SICILY MOTORCYCLE RIDE ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE ISLAND
Sicily, the biggest island of the country is located at the end of continental Italy, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to this position it was a crossroad where many different people and cultures past through and settled down over the millennia including the Phoenicians, the Arabs, the Byzantines, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Spaniards. All of them enriched the island with their own culture, passing on Sicily the artistic and cultural heritage making it a unique place in the world. Over the centuries these historic treasures have enchanted Goethe, Alexandre Dumas, Elliot, Tocqueville, Maupassant, Edmondo De Amicis, and many others.
Beyond history and culture, nature is the most spectacular attraction of this island: it features mountains, volcanoes, caves, gorges, lovely coastlines, beautiful beaches, crystal clear turquoise sea, breathtaking panoramas. On this tour, you will be riding your bike in this heavenly environment!
The "Sicily motorcycle ride tour" starts in Palermo, the capital of the region. You can reach Palermo very easily: riding throughout the mainland of Italy and taking a ferry between Villa San Giovanni and Messina, or choosing a more comfortable option taking a ferry, and embarking also your motorcycle, departing from the ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Cagliari or Naples, as you like.
When in Palermo, we suggest visiting the city, here some of the monuments worth a stop:
1 - "Vucciria" is a very large and very colorful southern-style market
2 - The imposing Palace of the Normans, Palazzo dei Normanni, is the oldest European palace, the pride of the local people due to the astonishing architectural structure and the sumptuous interiors divided into various environments, among which stand out the majestic Pisan Tower (Torre Pisana), the Palatine Chapel, Cappella Palatina), the Hall of Hercules, and the Hall of King Roger. Although the Palace of the Normans is now the seat of the Sicilian Region, many rooms can be visited every day.
3 - The Chinese Palace is another dwelling of the kings of the "Two Sicilies",this was the name of the kingdom. It was restored at the behest of King Ferdinand maintaining the original Chinese style it was built in but embellishing it with new Neoclassical elements giving the palace the wonderful current appearance.
4 - The "Theatre Massimo" is one of the most visited monuments in Palermo and also, it is the largest theater in Italy and one of the largest ones in Europe. It features a beautiful Neoclassical façade and a stunning Liberty-style hall called "Sala Grande".
5 - The "Pretoria Fountain" is one of the most beautiful fountains in Italy but it is also nicknamed "Fountain of Shame" because of the several nude statues. It was created in Florence in 1554 and was sold in 1573 to the city of Palermo.
6 - The "Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Assumption" displays different architectural styles like Byzantine, Norman Romanesque, Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical due to the many restorations carried out over the centuries.
7 - Finally, do not forget to stop at the nearby Mondello, the suggestive, renowned beach of Palermo. Go for a swim in the sea and then taste the famous "Arancini", balls fried in oil made of cooked rice with cheese, meat or ham and lots of spices.
When your visit to Palermo is over start out on this motorcycle tour following the road that leads to the "Riserva dello Zingaro" where you will enjoy the beautiful small bays hidden among high rocks and cliffs overlooking the sea and surrounded by lush Mediterranean greenery. Then, left behind Scopello and San Vito lo Capo you will take the scenic drive road that leads to Erice climbing up through hairpin bends.
Along the beautiful coastline between Trapani and Marsala, you will find the famous Trapani salt pans and a vast lagoon with the Stagnone islands inside.
The city of Marsala still preserves the memories of Garibaldi and the 1000 Garibaldians who started out from here in 1860 on their way to unify Italy as we know this country today. The hills around Marsala are covered by vineyards and here is produced the renowned wine that takes its name after the city. Marsala Wine is a slightly sweet, dry red wine with an intense flavor and persistent aroma. It is one of the best dessert wines in the world.
Keep on riding your motorcycle and you will cross first Sciacca, one of the most picturesque fishing villages in Sicily, and then, when you will get to Mazara del Vallo have a stop in one of the many restaurants and taste the typical local specialty: the characteristic red-color big shrimps that are real delicacies even only with a splash of lemon.
The stretch of the coast between Eraclea Minoa and Realmonte is part of the Torre Salsa Natural Reserve and here you will find several beaches as beautiful as those in the Caribbean!
When your motorcycle will reach Agrigento turn to the famous archaeological site The Valley of the Temples dating back to the Hellenic age. Then, in the next village called "Piazza Armerina", do not miss a visit to the famous 4th-century "Villa Romana del Casale" where you can admire the still intact beautiful mosaics.
The following village of Caltagirone is famous for its precious handmade ceramics articles, so if you like, here you can get some valuable souvenirs.
Go back to your motorcycle and ride a few kilometers ahead reaching Ragusa. This city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its beautiful eighteenth-century Baroque churches and buildings. If you are an art-lover, you should not miss Ragusa as well as Modica, which is a small city rich in Baroque style treasures.
Some more kilometers and you will reach the Cave of Ispica, a necropolis from the late Roman period carved into the rock.
Your last destination will be the small Correnti isle. It is the southernmost point of Sicily, where the Ionio sea and the Mediterranean sea meet. You can reach the island by a short walk on foot paying attention to the rocky sea bed, the currents, and waves. The area near the isle is rich in hotels, B&B, campings and there are also some really beautiful fine sandy beaches such as Punto Rio, Playa Carratois, Lido Scialai bathed by the crystal clear seawater. Here is where this fabulous "Sicily motorcycle ride tour" will come to the end.
