Bicycle Tours in Italy: Cycling the Coast of Sicily Plus! Ancient Mediterranean Cities Tour Itinerary

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Day 1: Tour begins in Mondello, Italy

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Highlights: Seaside resort of Mondello, bike fitting and introductory dinner
We'll gather today in Mondello, the fashionable turn-of-the-19th century seaside bathing resort near Palermo. Mondello is a wonderful place to spend a day or two before the tour begins. From here you can visit Palermo, yet still enjoy the quiet of a seaside holiday resort built around a small fishing village and a long stretch of sandy beach. We fit bicycles this afternoon and enjoy dinner together after introductions this evening.

Day 2: Cycle through Vineyards and Orange Groves

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Highlights: Castellammare del Golfo and its medieval castle
Our route today takes us almost due west along the coast, past vineyards and orange groves to Castellammare del Golfo. Once the primary port for the ancient Greek towns of Segesta and Erice, Castellammare clusters around its small fishing port and medieval castle on the gulf of the same name. Dinner is on your own this evening in one of the restaurants along the port. Distance: 65 km (41 miles).

Day 3: Bicycle to the Ruins of Segesta and on to Bonagía

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Highlights: Ancient Greek ruins and coastal riding
We follow a remote valley inland this morning to discover the ruins of ancient Segesta lost among the hills of western Sicily. Perhaps because of its isolated site, Segesta boasts one of the best-preserved temples from all of ancient Greece. The temple was built around 430 BC and together with the nearby theater dating to the 3rd century BC, Segesta is one of the most evocative of ancient sites in Sicily. Take your time to visit, and then we'll head on along the hills and ridges of western Sicily to our hotel on the small fishing port of Bonagía. Dinner is together tonight. Distance: 58 km (36 miles plus additional for those who wish).

Day 4: Loop Ride to Beach at San Vito lo Capo

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Highlights: San Vito lo Capo's Beach, museum of the Mediterranean tuna industry
Our ride today takes us along the coast to San Vito lo Capo and back. Those who want can take a swim at the wonderful white sand beach of San Vito. And if you would like extra mileage, we suggest continuing on to the end of the road along this pristine shore adjacent to Lo Zingaro Natural Reserve. You may want to stop and look at the church of San Vito in the village, originally a 13th Century fortress church. We will be back at our hotel in Bonagía this evening. Our hotel is a converted tuna fishing station, and in the historic watch tower there is a small museum that documents the history and technology of the tuna fishery in the western Mediterranean basin. We will tour the museum together before dinner on your own this evening. Distance: 60 - 84 km (38 - 53 miles).

Day 5: Trapani and Erice

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Highlights: Explore historical Trapani and the fortress in Erice
Our ride today takes us to the hilltop village of Erice by way of Trapani. You'll have a chance to visit Trapani's historical center with its baroque churches and lively fish market before riding up to Erice. Erice was a Greek town and important medieval fortress which still preserves its original ambiance. Our hotel is in the heart of the village. Distance: 40 km (25 miles).

Day 6: Erice to Marsala

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Highlights: Marsala wine tasting, 8th century BC Phoenician ruins
We head inland from our mountain fortress this morning, pedaling by miles of wheat fields. We'll be back on the coast for a late lunch on your own, visit to the Phoenician ruins of Motya, dating to the 8th century BC, and a visit to the natural marine reserve and saline (salt pans). This afternoon we'll be in Marsala where we visit a winery producing the famous, fortified Marsala wines. Dinner together this evening. Distance: 64 km (40 miles).

Day 7: Bicycle Marsala to Marinella

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Highlights: Limestone quarries in Cusa, vineyard landscapes
Our route takes us along the shore south of Marsala today, and by acres of vineyards producing the famous wines of the region. We'll suggest lunch in Mazara del Vallo or enjoy a picnic lunch at Cusa, site of the ancient limestone quarries for the temples of Selinunte. At Cusa you'll see gigantic blocks of limestone columns abandoned, it seems, just as they were ready for shipping. We are in Marinella this evening, adjacent to the ruins of Selinunte. Dinner together this evening. Distance: 65 km (41 miles).

Day 8: Selinunte to Sciacca

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Highlights: Ruins of Selinunte, thermal spas of Sciacca
Our ride is short today, so we suggest first taking your bicycle to explore the vast ruins of Selinunte. The ruins are divided between two ridges, one with the temples and one with the ruins of the ancient city. Once we get on the road it's a wonderful ride through citrus and olive groves to Sciacca. Go explore the beach at Porto Palo if you'd like a little extra mileage. We are in Sciacca this evening, a thermal spa and major fishing port. Dinner on your own. Distance: 46 km (29 miles).

Day 9: Rest day in Sciacca, lunch in Caltabellotta

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Highlights: Special Sicilian lunch in Caltabellotta, optional ride
Enjoy a rest and a shuttle today if you'd like, or take a beautiful ride to Caltabellotta and back. We'll enjoy a lunch of Sicilian specialties together in Caltabellotta, a hilltop village dominating the interior from its limestone mountain three thousand feet above Sciacca. Dinner is on your own in Sciacca this evening. Distance: 0 - 50 km (0 - 31 miles).

Day 10: Bicycle Sciacca To Agrigento

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Highlights: Greek Temples of Agrigento
Our ride today takes us inland through dry wheat lands, vineyards, the village of Ribera, famous for its oranges and olive groves, and through a tremendous variety of geologic formations as we wind our way to Agrigento. Agrigento has one of the finest collections of ancient Greek temples anywhere in the Mediterranean basin. Our hotel is not far from the ruins so you'll want to have a rest, then go exploring as the setting sun turns the limestone columns a golden color. We celebrate a final dinner together this evening. Distance: 71 km (44 miles).

Day 11: Tour ends in Agrigento

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Highlights:
We say goodbye after breakfast this morning. Stay on to explore the ruins of Agrigento if you'd like, or for those headed home, we'll tell you how to get to the train or bus station for your transfer back to Palermo. You'll take with you a far better understanding of Magna Grecia now that you've pedaled between these ancient sites and wandered amid some of the finest ruins remaining from antiquity. Join us again sometime soon!