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Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our cycling holiday in Sicily. This cycling holiday we have called the Ancient cultures of Western Sicily as simply this western region has some many different cultures and historic ancient sites. This cycling holiday is available as a seven night self guided tour and a seven night guided tour. The cycle tour is in undulating terrain and therefore you should have some experience or done some cycling before.
Sicily's strategic position, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, lying between Europe and Africa, linking the eastern and western Mediterranean and the Latin World with the Greek resulted in it being not only the prized possession of foreign powers in its tumultuous history, but also a battleground between warring nations. Sicily’s long history of foreign domination has produced an incredible mix of traditions and cultures, leaving behind some of the most remarkable works or art and architecture found in the Mediterranean world. As you travel through the least densely populated part of the island, you will be amazed by the many architectonic styles, predominantly Greek Medieval and Baroque
One of the most outstanding qualities of western Sicily is the juxtaposition of colours, constantly changing according to the season. The sea is a predominant feature in this trip. Its many shades of green, turquoise and blue, contrast sharply with the intense whiteness of the salt lakes, exulted by the warm sun that makes everything glow and shine. Inland, the greens, yellows and browns characterise the seemingly infinite succession of cultivated rolling hills, dotted with soft coloured buildings, whites, creams, yellows and greys, depending on the material used and the period of construction.
Available daily 1st March to 15th July and 1st September to 30th November
Level 2-3 self guided tour
Guided tour available on the 13th April and 12th October.
Day 1 Arrival and transfer to Scopello
Arrival to Palermo airport and transfer to the ancient village of Scopello.
Scopello is a very small village which sprang up around an ancient “baglio” dating back to the seventeenth-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 hire bikes. 
Nubia and a short distance from Trapani. According to your arrival time you can get a chance to visit the salt museum or have a relaxing walk to the salt marshes park where is possible to bird watch in the protected area.
Day 2 40 miles , 64 km Scopello to Nubia
This is a gentle rolling ride towards the west side of the island. On this ride you’ll have a “tasting” of the Trapani countryside with its rolling hills covered by vineyards and olive trees.
Day 3 Bike loop to Erice
Today you’ll have a bike loop to the medieval town of Erice, on the top of the hill that you can see easily from your hotel. This is a wonderful ride, where you will enjoy the view of the sea all the time. If you want avoid the climb to Erice, you can use the cable way (from Trapani) where is possible to carry your bike too. After the visit of the medieval town and the tasting of the sweet and delicious "genovesi" you'll enjoy the downhill back to the hotel passing through some villages close to Trapani.
Erice is located on the top of the homonymous Mount that towers above Trapani. The town nowadays has a very pleasant medieval atmosphere, but in ancient times it was an important religious centre for the Elymians, a population that lived in western Sicily before the Greek colonization.
Here they built a temple to the goddess of fertility where the Phoenicians worshipped Astarte, the Greeks Aphrodite and the Romans Venus. Erice was contended by the Syracusans and by the Carthaginians till the Roman conquest in 244 BC. During the Arabian invasion it was called Gebel Hamed (Mount of Hamed). In the XII century it gained again some of the lost importance and then followed the political fate of the Island.
Day 4 38 miles , 61 km Nubia to Masala.
Today you follow a 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 to 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 5 42 miles , 67 km Masala to Selinunte.
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 6 41 miles , 65 km Selinunte to Contessa Entellina.
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 7 39 miles , 64 km Contessa Entellina to Segesta
Today you’ll pass by the Ruins of Poggioreale. Poggioreale is one of the towns of the Belice Valley struck by the earthquake in 1968. Visiting the ruins of the town you’ll have an idea about the interior of Sicily in the first half of the twentieth century. Lots and lots of emotions pervade the soul of the traveller in this abandoned place. Near the ruins of Poggioreale it is possible to see the work of art of the modern artist Alberto Burri who has covered with a white cement flow the ruins of the neighbouring country of Gibellina, maintaining the street pattern.
The Archaeological site of Segestais one of the most important and representative in Sicily. The site is renowned for the temple, one of the most representative images of tourism in Sicily, and for the theatre that like a shell suspended in space looks towards the Gulf of Castellammare. Segesta, together with Erice and Entella, was a powerful city of the Elymians, population coming from Turkey, and was marked by several conflicts with Selinunte. During the first Punic War, under the rule of the Romans and the Greeks the town underwent periods of glory; then it was destroyed by the vandals and occupied by the Saracens and ceases to exist in the Early Middle Ages
Day 8 Tour complete after breakfast
Why not extend your trip with extra nights.
Our standard accommodation on on this tour is ( subject to change )
Scopello - 3 star B&B le Grotte www.beblegrotte.com
Trapani - 4 star Relais Antiche Saline www.relaisantichesaline.com
Marsala - 3 star Hotel Villa Favorita www.villafovorita.com
Selinunte - 4 star Hotel Admeto www.hoteladmeto.it
Contessa Entelina - 3 star Bio country house www.roccadeicapperi.com
Segesta Hotel Relais Angimbe
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What is Included
- 7 Nights Bed and Breakfast
- 3 / 4 Star Hotels and farm Tourism
- 2 Evening dinners
- Airport transfer from Palermo airport on Day 1
- Information Pack
- Welcome meeting
- Routes and Maps
- Luggage transfers
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Extras
- Hybrid Rental Cycle
- Cost before and after tour
- Extra nights
- Flights
- Airport Transfer at end of tour
- Travel Insurance
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Tariff 2012
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Tour Code CEWSIC - Self guided
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Tour Code CEWSIC - guided
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Price per person based on two persons sharing double/twin room
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£764
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£951
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Single occupancy
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N/A
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£1216
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Rental Cycle
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£106
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£106
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How to get there
By Plane
Guided tour To Palermo Punta Raisi airport where we pick you up and transfer you on the first day to your first nights accommodation. Also fly out of Palermo
Self guided tour Best to Trapani airport where a short taxi to your hotel. Best to fly out of Palermo airport although Tranpani is possible.
To View our other cycling holidays in Italy
Click below to view our
Walking Holidays in Italy
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