Sicily Divide Cliffs and Castles – Cycling Tour
The Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles is the new southern Sicily tour by Sicily Divide. A total of 190 km with 4230 meters of elevation gain, offering a bike tour along the white cliffs of the Agrigento coast and through the castles of the powerful Chiaramonte family.
Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles: What is it all about? We know you’ve already heard about the Sicily Divide Classic and the West Loop—after all, everyone talks about them. But what is this new loop that the Sicily Divide team has come up with?
The Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles is a circular route that combines two souls of Sicily: the white marl cliffs of the Agrigento coast, plunging into a turquoise sea, and the castles of the powerful Chiaramonte family, still watching over their ancient lands from the hilltops of inland Sicily. It’s a 190 km ride with 4230 meters of elevation gain, taking you through golden beaches, villages of writers, medieval fortresses, and that endless up-and-down that makes inland Sicily so tough and so beautiful. Still have doubts? Let’s see if we can clear them up:
- What are the roads and terrain like in this part of Sicily?
- How do southern Sicilian drivers behave towards cyclists?
- Is it really dangerous to cycle in inland Sicily?
- Are there partner accommodations along the Cliffs & Castles route?
- Should I bring my own bike to Sicily for this loop?
- Will I encounter dogs along the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles?
“I’ve already done the Sicily Divide Classic and the West Loop; there’s no point in returning to Sicily.” You’re wrong! You’d miss out on a totally different route, full of surprises, that will make you feel like you’re in a region you’ve never visited before. The Cliffs & Castles is something new, something Sicily has never seen before!
Still not convinced? Keep reading, and you’ll understand why you should book your ticket today to come and ride through the land of cliffs and castles.
Ride with us in Sicily and “futtitinni”—just have fun and enjoy yourself!
We are a tour operator officially licensed by the Sicilian Region (Inspiring Tours Tour Operator License No. 1655/S7).
With a fleet of over 100 bikes, we have been organizing bike trips in Sicily, including the Agrigento area, for 7 years. We created the Sicily Divide and the Periplo of Sicily by bike. Need to know more? Travel with us and have fun!
Here are three options you can choose from:
Bike Adventure Pack Base
We provide all the necessary information about the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles and essential gadgets, leaving the organization in your hands. This is the most affordable option, allowing you to embark on the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles with minimal investment.
Bike Adventure Pack Advanced. Everything included in the Bike Adventure Pack Base, plus a rental bike with delivery and pick-up at any point along the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles. The bikes are top-quality models from Trek, Focus, Lapierre, and Specialized!
Bike Adventure Pack Gold. Everything included in the Advanced Pack, plus all accommodations are pre-paid, luggage transport from stage to stage, and additional services exclusive to the Gold tier.
Bike Adventure Pack Platinum. A guided tour of the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles with one of our expert guides. An unparalleled adventure with the assurance that someone is always taking care of everything and knows inland Sicily like the back of their hand.
The Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles is the new cycling route in southern Sicily, featuring a coastal section along golden beaches and world-famous white cliffs, and an inland section that connects some of the most beautiful medieval castles on the island.
You can choose to download the route, rent one of our bikes, and embark on your own adventure, or join one of our organized tours available on the official calendar.
If you prefer to travel with your own bike, you can purchase one of our Adventure Packs, starting at just €29, and make an important contribution to supporting our project.
L’itinerario Sicily Divide West Loop percorre i luoghi più importanti della Sicilia Occidentale.
Bike Adventure Pack Platinum
Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles
starting from € 1090,00
Do you want to tackle the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles but prefer to eliminate all risk factors?
It’s not about being lazy or timid—you simply know what you’re doing. You don’t like surprises and would rather have a guide handle everything for you. With this guided tour, all you need to do is pedal and enjoy the scenery while your guide shares everything, down to the story of the tiny pebble you just passed.
Nothing is left to chance: official Sicily Divide guides and full support from our tour operator throughout the journey. You’re in the best hands.
Bike Adventure Pack Gold
Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles
starting from € 890,00
Got some free time and a bit of money to spend, but don’t feel like spending hours planning your trip?
You want good organization, but you’re not interested in a guide telling you where to go and when to leave. That’s where we come in with our self-guided tour in Sicily. You choose your start date, and we take care of the rest.
Think about it: an unforgettable experience with just a simple click on the “pay” button. A whole world opens up for you! Explore the Agrigento coast and the castles of inland Sicily with the best possible route, all accommodations pre-paid, luggage transport from stage to stage, and the assurance of a tour operator run by cyclists who know Sicily better than anyone else.
Bike Adventure Pack Advanced
Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles
€ 290,00
Is the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles your next cycling adventure, but you want to avoid bringing your precious bike and risking damage during transport?
The Bike Adventure Pack Advanced is perfect for you! You’ll get the best routes, official gadgets, and the rental of a gravel bike, MTB, or e-bike for the duration of your journey, with pick-up and drop-off available at any point in Sicily.
Travel light, travel hassle-free, and become a true Divider!
Bike Adventure Pack Base
Sicily Divide West Loop
€ 59,00
Do you like the idea of the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles but prefer to organize it yourself?
If your wallet is feeling the pinch and you want to save money, the Bike Adventure Pack Base is the best choice for you. It includes the official and updated route, a cap, the official t-shirt, a keychain, a printed guidebook, a neck warmer, a drawstring backpack, and an app for offline navigation to save your phone’s battery.
