Sicily tour D4 Caltagirone 🍋

03:56

76.1km

19.4km/h

44.9km/h

1,160m

870m

Garmin Edge 830

Sicily, day four — a journey through the heart of the island. 🚴‍♀️

No sea today, but plenty of land. A land of olive groves, vineyards, rolling hills and lakes, where every climb brings a new view, and the Sicilian countryside never fails to surprise.

The roads are almost deserted, winding through hills painted in ochre and gold, with the muted green of olive leaves contrasting against the dry earth. Between one climb and the next, the landscape unfolds like a postcard: smooth tarmac, hardly any traffic, and villages, even the smallest ones, hiding centuries of history behind their Baroque façades and church towers.

Every now and then, the roadside rubbish reminds us that this picture-perfect landscape has its imperfections. But the beauty of the journey remains.

We pass through Giarratana and Monterosso Almo before reaching Vizzini, birthplace of Giovanni Verga, one of Italy’s great literary voices. Time for a break, and a generous lunch of local specialities, bold flavours, enormous portions and the simple pleasure of eating well.

Then onwards to Grammichele, a town that seems to appear out of nowhere, its remarkable hexagonal layout a surprising feat of urban planning. Like Avola, its geometric design is still clearly visible on the map, a reminder that even in the middle of the Sicilian countryside, the unexpected is never far away.

One final climb brings us to Caltagirone, the city of ceramics. Here, colourful majolica tiles adorn the famous monumental staircase, while workshops and little shops display ceramics ranging from centuries-old traditions to contemporary creations.

Beyond them, a maze of narrow streets, unexpected corners and grand palazzi reveals a town shaped by many different chapters of history.

Sicily keeps reminding us that the best views aren't always the ones at the end of the road. Sometimes, they're the ones you discover along the way. ❤️