Developing tours in Spain was a natural option for us. Sicily and Spain have a long history of interconnection.
Both areas were under Moorish control at various points, leading to a cultural exchange among the areas. Spanish royalty also ruled Naples, Sicily, and Sardegna from 1503 to 1715, and the Spanish Bourbons controlled the Two Sicilies until 1860. Southern Italian dialects still bear many audible traces of the influence that the Spanish language left behind. Despite the similarities, Spanish culture has a lot of differences that were exciting for us to explore in researching potential tours.
Spain is a geographically diverse country, dripping in natural beauty that is waiting to be explored, and it has excellent opportunities for cyclists as well. For us, the Spanish Vías Verdes (green paths) represent an amazing opportunity to experience the beauty of Spain safely and authentically. The Vías Verdes are disused railway lines that have been converted into paths for cycling and hiking, meaning that they are also car-free. The 3,300 km of trails crisscross the Spanish countryside and wind through breathtaking scenery.
One of the regions that fulfills all of our requirements is Andalusia. It has incredible scenery, with craggy mountains and golden plains that quickly fade to the sea. There are enchanting whitewashed towns carved into the rockface of the mountains, iconic steel bridges once for trains that are now part of the Vías Verdes, and even the colorful and twisting canyons of the Gorafe desert. Lively cities like Seville, Malaga, Cordova, and Granada are icons of the region. They are spirited and teeming with cultural experiences and historic treasures. The whispers of Moorish history are embedded in the region's architecture, food, and traditions. Andalusian cuisine is rich in flavor, from the tang of freshly made gazpacho to the earthy richness of locally cured jamón ibérico and the irresistible sweetness of turrón. Local wines and sherries hold the flavors of the land and are perfect compliments to the dishes. A Siciclando trip can't happen without the promise of delicious food and wine, and Andalusian cuisine explodes with flavor.
The Costa Brava and the Empordà region are also areas that we have selected as perfect for our tours. Costa Brava gives off classic Mediterranean vibes with scrubby seaside vegetation and rolling hills along sunny coastlines sprinkled with the ruins of ancient Greek settlements. The Empordà region is just inland of the Costa Brava, where the Pyrenees mountains meet the Mediterranean, a region that seamlessly blends natural beauty with a deep sense of history. Due to the many microclimates of this region, the Empordà PDO wines are exceptionally varied, producing whites, rosés, and reds. From the seat of a bike, pedal by pedal, you'll witness the turquoise and sandy colors of the beach transform into the deep greens of pine trees perched on craggy seaside cliffs, which will, in turn, slope down towards bright green valleys planted with crops and vineyards, dotted with the ruins of ancient civilizations, to then rise into the impressive peaks of the Pyrenees mountains...
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