"MONTALBANO SONO" Cycling tour (8 days / 7 nights)

Rich in culture, history and beautiful landscapes, Sicily is one of the most fascinating areas of Italy. Our week esploration by bycicle takes us in eastern Sicily, an area of outstanding natural beauty with its natural reserves, crystal-clear sea and vegetation. During the week we ride on through the Noto Valley to admire the baroque, nowadays Patrimony of Unesco. The trip will make you discover baroque towns such as Modica, and Noto, the most important baroque town of Sicily, and Siracusa, an ancient Greek colony. During this cycling tour you will have the chance to admire and visit some of the real life locations used for the Montalbano TV series. You will have the chance to live the same atmosphere you feel when you watch the programme.

1st day: Catania / Comiso apt. - Ragusa
Private transfer. The tour starts in Ragusa where you will have briefing and accommodation.

2nd day: Ragusa - Modica – Scicli (33 Km): includes a visit to a chocolate factory.
Our ride starts from Ragusa but, before cycling, we will admire its historical monuments through the picturesque lanes in the mediaeval part of the town. You will also have the chance to taste the delicious "granite" in the same square where Inspector Montalbano and the others characters stroll around the main street. Cycling along the Ibleo territory where landscapes are sometimes wild and bare and sometimes full of vegetation, but always beautiful with its characteristic "dry stone walls" as limit of properties. Do not miss a visit to 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, the S. Pietro Church and the many palaces like the Polara palace (other places where the Montalbano series took place). Once you reach the town of Scicli, it will be like you are in the fiction itself. You will visit the centre with the ample Piazza Italia, and the "Commissariato" of Montalbano Inspector that you will easily recognize. Not to miss the monuments and other impressive and scenographic buildings such as the Saint Barthelemy Church, looking out over a rocky landscape of ever-changing colours. Accommodation in the area.

3rd day: Scicli - Donnafugata – Santa Croce di Camerina (48 Km)
After leaving the town of Scicli, you will cycle along a typical Iblei landscape before reaching Santa Croce di Camerina. From there you will go back and forth reaching the Donnafugata Castle – in the fiction it is the house of one of Montalbano´s enemies, Mafia Boss Balduccio Sinagra. To visit the castle a ticket is needed, and you will have the chance to visit the castle inside and the gardens. Accommodation in Santa Croce di Kamerina area.

4th day: Santa Croce di Kamerina – Punta Secca – Marina di Modica (46 km)
We will cycle to reach Punta Secca, the place where there is the house of Montalbano. You will have the chance to stop and admire the charming house on the beach where you can imagine him swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. A couple of steps far from the house the famous restaurant where the Inspector Montalbano has lunches. Keep on cycling until reaching the enchanting village of Marina di Modica where you will have the accommodation.

5th day: Marina di Modica - Portopalo (50 km)
Very nice cycling from Marina di Modica to Portopalo. You will cycle admiring the Eastern part of Sicily until reaching the fisherman village of Portopalo where you will have the chance to reach the island of Capo Passero and "l´isola delle Correnti". Accommodation in the area.

6th day: Portopalo – Noto (37 km)
Cycling on the flat before and gradually cycling uphill towards North, passing through the untouched and pristine Vendicari Natural Oasis, area of great scientific interest with a lot of flora and fauna varieties. Our trip continues towards north ending the day in the city of Noto, the capital of Baroque. Accommodation in Noto.

7th day: Noto –Siracusa (35 km)
After having tasted the almond "granite" with the brioches, pride of the capital of the baroque as well as the many churches and palaces, we will cycle on the flat along the coast towards Siracusa, capital of the Magna Grecia, accommodation in the area.
Time at disposal to visit the charming town of Siracusa, Neapolis archaeological park where the Greek Theatre rises. And the charming little island of Ortigia, historical and cultural centre of the town. Of big interest the Temple of Apollo, the Dome that is the outcome of successive transformations made to the grandiose temple of Athena, and the Fountain of Arethusa. Accommodation in the area.

8th day: Departure

WHAT´S INCLUDED:

• 7 nights B&B.
• Luggage transfer.
• Transfer from the airport to the first accommodation.
• Chocolate factory.
• Telephone assistance.
• Road Book and maps.

WHAT´S NOT INCLUDED:

• Transfers to the airport.
• Lunches, dinners, and beverages.
• Ticket fees and extras.
• City Tax (to be paid at the hotels).