Sicily to Rome... let that sink. Millennia old history, culinary delights that tickle your taste butts and the rolling hills of the Mediterranean coastline.
The next couple of weeks our group will enjoy all this to the fullest. We start in Catania, Sicily's second largest city and well known for its stunning baroque buildings.
We then ride a loop across the island, visiting the valley of the temples another UNESCO listed site dating back to the Greek and Roman Empire, enjoying the rich landscape shaped by the never really dormant volcano Mt Etna and might have a chance or two to sample some Sicilian wine and dishes along the way.
After that we cross the Straight of Messina onto the mainland of Italy. The state of Calabria is famous for it's spectacular coastline dotted with quaint villages overlooking it's cliffs and bays. Tropea is gonna be our first overnight stay and it does tick all the boxes - picturesque, relaxed and unforgettable.
We then head up north to Acquafredda The pinnacle of Mediterranean coastal living, with azure blue waters, tranquil coves, dramatic cliffs and lush vegetation. You could easily could spend a whole summer here, enjoying the good life.
However, we will have to ride on and we will do so gladly as our next destination will be the unique and famous Pompeij, once a flourishing trading post in the first century AD, tragically buried under 5m of ash after the eruption of the nearby volcano Mt Versuvio. Today, you can visit the ruins, which attract millions of visitors each year as they give you an unrivaled glimpse into antique Roman lifestyle.
But this is only one of the two highlights, we are also able to visit the famous Amalfi coast. A 50-kilometer stretch of coastline, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its dramatic cliffs, vertical pastel-colored villages and Tyrrhenian Sea views.
From here it isn't far to our final destination Rome – the mighty jewel that dominated the continent over centuries, seeing empires come and go – this all shows in its rich architecture and well equipped museums and churches. A successful conclusion of our Mediterranean adventure!
We now look very much forward to get started and welcome our fellow riders Martin, Maxine & Mark, Matthew, Robert, John & Lynn, Tracey & Leticia, Troy, Federico and Marcelo!
Your Tour Guides
Franziska, Sebastian
Catania welcomed our riders at it's best comfortable spring temperatures under an all sunny sky. Some had decided to arrive a little earlier and to enjoy a few days of dolce vita before the start and to battle the jet lag.
Officially our tour started with the welcome briefing and a relaxed round of drinks. The group got a good idea what the next few days would bring and how we handle everything and then it was time for the fun part the handover of the motorcycles. This is usually the time when the excitement and anticipation really kicks in. You do make yourself familiar with the set of wheels and some already start working on their personal set up.
Afterwards we got together again for the first joined dinner where people could get to know each other. A few of the group had already been on other Edelweiss tours and they were happy to share the experience.
All in all we had a enjoyable evening and everybody went to bed looking forward to get the engine starting in the morning!
Here we go! Welcome to our tour to Rome. We’re setting off today from Catania in pleasant weather and heading west to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. Sicily has so much to offer culturally and historically, so we’re hitting the road early to leave Catania behind. A bit of traffic on the highway gets us all worked up, but the rolling hills and empty roads in the countryside make us forget all about it in an instant. We enjoy the first of many delicious coffees in Raddusa. Afterward, we continue on to the Villa Romana, which most of us take the time to explore. Feeling hungry, we ride just a few meters further, where we’re served a fantastic antipasti platter. The terrace invites us to relax.
Then we head straight toward Agrigento to marvel at the ancient Greek temples in the wonderful evening light. For some, it’s the first time they’ve stood before such millennia-old history. Over a cold drink on the patio of our old Sicilian country house, we reflect on the Romans and Greeks and look back on the day.
We started our day under a beautiful blue sky, leaving the southern coast of Sicily, which its rich roman history, behind us. We were heading north-west towards Raffadali and into the mountains of the islands interior. The morning was an absolute blast, twisty after twisty did the road curved its way through the hills. When we reached Alessandria della Rocca we welcomed the 1st coffee break. The little plaza offered at a coffee bar where we sat down and recalled the mornings experiences.
Refreshed, we continued north on empty roads through a lush green scenery with wild flowers in full bloom. Our next stop was the country town Prizzi, which Hollywood made famous through the movies 'The Godfather' and 'Prizzies Honor'.
Central Sicily is very much known for the mafia and it's brutal history. So it is no surprise that most people have heart of the next town as well – Corleone. It was not only the name giver for the Godfather himself, who is a fictional character, but it is the heartland of the Corleonesi, a rural mafia clan that dominated Sicily in the 20th century.
At the Bosco della Ficuzza we found Sebastian and Mark who had prepared a lovely picnic for us under the soothing shades of the tall standing pine trees. We were spoiled with local specialties, fresh fruits and naughty treats.
With full bellies we rode on, left the forest behind and continued towards Caccamo. While the south coast is dotted with the remnants of the early Greek and roman occupation of Sicily, the north features castles and ruins of the medieval presents of the Normans. Caccamo is an impressive example of Norman invasion architecture. The majority of the group decided to admire the castle from below and rather use the break to storm the local gelato shop.
From here the northern coast wasn't far and there we jumped on a bit of motorway to make quick process of the final stage of our ride. The destination today is Cefalú and our hotel was sitting right on the rocks above the sea and a short staircase took you down into their own little bay. What's better than jump into the ocean after a long ride on the bike!?
We were also surprised to meat another Edelweiss group in the same hotel, so quickly people mixed and shared some stories. Our evening ended at the diner overlooking the Mediterranean. What a great day we had!
