Sicily - Syracuse, Noto Valley, and Baroque Villages

Day 1: Palazzolo Acreide
Day 2: Palazzolo Acreide - Modica, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 3: Modica - Pozzallo, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Pozzallo - Portopalo di Capopassero, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 5: Portopalo - Marzamemi - Noto, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 6: Noto - Syracuse, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 7: Syracuse
Day 8: Departure

All distances are approximate. Route graphs are available.

Day 1: Palazzolo Acreide
Arrival transfer from the airport to your first hotel. You will have a tour introduction and briefing. 

Day 2: Palazzolo Acreide - Modica, 30 mi. (48 km)
Before setting off on your bike, be sure to admire the historical monuments and picturesque lanes in the medieval part of the town. The day's destination is Modica, one of the UNESCO listed Baroque towns. You will cycle a dramatic landscape of the Monti Iblei, or Hyblaean Mountains, characterized by gentle slopes and sharp valleys. In the central area, you will find forests laced with dry stone walls typical of south-eastern Sicily. The coastal area is characterized by terraced hills with Mediterranean vegetation, such as olives, citrus, and almonds. Accommodation in Modica, situated around a junction of steep valleys, with the oldest part of town, Modica Alta, on a ridge in between. 

Difference in elevation: 407 m

Day 3: Modica - Pozzallo, 26 mi. (42 km)
Before leaving the town of Modica, an amazing aristocratic village that rises on a cliff, you must taste the delicious spicy chocolate and visit the magnificent 18th century Church of San Giorgio. You will cycle downhill along a typical quarry of the Iblei, reaching the town of Scicli, another of the Unesco listed towns. The town sits in a gorge just a few miles from the long sandy beaches of Sampieri and Donnalucata and is overlooked by a towering rocky mass on which the Church of San Matteo sits. You will visit the center with the ample Piazza Italia, the monuments, and other impressive buildings. The day's destination is the port city of Pozzallo, historically important because of its proximity to Malta.  Pozzallo was central to one of the war’s defining moments: in 1943 Allied forces landed on the beaches around Pozzallo as part of Operation Huskey, the first step in the liberation of Europe. 

Difference in elevation: 147 m

Day 4: Pozzallo - Portopalo di Capopassero, 27 mi. (44 km)
Cycling on flat terrain, first on the agenda is Isola delle Correnti, the most remote point of the continent, between the Ionian sea and the Mediterranean, on the same latitude as Tunisi. This is a pleasant old fishing village, with pleasant beaches, coves, and spectacular seascapes.  On the way, you will have the chance to taste the wonderful “Vino D’Avola” in one of the many cellars. Accommodation in the area.

Difference in elevation: 121 m

Day 5: Portopalo - Marzamemi - Noto, 20 mi. (32 km)
You will cycle first on flat terrain, and then begin to climb as you head north, passing through the untouched and pristine Vendicari Natural Oasis, area of great scientific interest,  with an abundance and diversity of flora and fauna.  A highlight will be the beautiful seaside village of Marzamemi, with its picturesque Piazza Regina Margherita. This town is a colorful picture postcard. Multi-colored wooden boats, charming buildings, and fishermen's houses with sky blue doors, and windows with red potted geraniums, add splashes of colors throughout the meandering alleys and harbor! The route continues northward ending the day at the city of Noto, the capital of Baroque. Accommodation in Noto.

Difference in elevation: 151 m

Day 6: Noto - Syracuse, 34 mi. (55 km)
After having tasted the almond “granite” with the brioches, pride of the capital of the Baroque, as well as visit the many churches and palaces, you will cycle along the coast towards Siracusa, capital of the Magna Grecia. Syracuse was once the largest city in the ancient world, larger even than Athens and Corinth, and according to Cicero, “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”. It is true. Few cities rival the timeless beauty of Syracuse.

Difference in elevation: 91 m

Day 7: Syracuse
Today you will have all day to soak in all that is Syracuse. The Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, one of Sicily's greatest archaeological sites, where the Greek Theatre rises is a must-see. The islet of Ortigia is the historical heart of the city of Syracuse. Within its area of ​​one square kilometer, it is possible to admire the architectural beauties of different historical periods: from the first prehistoric settlements, through the numerous remains of ancient Greek Byzantine and Norman. Highlights:  Temple of Apollo, the Dome that is the outcome of successive transformations made to the grandiose temple of Athena, and the Fountain of Arethusa. 

Day 8: Syracuse
End of tour.

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Based on availability, you will be accommodated in an eclectic mix of establishments, including 4 star, one hotel restructured from an old dormitory for railway workers, and a modern beachfront hotel.