With its diverse landscape and abundance of things to see, Sicily is perfect cycling country. Perhaps you fancy cycling through the film sets of the famous Italian TV detective, Inspector Montalbano? Or maybe you prefer the more dramatic gorges and coastal scenery. Possibly you prefer to pedal your way from historic site to historic site? Whatever your tastes, there are plenty of options available. There are simply too many routes available to mention them all here but we hope that this list of cycling suggestions provides some initial inspiration to get out and about on two wheels.
Firstly, how can we not mention the opportunity to cycle up the slopes of Mount Etna. This is certainly not a cycle route for those that aren’t at the peak of physical fitness! A massive climb to over 3300 metres above sea level, there are six well mapped cycling routes to take you to the summit. These are all named after famous cyclists. The most challenging of the six routes is probably the route from Pedara to Rifugio Sapienza. In the Summer months, you’ll need plenty of water – it’s gruelling in the heat of the Summer sun.
For something a little less challenging, how about considering one of the coastal paths. The coastline between Trapani to Siracusa passes through some of the most beautiful sites on the island including the acropolis of Selinunte. Or cycle between Trapani and Marsala to enjoy beautiful views of the sea and the Egadi islands. Throughout this part of the island, SIBIT (Sustainable Inter-regional Bike Tourism) have well signposted routes. Brown signs clearly marked with the symbol of a bicycle will show you how much further it is to the next destination.
Otherwise, there are many routes to be enjoyed in the province of Agrigento and in the south of the island. Cycle paths will take you to incredible archaeological sites and nature reserves. They’ll also take you to Sicily’s towns and cities that have been awarded UNESCO heritage status. Not only that but they’ll take you through forests and valleys, up and down peaks. With routes to suit all abilities, there truly is something for everyone when cycling in Sicily.
