Ibla – Ispica
60 km · +780 mElevation profile ↗
Your first stop is Modica, a UNESCO-listed Baroque town set in the dramatic landscape of the Iblei Mountains and famous for its chocolate. Continue to Scicli and its Church of San Bartolomeo, then ride on to Ispica, where elegant churches such as Santa Maria Maggiore, with its splendid frescoes, and the Annunziata line the streets leading to the old covered market, now a bar and restaurant. Overnight in Ispica.
- Day 6
Ispica – Noto
63 km · +590 mElevation profile ↗
You head down to the coast at Marzamemi, one of Sicily's prettiest fishing villages, with its old fishermen's houses around the main square and the palace of the Princes of Villadorata. The route then follows the shore to the Vendicari Nature Reserve, established in 1984: a mix of lagoons, dunes, rocky coast and sandy beaches where migrating birds stop on their way to and from Africa. After the beaches of Lido di Noto, the day ends in Noto, the “garden of stone”, with its palaces, churches and wrought-iron balconies overlooking the Asinaro valley. Overnight in Noto.
- Day 7
Noto – Siracusa
38 km · +250 mElevation profile ↗
A gentle final ride brings you to Syracuse, one of the most elegant cities in the Mediterranean. Take your time on Ortigia, the island that holds the historic heart of the city, with its cathedral square and seafront. Syracuse has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Overnight in Syracuse.
- Day 8
Siracusa
After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. Airport transfers can be arranged on request, and you can also book extra nights to stay longer in Syracuse. Arrivederci Sicilia!
Tour details
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Tour type
- Self-guided, with navigation app
- Area
- South-east Sicily
- Distance
- 308 km
- Level
- Moderate
- Departures
- Daily
- Participants
- Minimum 2
- Accommodation
- Two categories in double rooms: Economy (B&Bs and 3* hotels) or Deluxe (3/4* hotels).
- Meals
- Bed & breakfast
- Bikes
- Touring bike, E-bike, Road bike
Prices and services
Prices per person in a double room
| Category | Low season | Mid season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| EconomyB&B / 3* hotels | € 1,140 | € 1,210 | € 1,330 |
| Deluxe3/4* hotels | € 1,400 | € 1,490 | € 1,650 |
Seasons
| Season | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | 7 Jan – 27 Mar · 7 Apr – 31 May · 21 Sep – 21 Dec | 7 Jan – 21 Mar · 5 Apr – 18 Apr · 3 May – 31 May · 21 Sep – 21 Dec |
| Mid season | 1 Jun – 13 Jul · 25 Aug – 20 Sep | 22 Mar – 4 Apr · 19 Apr – 2 May · 1 Jun – 12 Jul · 25 Aug – 20 Sep |
| High season | 28 Mar – 6 Apr · 14 Jul – 24 Aug · 22 Dec – 6 Jan | 13 Jul – 24 Aug · 22 Dec – 6 Jan |
Easter was in high season in 2026 (28 March–6 April); in 2027 Easter and the spring bank holidays fall in mid season.
Included in the price
- 7 nights' accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Touring bike rental
- Bike equipment: helmet, lock, pannier bag
- Repair kit: spare inner tube, pump, tyre lever
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Access to our mobile app with preloaded GPS tracks, roadbook, practical and tourist information
- Telephone assistance
- Travel insurance (medical and luggage) – see the insurance information
Not included
- Lunches and dinners
- Airport transfers
- Tourist taxes
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Supplements
| E-bike | € 160 |
| Road bike | € 75 |
| August supplement (1–24 August), Economy | € 255 |
| August supplement (1–24 August), Deluxe | € 500 |
| Single room | +30% of the base price |
| Solo traveller | € 360 |
| Extra nights | on request |
| Transfers | on request |
Prices are per person in a double room and based on a minimum of 2 participants. Travelling solo? A solo traveller supplement of €360 applies.
Bikes available for this tour
Touring bike
E-bike
Road bikeRoute map
Questions about this tour
How long is the Baroque Towns Cycling Tour and how much does it cost?
It lasts 8 days and 7 nights, with six days of cycling, and costs from €1,140 per person in a double room (Economy category, low season). Deluxe hotels start from €1,400.
Where does the tour start and end, and how do I get there?
It starts in Piazza Armerina and ends in Syracuse. Catania is the most convenient airport: Piazza Armerina has no railway station, but AST buses run there from Catania, and Catania is also the nearest airport to Syracuse at the end of the tour. Transfers are available on request.
How difficult is the tour?
It is rated moderate: 308 km in six stages of 35 to 70 km, on hilly terrain. The toughest day is Caltagirone – Palazzolo Acreide, 70 km with +1,200 m of climbing, so you need regular cycling fitness – or an e-bike.
When is the best time to go?
You can start on any day of the year; spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for cycling. Prices vary by season: in 2027 low season runs from 7 January to 21 March, 5–18 April, 3–31 May and 21 September to 21 December, while high season covers 13 July to 24 August and 22 December to 6 January.
Which bikes are available? Can I ride an e-bike?
Yes. A touring bike is included in the price, and you can upgrade to an e-bike for €160 or a road bike for €75. Every bike comes with a helmet, lock, pannier bag and repair kit.
What is included in the price?
Seven nights in B&Bs or hotels with breakfast, bike rental and equipment, luggage transfer between hotels, our mobile app with preloaded GPS tracks and roadbook, luggage and health insurance, and telephone assistance. Lunches, dinners, airport transfers and tourist taxes are not included.
