THE BAROQUE TOWNS
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- Individual arrival in Piazza Armerina, a charming and historic town nestled in the heart of Sicily. You will have the opportunity to wander through its beautiful winding streets. There are many wonderful buildings to see, including the 18th century Duomo, which dominates the town on top of a hill, the elegant town hall and grand old palaces such as Palazzo Trigona. We highly recommend visiting the famous Villa Romana del Casale, a majestic imperial villa that dates back to the 4th century AD and is one of the most luxurious of its kind. It is particularly notable for the richness and quality of the mosaics considered the finest and best preserved of their kind, which made the Villa a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Overnight in Piazza Armerina.
- PIAZZA ARMERINA - CALTAGIRONE 35 km / +635m (See profile). Delivery of bike and road map, route description. After passing through the village of Mirabella Imbaccari, you reach today's destination, Caltagirone, one of the baroque cities of the Val di Noto, known as the city of ceramics. The highlight is undoubtedly the 142 steps of the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte that connect the lower city with the older upper city. The upright of each step is decorated with ceramic tiles, offering a colorful alternative to the gray lava stone of the horizontal parts. Overnight stay in Caltagirone.
- CALTAGIRONE - PALAZZOLO ACREIDE 70 km / +1200m (Vedi profilo). From Caltagirone you take a panoramic route in the heart of the Iblei Mountains, passing through some pretty villages such as Vizzini and Buccheri, before arriving in Palazzolo Acreide, Akrai for the Greeks. A city of great cultural interest, it owes its fame to the nearby archaeological excavations. Thanks to the numerous and fascinating Baroque buildings, Palazzolo Acreide has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites since 2002. Overnight stay in Palazzolo Acreide.
- PALAZZOLO ACREIDE - RAGUSA IBLA 42 km / +720m (See profile).Today you will cycle along the Iblean plateau, characterized by dry stone walls that divide strips of land, heading towards Ragusa. This area offers some of the best red wines in Sicily and wonderful cheeses that are still handmade. The city is divided into three parts: the modern Ragusa, the upper town Ragusa Superiore and the oldest part, Ragusa Ibla, which is the most interesting for visitors. Ragusa has been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as "representing the culmination and final flowering of Baroque art in Europe". Overnight in Ragusa Ibla.
- RAGUSA IBLA - ISPICA 60 km / +780m (See profile). Today the tour will take you from Ragusa Ibla to Ispica. The first stop will be Modica, one of the baroque towns in the UNESCO heritage area. Especially famous for its chocolate, Modica is set in the spectacular landscape of the Iblei Mountains. From here you will continue your journey to Scicli, where you can visit the Church of San Bartolomeo. Finally you will reach Ispica. The center of Ispica is home to a handful of elegant churches, such as Santa Maria Maggiore, with its splendid collection of frescoes, and the Church of the Annunziata. The streets and squares of the town, some lined with beautiful buildings, such as the current town hall, will lead you to the former covered market, which now houses a bar and restaurant. Overnight in Ispica.
- ISPICA - NOTO 63 km / +590m (See profileo). Starting from Ispica, you will pass through Marzamemi, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Sicily. Here you can see the small and characteristic fishermen's houses that line the main square. They were renovated during the construction of the Palazzo del Principe di Villadorata. Then you will continue by bike towards the Vendicari Nature Reserve, a mix of lagoons (pantano), sand dunes, rocky coasts and sandy beaches. It was established in 1984 and is home to a great variety of flora and fauna. The tour continues towards Lido di Noto and its sandy beaches, before ending in Noto, perched on a plateau overlooking the Asinaro valley, covered with citrus, olive and almond trees. You can admire palaces, churches, balconies with wrought iron railings and cherubs that decorate the facade. Noto is called the "Stone Garden" for its typical stone. Overnight stay in Noto.
- NOTO - SIRACUSA 38 km / +250m (See profile). The last stop will take you from Noto to Syracuse, one of the most noble and elegant cities in the entire Mediterranean Sea. Rich in charm, history and natural landscape, enviable and envied, the city is divided into two different groups: the urban part of the city and Ortigia, the splendid island of the city, increasingly rich in tourism. In 2005 Syracuse became part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Overnight stay in Syracuse.
- End of services and goodbye Sicily!
THE BAROQUE TOWNS
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Tour duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Tour type: self-guided Participants: minimum 2 Start: any day Level: moderate Accommodation: Economy or Deluxe Meal plan: bed and breakfast |
BIKES AVAILABLE FOR THIS TOUR
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Price per person in a double room
CATEGORY |
Low-season |
Mid-season |
High-season |
A - B&B/ECONOMY 3*** |
€ 1.225 |
€ 1.425 |
€ 1.775 |
B - DE LUXE (3/4* Hotels) |
€ 1.775 |
€ 1.975 |
€ 2.375 |
Low season: January 8th to April 13th / April 22nd to May 31st / September 23rd to December 22nd
Mid season: June 1st to July 14th / August 24th to September 22nd
High season: April 14th to 21st / July 15th to August 23rd / December 23rd to January 7th
Mid season: June 1st to July 14th / August 24th to September 22nd
High season: April 14th to 21st / July 15th to August 23rd / December 23rd to January 7th
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