The alluring scent of jasmine greets us on the terrace in the morning as we gaze out at the sea. What a way to start the day. Some are already enjoying their coffee in the morning sun. We have a day ahead of us packed with cultural and scenic highlights. First, we drive just under half an hour to Castelbuono, where we actually see the “garbage donkeys.” Afterwards, we have an exceptionally beautiful road ahead of us, which winds us dozens of kilometers through lush greenery and flower-covered hills up into the heart of Sicily.
We stop at Sperlinga Castle, built into the rock. A few of us climb the castle and enjoy the view. The rest linger below for an espresso.
Another hour on gorgeous roads and we find ourselves in Troina for lunch, with a view of the volcano—now drawing ever closer—and its magnetic energy!
We stop at lava fields and zip past Mount Etna to the north to enjoy an excellent ice cream in the now-radiant sunshine. You can’t get more Sicily than this. Finally, we arrive in Taormina, exhausted and happy, and enjoy the view of the bay and the hustle and bustle on the street.
We had another beautiful sunny day. And many decided to skip the riding today. Leticia, Tracey and Troy had booked a cooking course in town and the dishes they made looked just divine. Others decided to take it easy, have a leisurely start to the day and to head over the old town for some individual exploration.
The hotel also had a roof top pool to relax at and the beach was just across the road. So plenty of options to enjoy yourself off the bike.
Of course there was also a small group of riders that could say no to another fun day on two wheels..
Today, just a few of us decided to head up to Mount Etna. The rest stayed in town and enjoyed the rest day in their own way. For example, with an Italian cooking class. Great choice!
We, on the other hand, set off along the coast and wound our way up the mountain. An hour later, we took a short break at one of the mountain huts.
The final climb to 2,000 meters was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it was storming pretty hard, so we could only circle a small crater.
A quick snack, and then we zoomed back down. We also wanted to have time for Taormina.
Matt and I then drove to one of the filming locations for The Godfather: the church in Forza d’Agro.
The day greeted us with some mist and clouds over the island in the morning. We started off along the bay and then rode up north onto a spectacular windy road in the mountains. And finally the sun was making slowly its way through the clouds. We had an absolut plast.
Just before our 1st coffee stop in Novara the road was suddenly closed and we were forced onto a fantastic scenic ride. A detour that had a lot to show for. However, everyone was happy to have a break when we finally got there.
From here we were heading further north and for a short while onto the motorway to leave the populated coast quickly behind us.
And then we went back onto the twisties and back into the mountains to finish our morning loop and catch the ferry.
But not before we stopped for lunch at Don Minico's famous sandwich shop.
Then it was only a short hop to the ferry port. A little unlucky we just missed a ferry and had to wait for the next one. Which gave some riders a chance to chat to and joke with the port workers.
The crossing took just under an hour and we had a calm sea.
A short afternoon ride brought us to Tropea were we had a entertaining dinner which some finished of with a local Limoncello.
Unfortunately, we’re leaving our wonderful seaside villa again today. We have to press on with our journey to Rome. We start by riding along the coast in the morning sun with calm seas. Shortly after, we head inland and wind our way up to a small village called Laurito. We make a quick stop here.
We continue along a winding, technical road to a specialty shop where we stock up on edible souvenirs.
In the Italian countryside, you never know what to expect. A small town was blocked right in front of us for a deafening fireworks display followed by a procession.
But now we head straight to the buffalo mozzarella cheese factory, and with some fresh cheese in hand, we continue on our way, perfect for our picnic.
Right next door is the Paestrum archaeological site, which we naturally visit to marvel at the magnificently preserved temples.
The highway takes us past Salerno and straight into the heart of Pompeii, where tomorrow we’ll learn all about this little wonder of the world.
Today, we were in for a relaxed ride up the coast. The morning covered us in some light rain before once again the sun came out completely.
The first part of the rid, was quiet urban and we had to manage a few tunnels as well. Before we had our 1st coffee stop at Falerna Scalo right in front of the ocean. Some couldn't resist and made their way onto the water and tested the temperature.
From here we followed the coast line to Diamante, famous for it's many murals and seaside vibes. In summer a heaving holiday destinations, now int the off season a quiet gem. We found parking right on the waterfront with a seafood restaurant right next to it. With the sun out and ocean views we enjoyed some pasta and seafood platters.
Hard to keep going when you so comfortable, but there were still some kilometers on our agenda. Once we left the main road north we went onto some smaller ones hugging the cliffs. So close to the hotel now, a part of the group went straight for the pool and a cold beer. While Mat, Tracey and Troy decided to visit Christ the Redeemer and enjoy the views over the ocean.
All in all it was a very easy ride to be topped of with some relaxing downtime at our villa for the night.
Today we had a full program. At 9 am we meat our local guide Antonella to give us a Pompeij crash course, 2 hours seemed not enough to fully comprehend this ancient city. So, it was no wonder that many of us decided to wonder a little longer in the streets of this once thriving trading post.
However, there is always a few who can't resist a ride offered. So, Mat, Marcello and Frederico came along for an exploration of the Sorento peninsula, including the famous Amalfi coast. The road took us past Sorento, Portes
We have a long day ahead of us. We leave Pompeii early and take the highway past Naples. It’s our last day, and we’ll need plenty of short breaks—a quick coffee here, a photo stop there, some stretching and limbering up. The traffic is heavier up here than it was in Sicily.
Lunch is a hearty Italian home-style meal, and we’re all definitely going to be full.
We drive happily through the Monte Lepini and enjoy plenty of curves on the way down from the mountains toward Rome.
Traffic picks up, and we stop a few times to catch our breath and take a look at Castel Gandolfo.
From here, it’s not far to Rome and the hotel, where we finally fall into each other’s arms, exhausted, upon our long-awaited arrival.
We cheerfully reminisce about the tour over dinner and later at the bar.
