Sicily Bike.com

South-East Crater - credit: jmg378s

N days: One week

Skill level: High

This itinerary requires a high fit level, necessary condition to face the long distances and the hard slopes.

You have to keep attention if You have heart or legs problems.

This trip has a high enjoy level because the particularity of the route, with the amazing view from the height of the Etna and its villages.

Mt. Etna from Catania - credit: CyboRoZ

1. Catania to Etna

• Arrival day at Catania airport
• Transfer to Rifugio Sapienza on the volcano Etna at 850 metres on sea level
• The bike trip starts from here, in the west mountainside. The panoramic route that overlooks an amazing view
• Crossing Bronte, famous for its pistachio’s plantations
• Arrival in the ancient medieval village of Randazzo, where you will take your accommodation

Total Lenght: 60 Km

Alcantara Gorges - credit: niky81

2. Alcantara Gorges Tour

You will visit:

• Alcantara rivers and its gorges
• Francavilla di Sicilia and Castiglione di Sicilia
• Return to Randazzo

Total Lenght: 60 Km

3. Total Climb of the Volcano Etna

• Starting from Linguaglossa (Piano Provenzana), at 188 metres on the sea level
• From Piano Provenzana crossing Fornazzo, a very small mountain village, to arrive in Zafferana Etnea, famous village for its honey production.
• Take your accommodation in Santa Venerina, a village bordering on Zafferana

Total Length: 75 Km

Giardini Naxos Sea - credit: Brka

4. Taormina - Giardini Naxos - Sant’Alfio - Milo

Return to Santa Venerina
Total Length: 75 Km

5. The Ionic coast

Visit:

• Acireale, one of the most important Sicilian village
• Timpa natural reserve
• Acicastello
• Acitrezza, a fishermen village famous as setting of “I Malavoglia” of Giovanni Verga

Total Lenght: 75 Km

Departure day: Transfer to Catania ariport

Zafferana Etnea Dome - credit: areta

Attractions and landscape

Villages:

• Zafferana Etnea
• Santa Venerina
• Randazzo, ancient medieval village
• Bronte, famous for pistacchio’s plantation

Nature:

• Natural and lunar places on the volcano.
• From here you will enjoy an amazing view of the ionic coast and the Aeolian islands
• Pine forests near Linguaglossa and Piano Provenzana
• Alcantara river

Draw out your trip

Yo can visit Catania and Syracuse

Benefits: The attractions of the variegated itinerary that join natural places with historic places

Drawbacks: Very difficult routes, hard slopes and long distances.

Suggestions

• Choose spring or autumnal months
• Be careful to roads condition
• Take with you a topographic map

Equipment

• Bike clothes
• Water proof jacket
• Sun glasses
• Sun cream
• All you need to repair your bike
• All you need for first aid

Weather

The height difference and range will be the problems you have to face by taking with you the appropriate clothing