- Cost
- € 835 (self-guided) $
- Duration
- 5 days/4 nights
- Start/End
- Santa Margherita Belice/Marsala
Take your time cycling through the gentle hills and Greek relics of western Sicily and learn to prepare a Sicilian meal! This self-guided bike tour takes you through the ancient relics of Selinunte and continues to the villages of Contessa Entellina and Corleone.
Bike across a lesser known Sicily. Relax in the thermal waters at a comfortable spa, and enjoy the magnificence of Selinunte’s Greek temples. Ride through famous and less famous towns such as Corleone and Giuliana with its medieval castle. Learn how to prepare a perfect Sicilian meal.
Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!
Arrival at Palermo Airport with a private transfer to an “agriturismo” very special: it’s located in one of the several ancient quarries the Greeks used for their temples. A place out of the time! A faboulus dinner with a very rich local food is included tonight.
Day 2 – Selinunte
Enjoy a visit to Selinunte, a spectacular ancient Greek temple. Relax on the sandy beach of the natural reserve area of the “Foce del Belice”. An optional relaxing ride is provided in the route notes to discover the archaeological site of Cave di Cusa. The place where the Greeks carved the rock for the Selinunte temples.
Day 3 – Selinunte/Contessa Entellina (33 miles/55 km)
Bike ride to the bio-farm where you will stay the night. Pass through the villages of Giuliana and Santa Maria del Bosco. The Castle of Giuliana, near Palermo, overlooks the Sosio volcanic valley. It is not far to the monastery of Santa Maria del Bosco.
You’ll spend the night in the country near Contessa Entellina and the archaeological site of Entella. Overnight in the farm, dinner not included tonight.
Day 4 – Cooking class or loop to Corleone (35 miles/60km)
Relax at the country house learning to prepare a delicious Sicilian meal or enjoy an optional ride to Corleone, the famous town of the Corleone “family!” Overnight at the farm with dinner included.
Day 5 – Departure Day
End of tour with a transfer to Palermo Airport. Ciao!
Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.
Siciclando carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations.
Our choices are based on comfort and quality. We often choose hotels that are family-owned and operated because they provide a richer experience and because it is important to us to support the efforts of these individuals. We have developed relationships with many wonderful hotel operators. Here is a sample of the hotel on this tour.
Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.
- Travel notes
- The reference airport for this tour is Palermo, served by both Italian and international airlines and Trapani on West Sicily.
- Books
-
- Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
- Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
- Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
- Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino
- Movies
-
- Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
- Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
- Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
- Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
- The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore
- Self-guided tour price
- € 835 – currency converter
- Additional options and fees
-
- Single traveler surcharge – € 179
- Private room – € 120
- Included
-
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to hotel and back again
- Four nights, based on double occupancy
- Four breakfasts and four dinners
- Bike rental – which includes one bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
- One cooking class at the 3 star bio-country house
- Detailed route information and maps
- Not included
-
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites
- Tickets for trains or any public transportation
- Wine or beverages
- Airfare
- Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
- Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
- Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
- Gratuity
- Tour code
- BICO
