Biking in Sicily
June 4th, 2008
Cavagrande
Ragusa Ibla
Marzamemi
How to Choose a Good Bicycle
May 16th, 2008
Here some tips and suggestions about choosing a good bike.
How to Choose a good Bike
Howstuffworks.com gives a good list of things to look before choosing a bicycle:
A - Identify your use and your price range. Visit a number of stores that carry different brands to get a feel for what’s out there. The shop should narrow your options quickly to no fewer than three models.
B - Test ride if you can. It’s the best way to find out if the bike fits you well and if you like the feel of the controls, the suspension, and its handling. Put a bike through its paces as much as you can on a test ride. Ride it up a hill hard, slalom along a twisty cycle path. Brake hard. Shift through the entire gear range to see if there are problems with the adjustment.
C - At the shop, look for signs of good (or bad) build quality. Brake pads should squarely contact the rim and not squeal during braking. Shifting should be smooth and crisp. There shouldn’t be any clunks or rattling noises. Tires should be appropriately inflated. Shifter and brake cable ends should be neatly cut and capped. These are signs you are in a good shop.
D - It will be hard to haggle on the price, because many shops don’t make a good margin on bikes; service and accessories are where they have more room to bargain. Ask about discounts on accessories–most shops will give a margin discount on extras bought the same day as the bike. Inquire about the bike’s service plan–what’s included, what’s extra? Get the service plan in writing.
E - If you’re interested in learning more about how to work on your own bike, ask about classes the shop offers. Ask about anything of which you are unsure. If the salespeople don’t answer sincerely and completely or if they give you a hard time, take your business elsewhere; just like car dealers, there’s usually more than one shop in your area carrying a particular brand.
F - If a bike is close but not perfect for example, the stem is too long or you don’t like the seat–ask the shop about swapping it. Most shops have a good policy about these kinds of changes, which can make the difference between a customer walking out with the bike or not.
Active Travel ideas of the week
April 18th, 2008Here a list of useful articles I’ve found on the net.
Cycling In Italy The Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda
The “Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda” is a professional cycling tour of northern Italy, formed in stages held in the streets of Lombardy, in particular Bergamo.
The race borns in the 1970 from an idea of Gianni Sommariva, the current director of the competition.
The race until 1997 took the name of “Cycling Week Bergamasca”, and then mutate into “Week Cycling Lombarda” (Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda).
Among the winners of the event there were great champions like Lance Armstrong, Pavel Tonkov (3 wins) and Serhiy Honchar (2 wins).
Andrew Skurka’s Top 10 Hikes
Andrew Skurka has hiked the best trails more of this fine country than most of us will in a lifetime. Case in point, last year he walked 6,876 miles (11,066 kilometers), through 12 national parks, 75 wilderness areas, and five major mountain ranges, over seven months during his Great Western Loop hike
Easter Travel links of the week
March 22nd, 2008In Italy now is Easter Time, so I’m preparing my home for festivities with my family.
Here a couple of links worth a read for this week:
- Planning my Tour of Italy - Defining my Top destinations to visit
- A travel to discover the secrets of Tuscany with a bicycle
- You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Do these Bike Trips - Some Suggestions…
- Biking through Puglia
- GAP YEAR NON-CLOTHING PACKING
See you after Easter holidays!
Who Else Wants a Great Bike Tour of Italy ?
March 6th, 2008
Probably no other country in Europe has as many places where do a bike tour of Italy. Unless you plan your itinerary carefully, you may not be able to visit all the interesting places.
A bike tour package could be your best choice to visit all the “must to see” places in the shortest possible time.
What to see:
Rome is the country’s capital and consists of the Roman Forum, with its amazing array of ruined temples, the world-famous Colosseum, the Pantheon and St Peter’s Basilica.
Milan is the fashion capital of Italy. The city is also home to Leonardo’s paint the “Ultima Cena” (Last Supper); La Scala, the world’s premier opera house; and the Gothic Dome.
Venice has popular water canals with condoles. The great architectural showpiece of Venice is undoubtedly St Mark’s Square. Other highlights include the amazing Basilica di San Marco. The Doge’s Palace - the Palazzo Ducale an example of Venetian Gothic art.
The Grande Canal is, well, a grand canal with incredible houses lining it and boats putting up down this water way.
The best way to visit Venice by bike is to stand in front of your hotel or hostel, determine which direction the tourist attractions lie and start biking in the opposite direction.
The Italian lake-district juts into the heart of a steep mountain range (The Alps), surrounded by fertile farmlands and fields of gently swaying flowers.
This is a great place for tourists who would like to go hiking, windsurfing or just enjoy the magnificent landscapes. The most famous are Garda and Como lake.
When to travel:
Packages are priced differently during peak season and off-season. Hotels in Rome charge more during Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and during other religious occasions. Prices are lower during the fall and early spring, but the weather can be a bit cooler. But this is the best time to book your package if you want to enjoy low prices and face fewer crowds.
What to pack:
During the summer (July - August - September) you’ll need light clothing, but don’t forget to pack a pullover or a light jacket for the evenings when, especially at the seaside or on the mountains, the temperature might suddenly drop.
