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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.

Etna Volcano, Sicily
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

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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
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

Chiesa de Zafferana
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