It’s hard to beat the sense of freedom and adventure you get when exploring the outdoors. But, you can take this up a notch when you change countries. It’s not just great being outdoors, it’s exciting visiting places that you’ve never seen before.
It’s time to discover the beauty of Sicily!
Top Tip
Before you grab your bike and book a flight or ferry, take a moment to look at dicasainsicilia.com and book yourself a private villa. It means you’ll have all the comfort you need to recover after a hard day in the saddle. Booking one is likely to be the best decision you’ve ever made.
Try the Santuario Rosalia Loop
This cycling route starts in Palermo and is approximately 40km long. It will take you around three hours and takes you 1,875ft above sea level. You’ll leave Palmera and pass through Mondello, Santuario S. Rosalia before heading up the trail to M.Pellegrino. It’s a steady climb and you need a reasonable level of fitness.
But, the view from the top is stunning.
Cibali Circlopi Loop
You need to be relatively fit for this circuit but any skill level can tackle it as the surfaces are almost all paved. There are several small sections where you’ll have to push your bike as cycling is prohibited.
You’ll leave Cibali and head to the beautiful seaside spot of Isole Ciclopi before admiring Capo Mulini and heading on to the Chiesa Di San Mauro Abate. It will take you 2.5 hrs and is a little under 40km.
Colata Lavica Loop
This route requires you to have a high level of fitness. It will take around four hours and you’ll cover approximately 50km. The lowest point of the route is 1,450ft above sea level and the highest is 6,300ft.
You start at the Valle Della Funivia, near Mount Etna. You can enjoy the view of Etna and the other snow-topped mountains as you travel to Nella Colata Lavica and then follow the route back around in a circle to the start.
Create your own route
There are many more cycle routes for you to explore in Sicily. However, you are on a beautiful island with a rich history. It can be worth simply visiting the various sights on your bike.
You’ll want to take a closer look at Mount Etna, which is the most active volcano in Europe. It’s also worth looking at the mountain town of Taormina, one of the most popular destinations with high rollers and those who fancy trying la dolce vista.
Another great spot is the Valley of the Temples. It dates back to the 5th century BC, the time of the ancient Greeks. At the time it was one of the largest cities in the western world. You can also look at the Museo Archeologico, potentially the finest museum on the island.
If you to wind down then try Agrigento, where you’ll find an array of restaurants and bars, allowing you to relax your weary legs and plan your next cycling route. There is so much to see on this island you can literally start pedalling and see where you end up.
