What a Bike tour of Sicily suggested me during my last trip...

Eruption of 2004

Sicily is the biggest island in the mediterranean sea.

[URL=http://goitaly.about.com/od/sicilyitaly/p/sicily.htm]Here[/URL] a list of useful information You can read to find what you need to [URL=http://www.sicilybike.com]travel in Sicily by Bike[/URL]. Please have a look and tell me, what do you think.

[B]Sicily Location[/B]: Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, a place where Africa, Italy and Greece come together. Sicily is southwest of the Italian mainland and east of Tunisia.

[B]Transportation to Sicily[/B]: Sicily has two main airports, Palermo in the west and Catania in the east, with flights to and from Italy and other parts of Europe. The main trainline takes you to Sicily from the mainland along the coast going south from Rome. Ferries connect Sicily to mainland Italy, Sardinia, Malta, Tunisia, and Egypt.

[B]Getting Around Sicily[/B]: Buses or trains connect all major cities of Sicily and also go to many small villages. Some of the train routes are very scenic but slow. The narrow gauge Circumetnea railroad circles Mt. Etna stopping at many small villages. There is transportation from both airports to several locations in Sicily.

[B]Sicily Attractions[/B]:

* Agrigento has an outstanding complex of Greek temples, the Valley of the Temples, not to be missed. Its medieval center, with Arab and Norman influences, is also worth exploring. Agrigento lies along a ridge on the southwest coast. Agrigento Travel Guide

* Cefalu is a popular seaside town east of Palermo with beautiful beaches and scenery, museums, and historical monuments. From the top of La Rocca, there are great views of the city and second-century BC Temple of Diana.

* Enna, 1000 meters high, is noted for its fantastic views of the mountains, including Mount Etna. Enna is a fortress town with ruins of its 13th century castle.

* Erice is a beautiful little medieval town perched atop a mountain with impressive views. It was once a place where gods were honored. Today it is famous for its pastries.

* Mount Etna is Europe's largest live volcano and one of the most active in the world. The lower slopes have walking paths with good views while you can ski on the higher slopes in winter (see Italy Skiing).

* Marsala is the heart of Sicily's wine-producing region. It also has a Roman archaeological site and museum and a historic quarter.

* Palermo is a lively city with a fascinating central market and many historic monuments. Palermo's Archaeological museum has a good colletction of Greek relics.

* Ragusa and nearby Modica, Scicli, and Noto are beautiful Baroque towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ragusa has a stunning old town. Ragusa Travel Guide

* Segesta is a beautiful setting with some excellent Greek temple ruins, well worth a visit.

* Siracusa, on the southeast coast, has more classical ruins and a Greek theater. Its also a good place for shopping and eating. Siracusa holds a big festival for Santa Lucia Day in December. (see December Events) Syracuse Travel Guide

* Taormina is an attractive holiday resort with a beautiful Greek theater still used for summer performances. Lying on the slopes of Mt. Tauro, it has great views of the coast and Mt. Etna. It's also a good place for shopping and visiting beaches. Taormina Visitors Guide

* Custonaci, a small town near Trapani in Sicily, has an interesting nativity scene re-enacted inside a cave around Christmas, usually December 25-26 and again in early January. A tiny town was buried in the cave by a landslide in the 1800's. Now excavated and it serves as a setting for live nativity events. The village is set up to resemble an ancient village with craftspeople and small shops.

If you want to see our trip in Sicily. Please [URL=http://biketours.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/tips-to-travel-in-italy/]have a look below[/URL] and find the attractions we visited. If you have the suggestions or practiced the same itinerary please comment below and stay tuned.

[B]1° Arrival From Catania[/B] airport to Palazzolo Acreide, an important village on Iblei Mounts because its San Paolo and San Sebastiano Churches are included in Unesco World Heritage list.

[B]2° From Palazzolo Acreide[/B] bike through Iblei Mounts until Cavagrande Canyon. Here the Cassibile river has created canyon and splendid waterfall where you can have a relaxing bath after hard biking.

After your lunch bag, in the afternoon bike until Noto Antica ruins, an archaeological site of the ancient village of Noto destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. Here you can see necropolis and the rests of the old village.

Return to your accommodation in Palazzolo Acreide.

[B]3° Bike until Modica[/B]. The best thing after a long biking is tasting the Modica Chocolate. You can ask why you can taste it, and I tell you that this type of chocolate is the best because it is made with an old secret Aztecan recipe arrived here during Spanish domination.

Accommodation in Modica Hotel. After dinner visit the centre of this beautiful village. Here you can enjoy the beautifulness of the great village visiting the Dome and the Churches of an ancient atmosphere.

[B]4° Bike along Irminio river’s[/B] valley until you’ll be in Ragusa Ibla, another site included in Unesco. Here visit the centre of the city.

Return to your accommodation in Modica.

[B]5° Biking until Marzamemi[/B], famous for its tuna fisheries. During the way you can admire almonds fields and cherry tomato cultivation.

Return to Modica through Noto Valley.

[B]

6° Short hike to Vendicari Natural Reserve[/B] where you can admire the beautifulness of a rare beach and different types of birds.

[B]7° Bike to Syracuse[/B]. Accommodation in B&B in Ortigia, an Island in the centre of Syracuse. Important place to visit. In this site you will find another ancient scenario: Apollo temple, Greek theatre where have place INDA shows (National Institute for Ancient Drama) and Roman Amphitheatre used for gladiators fights. This is the last evening, and Syracuse will offer to you an unforgettable night walking on Ortigia’s streets.

[B]8° Return to Catania[/B] airport by public bus.