Everything you need to travel completely independently!
Why should you choose an organized tour instead of traveling independently on the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles?
Sicily is a harsh land that both slaps and caresses you with its wild landscapes and roads unknown even to local cyclists.
We are the creators of the Sicily Divide, including the Cliffs & Castles, and no one knows the route better than we do. We’re by your side every step of your journey, offering the best advice. We handle all the organization, and you just enjoy the ride. Cool, right?
If you need any information or want to know more about it, feel free to send us a message. We’ll reply right away to help you plan your cycling adventure in Sicily. We are a tour operator and handle thousands of cyclists every year. You can trust us.
Agrigento
Girgenti
The Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles officially starts in Agrigento, the city of temples. Built high above the ancient Greek ruins, its historic center offers breathtaking views over the plain and the coastline below.
Don’t miss an evening stroll along Via Atenea, the Cathedral glowing bright orange at sunset, and, of course, the Valley of the Temples: bikes are not allowed inside the archaeological area, but you can safely leave yours nearby and continue on foot to experience one of the greatest emotions Sicily has to offer.
San Leone
San Liuni
Leaving Agrigento, you descend towards the sea until you reach San Leone, the beach of the Agrigento locals. Golden sand, a lovely cycle path, and countless bars and restaurants that stay open late into the night tell a story of endless summers among beach umbrellas and long, lazy chats under the sun.
But San Leone is not just seaside fun: its history dates back to the Greek era and stretches all the way to the Allied landings of World War II. Its gentle gradients and seafront promenade make it the perfect warm-up before the climbs ahead.
Palma di Montechiaro
Parma
Behind this grand-sounding name lies a story of horror and revenge: Montechiaro is nothing but a distortion of the Chiaramonte name, trampled and humiliated after the execution of Andrea Chiaramonte, the last member of the family to rule over these lands.
On the coast, just a few kilometers from the town, stands the Castle of Montechiaro, one of the most beautiful castles in all of Sicily and the only Chiaramonte fortress perched directly above the sea. The endless up-and-down of the roads in this area will test your legs but reward you with unforgettable views.
Naro
Naru
A populous and ancient village in the Sicani Mountains, Naro is home to one of the most beautiful Chiaramonte castles and certainly the best preserved. Its enviable position dominates the old village and the entire valley below: on clear days, the view stretches from the sea all the way to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Etna—a spectacle only a few spots in this area can offer.
A bike ride through Naro’s baroque alleys and along the little roads surrounding the village is a truly unforgettable experience, though steep ramps with serious gradients are never far away.
Favara
Fauara
Also known by its ancient name of Fabaria, this crowded and cheerful town is home to the Farm Cultural Park, today one of the most important cultural centers on the island. An initiative born from the imagination of a private citizen, it has driven the regeneration of the historic center, saving it from neglect and decay.
Favara also has its own Chiaramonte castle, though it is now barely recognizable, weighed down by structures built on top of it over the centuries. The Via Francigena Fabaria passes through Favara and, if you arrive at the right time of year, you cannot leave without tasting the famous Agnello Pasquale, the sweet symbol of the town.
Racalmuto
Racarmutu
Famous for its sulfur mines and the sad story of the “carusi”, the young boys who worked there in a state of semi-slavery, Racalmuto is above all the homeland of Leonardo Sciascia, one of Italy’s greatest writers, who was born here and rests here.
His bronze statue still strolls along the town’s main street, between the Regina Margherita Theatre and the Chiaramonte castle. The Magna Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route from Palermo to Agrigento, passes through Racalmuto, and its young tourism system is beginning to bear fruit, especially in terms of extending the season.
Mussomeli
Mussumeli
And here we come to the jewel in the crown: the Manfredonico Castle of Mussomeli, built in the 14th century by Manfredi III Chiaramonte, is probably the most spectacular of all the Chiaramonte castles. Perched on a massive limestone crag dominating the valley, it seems to grow out of the very rock beneath it, leaving speechless anyone who sees it appear on the horizon after kilometers of climbing.
The village, which became world-famous for its 1-euro houses, is today a small international capital of inland Sicily. This is where the Cliffs & Castles crosses the Sicily Divide Classic: two routes, one big family of Dividers.
Siculiana
Sicujana
Descending back towards the coast, you reach Siculiana, a village very different from all those around it, mainly because it has kept its historic center in excellent condition, dominated—of course—by yet another Chiaramonte castle.
Just a few kilometers away, Siculiana Marina and the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve, with its wild beaches and cliffs, offer some of the most beautiful views on the Agrigento coast. The Periplo of Sicily by bike, the route that runs along the entire coastline of the island, also passes through here.
Scala dei Turchi
Scala di li Turchi
How could we talk about “Cliffs” without mentioning the queen of all Sicilian cliffs? Marl, a rock made of clay and calcium carbonate, with its whipped-cream appearance, has made this place famous all over the world. The contrast between the white rock, the blue of the sea, and the ochre-colored sand is a natural spectacle that deserves to be preserved with care.
While nearby Punta Bianca is easily reachable by bike, to get to the Scala dei Turchi beach it’s best to leave your bike at one of the many bars along the road and walk down. From here, the ride back to Agrigento closes the loop, with the beauty of all the kilometers traveled along the Sicily Divide Cliffs & Castles—the tour of Sicily’s cliffs and castles—still in your eyes.
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