Why this ride
From Siracusa it runs 294 km to Siracusa; allow about 5 h 49 of riding. On the way it passes Necropolis of Pantalica, Militello Val di Catania, Caltagirone and back through Militello Val di Catania. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Ortygia and Caltagirone
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 294 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 49
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Ortygia
Ortygia is the island where Syracuse began. Greek colonists from Corinth landed here in 734 BC, drawn by a harbour and a freshwater spring, and the town they founded grew into the most powerful city in the Greek world, rivalling Athens. The island is small enough to walk across in fifteen minutes and holds an astonishing density of history. The cathedral is built into the columns of a Greek temple of Athena, so the Doric pillars are still visible in its walls. A few steps away, the freshwater spring of Arethusa still bubbles up beside the sea, with papyrus plants growing in the pool.
Read the complete Ortygia write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Ortygia is where the day begins. Next is Necropolis of Pantalica.
2. Necropolis of Pantalica
Thousands of small square doorways riddle the limestone cliffs above the Anapo and Calcinara valleys, like the windows of a vast abandoned apartment block. These are rock-cut tombs, some five thousand of them, carved by the people who lived at Pantalica between roughly the thirteenth and seventh centuries before Christ. Together with Syracuse, the necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is one of the most evocative places in Sicily, in a gorge of the Hyblaean Mountains west of Syracuse, between the towns of Sortino and Ferla.
Read the complete Necropolis of Pantalica write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Necropolis of Pantalica comes up about 37 km into the recorded legs. Next is Militello Val di Catania.
3. Militello Val di Catania
Militello in Val di Catania is a small town in the hills south-west of Catania, in eastern Sicily, surrounded by orange groves and olive trees, with Mount Etna visible on the horizon. Like many towns in this part of Sicily, it was devastated by the earthquake of 1693, which destroyed much of the south-east of the island, and was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Its churches and palaces are part of the UNESCO-listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, inscribed in 2002, together with Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Caltagirone and others.
Read the complete Militello Val di Catania write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 97 km into the recorded legs you reach Militello Val di Catania. Next is Caltagirone.
4. Caltagirone
Caltagirone is a city built on ceramics. Perched on a ridge in the hills of south-east Sicily, it has been making pottery since ancient times, and the tradition is everywhere: majolica tiles on balconies, bridges and church domes, pottery shops lining the streets and a museum devoted to the craft. Its most famous sight is the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, a staircase of well over a hundred steps climbing from the lower town to a church at the top, each riser decorated with hand-painted tiles in different patterns and colours. In late July, for the feast of Saint James, the staircase is lit with thousands of oil lamps arranged in designs, a magical sight.
Read the complete Caltagirone write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Caltagirone, about halfway. Next is back through Militello Val di Catania.
5. back through Militello Val di Catania
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Militello Val di Catania write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Militello Val di Catania sits at 137 km, about halfway. Next is back through Necropolis of Pantalica.
6. back through Necropolis of Pantalica
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Necropolis of Pantalica write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Necropolis of Pantalica comes up about 248 km into the recorded legs. Next is Ortygia.
7. Ortygia
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Ortygia write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Ortygia closes the day.
Leg by leg
Ortygia to Necropolis of Pantalica
Ortygia → Necropolis of Pantalica is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Necropolis of Pantalica to Militello Val di Catania
Necropolis of Pantalica → Militello Val di Catania is 60 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Militello Val di Catania to Caltagirone
Militello Val di Catania → Caltagirone is 46 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Caltagirone to back through Militello Val di Catania
Caltagirone → back through Militello Val di Catania is 45 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Militello Val di Catania to back through Necropolis of Pantalica
back through Militello Val di Catania → back through Necropolis of Pantalica is 60 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Necropolis of Pantalica to Ortygia
back through Necropolis of Pantalica → Ortygia is 47 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.