Spring (March - April - May) and Autumn (September - October - November) are characterized by unstable weather and often require a layering system of clothing.
Always bring comfortable shoes, get ready for a lot of walking: after all renaissance town were not build for cars and most city centers are closed to traffic.
Travel guide to bicycle in Tuscany
February 15th, 2008
Thanks to Conanil
Tuscany is one of the best tourist destinations to visit in Italy. Most tourists think that there are only museums and arts but it’s not all…
The most famous area of Tuscany is called: “The wine road”. In this area there are 2 of the most important Tuscany’s attractions: Florence and Pisa, cities rich of historical and artistic resources.
Florence is the city where were born famous people like Leonardo, Giotto, Dante and Brunelleschi. Siena is the native land of the “Palio”, an event that every summer attracts thousand of visitors to see this medieval horse ride.
The terrain between these cities is formed by 2 parts, one called “Chianti” (typical hilly landscape easy to bike famous for its wine productions) and one called “Via Franchigena” (A medieval way used to connect Europe with Jerusalem)
Thanks to Lorenzopierini
What to see:
The main attractions to visit are Florence (the capital of Tuscany) and the Chianti Region (Radda in Chianti and Passo dei Pecorai towns).
Florence was the cradle of the Italian renaissance. Most of the sites lie in Florence’s compact historical center.
Top places worth a visit in Florence
- Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio - The heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit like the Michelangelo’s David. The medieval Palazzo Vecchio contains decorated public rooms and private apartments.
- The Dome also know as the “Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore” - It’s a Gothic building that can hold 20,000 people.
- The Baptistry of John the Baptist - Is a 11th century building. Inside, you can see some mosaics and a marble pavement of the zodiac.
- The Campinile, bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. It’s a 414 stairs building that offers great views of the Cathedral and its dome and the surroundings of Florence.
- The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) - It’s a medieval bridge that cross the Arno River.
- The Galleria degli Uffizi - It holds the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art (paintings, antique sculptures, illuminations, etc…)
- Galleria dell’ Accademia - It holds the Michelangelo’s David, probably the most famous sculpture in the world.
- Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante.
Thanks to Marcoannunziata
Radda in Chianti was a feudal centre and a medieval residence from the XIII century onwards. Towards the middle of the XIII century, Florence affirmed its dominion here because of Radda’s strategic importance. Starting from 1384 it became capital of the Chianti League, as is shown by the oldest preserved statutes.
In the middle of the 1300s, on the orders of the Florentine government, the wall of the castle were reinforced, and new fortifications were needed after the Aragonese invasion in 1478 during which the Radda castle was conquered and devastated. From 1500’s Radda was principally an active agricultural centre.
Among the most important monuments to see in Radda in Chianti You can visit:
- The Pieve di San Giusto in Salcio
- The Pieve di San Polo in Rosso
- The Palazzo del Podestà
- The Convento di San Martino al Prato
Thanks to Marie_tess
Top attractions to visit in Siena:
- The Public square - It’s the heart of Siena. It’s called Piazza del Campo, a semi-circular square that met the three ancient roads that crossed the city (one from Rome, one from Florence and one from the Maremma) and towards it slope three hills on which the town extends.
- The Palio of Siena - A medieval horse race born nearly in the 1100s, held in the city streets. The starting point was Porta Romana and the finishing line was the Duomo. Now it takes place in Piazza del Campo. Only ten contradas were permitted to take part in any Palio.
- The Dome - It’s an examples of the Italian Romanesque-gothic architecture
- The National Pinacoteque - It’s a collection of manufacts begun by Abbot Giuseppe Ciaccheri in late XVIII the century. There are roughly 700 paintings of the greatest Sienese masters and painters.
- The Museum of the Opera - In its inside is possible to see paintings, sculptures, sacred ornaments and vestments, jewellery, and illuminated manuscripts.
- The Civic museum - The most important thing to visit is the “Sala del Mappamondo”, which hosts Simone Martini’s Maestà, the Sala della Pace and the Sala dei Nove, decorated with a series of frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.
Colle di Val d’ Elsa - lies in the heart of Tuscany, in a strategically favourable position near the towns of Siena, Florence and Volterra, on the via Francigena way which connects Rome with the North. The history of Colle di Val d’Elsa is characterised by frequent episodes of violence.
One of the most famous of these was the battle of 1269 between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. This town is well known for its production of glass and crystal, also known as the Bohemia of Italy in the 19 century.
Volterra, one of the most important cities in the Etruscan Confederation, is an hilly town rich in alabaster, the working of which was an important industry of the city.
Worth a visit in Volterra:
- The cathedral which altar is adorned with sculpture by Mino da Fiesole and pictures like the “Annunciation” by Luca Signorelli.
- The Palazzo Tagani houses an important museum of Etruscan and Roman antiquities.
Thanks to Ccgd
Pisa is famous for the presence of the Leading tower and for the fact that here were born famous people like: Galileo Galilei; Antonio Pacinotti; Ippolito Rosellini; Giovanni Pisano; Antonio Pisanello.
