Etna Bike Tour - Cycling in Sicily

Our climb of Etna tour starts at our headquarters in Giardini Naxos, after having set up our bikes and discussed the itinerary.

Today we will conquer the highest active volcano of Europe – Mount Etna. Start pedaling heading Catania for about 5 km in a lowland area. Our aim is to warm up our muscles and get acquainted with our road bicycles. Once we have finished the first part of climb of Etna tour, comes a soft hill 5% to10% for about other 5 km. We pass above Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, this particular climb will get us up to the town of Piedimonte Etneo, a settlement built on an ancient lava flow of the northeastern volcano face. We have already biked by now for some 10 km and 350mt D+, but we are still to complete our first challenge. At the end of our first tough climb, we have already done about 18 km and 800 mt D+. We are on Mount Etna Wine road, which goes from eastern side along the northern volcano slope. Let us fill up our bottles with the fresh volcanic mineral water before we continue our climb and face the last big ascent of the day, known as slope of Bartali & Coppi. From 827 mt above sea level, we will arrive up to 1750 mt, to a place called Rifugio Citelli. Down Hill.