Self-Launched Gravel & E-Bike Loop Through the Heart of Sicily

Fly into Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) and take the Alibus shuttle into the centre (€4, ~20 min) or the metro to Porto/Stesicoro. Check into a hostel or budget B&B in the old town near Piazza del Duomo. Spend the late afternoon wandering Via Etnea, the fish market at La Pescheria and Piazza del Duomo, then have your first arancino and a granita. If you're hiring an e-gravel bike rather than bringing your own, confirm the pickup at a local bike shop (e.g. around Via Etnea / Corso Sicilia) for the morning — shops rent e-gravel/all-road bikes for roughly €40–55 per day, with multi-day discounts.

🚌Alibus airport shuttle €4 (~£3.50)

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Catania old town (dorm ~£22, private double ~£45)

• →Evening walk of Catania old town
• →La Pescheria fish market area
• →Street food: arancino and granita

Collect your e-bike and do a self-test ride along the seafront cycle path north to Aci Castello (~10 km, mostly flat), where the Norman lava-stone castle sits above the sea — free to walk around the exterior, small entry fee (~€5) for the museum. Ride back into Catania and visit the Ursino Castle (Castello Ursino, €8 entry, closed some Mondays) and the Roman theatre. In the evening eat a proper Sicilian dinner of pasta alla Norma and grilled fish in a local trattoria off Via Santa Filomena — the 'typical Sicilian dinner with house wine' of the original tour, done DIY.

🚌E-bike hire (~£40/day equivalent, €45); city cycling

🛏Same Catania guesthouse

• →Coastal cycle to Aci Castello
• →Ursino Castle entry (~€8)
• →Roman theatre (Teatro Romano)
• →Sicilian dinner in Via Santa Filomena

Take the regional FCE train or local bus from Catania toward Paternò/Adrano (~€3–4, buy on board or via app) to skip the busy approach roads — or ride the 20 km out if you're keen. From Paternò, follow quiet country lanes and stretches of old Roman-road gravel up through the Simeto valley, with Etna looming behind you, to the Norman hill village of Troina (~50–60 km, hilly but manageable on an e-bike). Check into a small guesthouse or agriturismo, walk up to the Rocca Normanna for sunset views, and eat at a village trattoria (€15–20 for a full menu with local wine).

🚌FCE train/local bus Catania–Paternò ~€4; e-bike hire

🛏Guesthouse or agriturismo in Troina (~£40)

• →Gravel ride through Simeto valley with Etna views
• →Rocca Normanna viewpoint
• →Norman old town of Troina

Ride southwest through Enna province on a mix of gravel tracks and minor roads (~50 km) with a stop in Gagliano Castelferrato, one of Sicily's most photogenic medieval hill villages — climb to the castle ruins and grab a panino and coffee in the piazza. Continue on to Nicosia, a lively market town with a beautiful 11th-century cathedral and narrow stepped alleys. Check into a budget hotel or B&B and eat at a family trattoria — try the local Nebrodi salami and provola.

🚌E-bike hire; self-supported ride

🛏Budget hotel/B&B in Nicosia (~£40)

• →Gravel ride across Enna province
• →Gagliano Castelferrato medieval village and castle
• →Nicosia cathedral and old town

A shorter, rewarding day (~35–45 km): ride to Sperlinga, the extraordinary village built into and around a rock, with its cave houses carved into the cliff and a medieval castle on top (entry ~€4). Afterwards head on to the brewery at the 24 Barons craft beer project near Nicosia/Leonforte — book a tasting directly by email or phone a day ahead (tastings ~€15–20 including a flight of beers) instead of the guided group visit. Finish in Leonforte, known for its peach orchards; overnight in a small B&B and eat at a local pizzeria or trattoria.

🚌E-bike hire; self-supported ride

🛏B&B in Leonforte (~£40)

• →Sperlinga cave houses and rock village
• →Sperlinga medieval castle (~€4)
• →24 Barons craft brewery tasting (pre-book direct, ~€15–20)

Ride east through the Enna countryside to the Floristella-Grottacalda Mining Park, an eerie abandoned sulphur-mining complex with ruined works buildings you can explore freely (free entry to the park area). Follow sections of the disused railway line as gravel track, then roll on to Piazza Armerina (~55–65 km total). Dump your bags at a guesthouse and spend the late afternoon at the Villa Romana del Casale — book a timed ticket on the official site or via GetYourGuide (~€12–15) to see the world-famous Roman mosaics at a quieter hour. Dinner in Piazza Armerina's old town.

🚌E-bike hire; self-supported ride

🛏Guesthouse in Piazza Armerina (~£40)

• →Floristella Mining Park (free)
• →Gravel along disused railway line
• →Villa Romana del Casale mosaics (~€12–15)
• →Piazza Armerina old town

Ride out to Aidone (~20 km round trip) and visit the Morgantina archaeological site (Greek-Roman city ruins in rolling countryside, ~€10 entry, often very quiet), plus the small Aidone museum housing the repatriated 'Aphrodite of Morgantina'. Return the e-bike if you're hiring locally, then take the regional bus from Piazza Armerina back to Catania (~€10–12, roughly 2 hours; check SAIS or Etna Trasporti timetables) or, if you kept the bike, arrange a return transfer with the shop. Spend the evening wandering Catania's baroque centre and eating one last seafood dinner.

🚌Regional bus Piazza Armerina–Catania ~€11

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Catania (~£22–45)

• →Morgantina archaeological site (~€10)
• →Aidone town and museum
• →Evening walk in baroque Catania

Breakfast, a final granita and brioche, then take the Alibus shuttle back to Catania Fontanarossa airport (€4) for your flight home. If you have a late flight, squeeze in the Monastero dei Benedettini or the Catania cathedral and a last arancino.

🚌Alibus to airport €4 (~£3.50)

🛏—

• →Final breakfast and old-town wander