A simple drive along the island lets you know that Sicily affords endless varieties of geographies to relish many kinds of sports and outdoor activities for those who love outdoor life. Sites of incredible beauty and sharp contrast are found in it: lush spots of vegetation, beaches and mountain slopes and incredible interesting wildlife on land and underwater. As years elapsed holidaymakers have opted more frequently for a stay in farmhouses than towns to enjoy a different kind of beauty. From a deep dive in the Egadi Islands, you can change to mountain climbing in a jealously cared national park . From a day on a sunny relaxing beach you can head to a ride on horse around different sceneries. Locals have not long ago discovered the wonders of their own island and how much advantage they can take from it, a reason why infrastructure is improving slowly but steadily. No matter where the trip around Sicily will be compensated by its surprises and lure.
Take a hike
Travellers to Sicily will never be short of options as to hiking. Besides walks around towns and villages there are the fantastic parks such as the Nebrodi mountains, the Parco della Madonie and the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro. The Madonie attracts most tourists and boasts excellent organization and maps available at the tourist information offices in towns such as Palermo and Cefalù or in Petralia Sotana, where you can obtain a map called Carta dei Sentieri e del Paesaggio. The Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi is much less visited and many fewer signposts guide tourists in it. The largest European beech forest and a circuit around the lake are among the attractions in the Nebrodi mountains. Wild flowers blanket the mountains and enhance both parks‘ unsurpassed beauty. To make the most of the scenery in the parks, it is recommendable to hike in spring when the breeze swifts an aromatic smell and the flowers blossom. Autumn also provides hikers with a marvellous atmosphere of different palette …and it is the grape harvest season in which you can participate. Salina has another different geography and Pantelleria is an idyllic setting whose hiking leads to fantastic mud baths and saunas in nature. To organize walking holidays from outside Sicily or on the island check out the following links:
Sicilian geography offers this activity in different islands. Sicily itself has the Etna, and the Aeolian Islands have Vulcano and Stromboli (Picture 2) on the islands of the same name. The Etna and Stromboli are still active, a reason why climbers have to stick to the safety zones, yet they are not put off by the looming danger. These volcanoes offer magnificent experiences: the variety of flora and fauna of the Parco Naturale of the Etna and the never ending fireworks the Stromboli gives spectators at night are magnificent. Trekking the 165-km around the Etna, or its high trail trek at 1300-1800m or going across it from town to town are priceless experiences. You can contact Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud if interested in visiting the most recent trail lava left. At the beginning of spring wandering around the Etna is fantastic, as there are endless options of stables to set off on a journey of discovery from the saddle. The tourist information office offers the itinerary A Cavallo, a booklet informing travellers on possible journeys and stables. During the winter the Etna becomes the paradise of skiers. Magmatrek can help you take the most of an ascent to the Stromboli. The volcano is climbable without a guide.
From the bike
Sicily is the least easy land to get about by bike because of its mountains peaks and sinuous roads. Only for the most daring…a real challenge. To organize great cycling holidays you can check out the following links to find to tips and itineraries and much more:
Only the west coast area is less mountainous. Favignana, Trapani and Syracuse are the best places to ride around. Many corners of Mount Etna have fantastic vantage points to view the scenery. Departing from Catania, visiting on the way Linguaglossa, Randazzo, Bronte,Rifugio Sapienza and all craters you may wish, lolling up in forests of pines and chestnuts and coming back is the most visited route available around the Etna. More options are starting from Enna in the centre, embracing Agira, Troina and the Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi, or on the west Scopello, the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Erica medieval style, Trapani, Marsala, its wine producing areas and Selinunte’s classical treasures. Outside of the rainy winter and the scorching hot summer days you can ride around Sicily all throughout the year. Only make sure you book ahead in Easter as it is fully packed. You should choose an all-terrain bicycle that can adapt anywhere, travel well equipped with repairs, helmet and map. Among the dangers of travelling in this island are the scooter drivers and speedy way of driving of Sicilians even in bends, and little worry about cyclists sharing the roads. The Rofeo dell ‘Etna and the Rofeo Pantalica are both held in March around the mountain and close to Syracuse respectively.
Underwater
Under the water surface kaleidoscopic sea life unfolds, multicolour schools of fish and sea landscape. Scuba divers have a feast of colours. Ustica’s pristine waters are magnetic to scuba divers. Its signposted trails underwater explaining the findings is magnificent. You can head for the Marine Reserve Visitors Centre to find out more information about the reserve (tel. 091 844 94 56). Several diving agencies organize archaeological trips (some organized at night) to the Egadi’s marine reserve such as Atlantide (www.progettoatlantide.com). Fishing tourism is the other chance for travellers to visit the islands on a rented boat while you fish your own meals. Sicily also abounds in swimming and snorkelling sites to go. In Taormina and the Aeolian Islands there are places to hire your equipment. Isola Bella (Picture 1) , the Blue Grotto (the Ionian Coast) and the Grotta del Bue Marino (Filicudi) make wonderful sights. The Liparian Diving Centre la Gorgonian ( www.lagorgoniadiving.it ) and the Taorminian Nike Diving Centre (www.divenike.com) can organize and hire equipment.
By boat
The most widely spread way of moving in water is a motorboat or gommone (motorized rubber dinghy), available all around Sicily. Pedalos and jet skies are common in beaches with many tourists.
Down the white snowy slopes of a mountain
Piano Battaglia in the Parco delle Madonie is one of the two Sicilian ski destinations. Its infrastructure offers not much options yet there is equipment rental, a lift leading skiers to Mufara (about 1900m) on the northern slopes, and another heading for Mufaretta (about 1700m). The resort is lovely and also cross-country skiing is done here. The other ski resort is on Mount Etna which is blanketed by about 3m of snow in the wintertime.
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