Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Scopello (3km)
Transfer from Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport to the ancient village of Scopello a very small village sprang up around an ancient “baglio” dating back to the 17th century (during the Roman period, in western Sicily, the so called “bagli” were built with defensive purpose and then, in the XV century, were used in agriculture and included in the interior the houses of the farmers and the storehouses for tools and cattle).
The village of Scopello is located 100 meters above sea level not far from the Zingaro Nature Oriented Reserve. It is one of the most picturesque places in the province of Trapani and is renowned for the homonymous tuna fish station, which during 1500 was one of the most productive in Sicily. In Scopello you’ll be shown your tour and given some informative documents along with your rental bikes.
You could spend this first day on a relaxed walk inside the Zingaro Nature Reserve.
The coastline that stretches between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo has become a nature reserve, the first established in Sicily, since 1980. It is one of the unspoiled and most charming areas in Sicily and can be explored only on foot. The reserve is a place of great value not only for the beauty of the little bays where you can stop for a refreshing swim, but, above all, for the presence of endemic species both animal and vegetal and the woods of dwarf palm. You can stop for a swim at any of the little bays along the coast path or climb up the mountain to enjoy a wonderful view on the Gulf of Castellammare. Visiting the Museum of Contrada Sughero it’ll be possible to discover usages and customs of the people that lived in the park at the beginning of the 20th century. Day 2: Scopello to Erice (40 miles/64km)
The day's ride is not very long to give you more time to visit the fascinating town of Erice, perched on top of mount San Giuliano. The town nowadays has a very pleasant medieval feel, but this was one of the most important religious center dedicated to the goddess of fertility Astarte for the Phoenicians, Aphrodite for the Greeks and Venus for the Romans. Erice was contended by the Syracusans and by the Carthaginians till the Roman conquest in 244 BC. Day 3: Erice to Masala (38 miles/61km)
The panoramic descent from Erice and the following route in the interior will lead you to the Marsala Salt Mining Reserve and to Moziaand the little uncontaminated Punic Island. The panoramic downhill road will lead you from Erice to the sea cycling along almost completely flat roads, in the open countryside. Once you arrive at the sea you’ll enjoy a magnificent view of the Salt Mine and the wind mills.
At the landing-stage in Mozia it’ll be possible to visit the Marsala Salt Mining Reserve and discover the process of salt cultivation and look at a wind mill at close range. Then, by a little boat, it’ll be possible to go to the suggestive Island of Mozia, Punic fortress, owned and operated by a foundation established by the Whitaker family, winemakers in Sicily. The foundation preserves what Giuseppe Whitaker an English man born (1850) and grown up in Palermo, keen on archaeology. It is possible to visit the Archaeological Museum and the ruins of a considerable civilization, complete with the harbor and the cemetery. Some of the finds displayed in the museum have a distinctly Egyptian influence, while others are probably Hellenic.
This flat region has always been known for its fine grapes, but it was the Englishman, John Woodhouse, who introduced the wine business in 1796, having already developed a similar product (the Port wine) in Portugal.
After Mozia the last kilometers on the level will lead you to Marsala where you can visit the wine-producing firm with wine tasting. Day 4: Masala to Selinunte (42 miles/67km)
Leaving the flat vineyards around Marsala you curve inland through a softly undulating series of hills, then down towards the sea again, passing near the archaeological site of the Cave di Cusa where you can see and understand better how the temples of Selinunte were built. Pass through Campobello di Mazzara and continue on till you reach Selinunte the abandoned ancient Greek city, with impressive ruins of an acropolis and numerous temples. Day 5: Selinunte to Poggioreale (Contessa Entellina) (41 miles/65km)
From the flat coastal plains you head inland and the hills of the Belice Valley. A totally different Sicily, the sea being visible only sometimes and at a distance, Here, as far as the eye can see you find a succession of hills, dotted with the interesting ruins of ancient farmhouses. The Valle del Belice was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1968, completely destroying many villages. This very sparely populated area is very beautiful. Day 6: Poggioreale to Piana degli Albanesi (39 miles/64km)
Another cycling day in the interior countryside of west Sicily. Pass close to Corleone and reach a comfortable farm near Piana degli Albanesi. Day 7: Piana degli Albanesi to Monreale (19 miles/34km)
You’ll reach Monreale along the track of an ancient railway, you’ll drive through the Conca d’Oro (ancient valley at the gates of Palermo, boundless garden during the Arab domination), arriving in Monreale.
Monreale is world-renowned for its cathedral called Santa Maria la Nuova, a dazzling mixture of Arab, Byzantine and Norman artistic styles framed by traditional Romanesque architecture, all combined in a perfect blend of the best that both the Christian and Muslim worlds of the 12th century had to offer. The beautiful mosaics in the Cathedral of Monreale are said to be one of the world's largest displays of this art, covering 6,340 square meters of the interior surface of the duomo. The splendid cloister of the Benedictine Abbey alone would make Monreale famous. Located next to the Cathedral, the 228 columns, some with mosaic inlay, each with a meticulously stone carved capital, enclose the gardens of the cloister. The capitals themselves depict scenes of Norman history in Sicily, complete with knights and kings. The style of the Norman knight figures evokes that of the knights depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, a chronicle of the Battle of Hastings. Day 8: Departure
Tour complete after breakfast. Why not extend your trip with extra nights? Hooked on Walking and Cycling highly recommends extra nights in Scopello, Erice, Monreale and Palermo. |
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