Also visit:
- The Campo dei Miracoli (Piazza Duomo), one of the most famous sights in Italy and the world. Close by stands there is the world-famous Leaning Tower (bell tower, started in 1173).
- The main events like: The Regata Storica di S. Ranieri (17th June); Opera and art exhibitions at the Giardino Scatto; Regata delle Repubbliche Marinare (every four years); Galileo Galilei Award (autumn).
Benefits to cycle in Tuscany
- Breathtaking panoramas
- A travel across centuries of the history and culture of Italy
- Easy to bike paths
- Mild climate all the year
- Cities have good cycling paths
Drawbacks
- High temperatures and humidity during summer months
- Some roads could be not easy in the hills of Chianti region
Suggestions
- Choose spring or autumnal months (March to October, August excluded)
- Buy a topographic map or a GPS
- The terrain has sweet descent and climb. 70% of roads are asphalted.
- Tours recommended for those who have little experience of biking.
You’ll need this type of equipment:
- City Bike (you can rent it or carry yours)
- Water proof jacket
- Sun Cream
- Repairs for your bike
- First aid kit
Read more about Italy’s adventures:
Big list of the best travel blog services
February 4th, 2008Bootsnall is my favorite free blog services. Instead of using wordpress or blogger, I like write in blogs directly where find other travellers like me.
Here a list of the best blogging services I’ve found about travel and adventures:
Your best itinerary in Sicily
January 29th, 2008
Thanks to Gmacorig
How can you choose the best itinerary to spend your time-travel in the best way?
The first thing is to choose what type of travel you want to do:
- adventure trip
- cultural trip
- relaxing trip
Are you an adventure traveller?
Well, the best adventure trip you can do here in Sicily is to visit volcano Etna. To spend in the best way your time you should book your accommodation in a Bed and Breakfast in Nicolosi or in Linguaglossa, two small and characteristic villages on Etna.
You can reach Linguaglossa taking A 18 Catania-Messina Highway and getting out at tollbooth of Fiumefreddo. Now you have to follow road signs to Linguaglossa.
If you decide to go to Nicolosi, the only thing you have to do is going to north Catania and follow the road signs to Nicolosi, that is very near.
The other step consist to contact an excursionist guide that will take you on the higher crater of Europe, such a little Tibet in Mediterranean sea.
But don’t forget to take with you your mountain equipment:
- hiking trousers and shoes
- thermal undershirt
- hiking hose and jacket
…considering you want to enjoy this show in winter, a very characteristics time to visit Etna, when the crater is full of snow. But the summer is a good time too, the only difference is a easier hike because the absence of snow and higher temperature.
Volcano Etna has many woods with hidden trails, and they are magical places for your hiking. But you should be careful: during your hiking you have to hear what your guide tell you about the place for your safety.
You can hike on the eruption places and admire that wild scenario. So wild that some scientists have made astronomical experiment useful for moon’s studies because the characteristics of Etna soil are similar to Lunar soil. The eruption places are in the higher points of Nicolosi, Linguaglossa, Belpasso and Zafferana, where you can admire the wonderful Bove Valley, a valley full of lava.
Your Hiking can be directed to Philosopher Tower, a high refuge seat in a place where a long time ago was attended a rudimentary construction that legend ascribes to Empedocle, a philosopher from Agrigento lived about V century a. C.
The Legend tells that he has fallen inside the crater because he felt immortal.
Well, the ancient construction was the Empedocle house for his studies. But another explanation tell us more, in fact maybe the Emperor Adriano ordered to build a refuge because he liked to Hike on Volcano Etna!
Your Hiking can now become a cultural adventure of History and Philosophy.
The classic hike is to visits the principal higher crater at 3.340 metres.
But another important thing you have to know: Volcano Etna is an important place where skiing: here are two skiing structure in Nicolosi and Linguaglossa.
Are you a cultural traveller?
The fist thing to do is choosing what kind of attraction you want to visit:
- monuments
- churches
- ancient culture
If you will be patient about Sicily all these attractions will be accessible to you.
You can begin visiting Messina and its particular Dome Church.
The second step is taking A20 Highway and get out in Cefalù to visit its Mosaics and the House where Satanist Aleister Crowley have gone in 1920. After this you can go to Palermo, the capital of Sicily to see the interesting construction style of the city.
Here you have to visit the Norman Palace, the seat of Sicilian Parliament; the many theatres attend in the city; the characteristics market of Vucciria. At least, if you will go there in Summer, on the 15 July there is the S. Rosalia Festivity.
Another beautiful place near Palermo is Monreale. It is known because its ancient Dome: in fact it was made around XII century.
To complete the west Sicily you can’t lose the Greek show of Segesta, with its Doric Temple made around V a. C. and the Greek theatre. If you want to remain in the same Greek atmosphere, it is sure you will enjoy seeing Agrigento and its magic Temples Valley. You can arrive here taking SS 189 Palermo-Agrigento.
Porto Empedocle is attached to Agrigento, and it is the native place of the Philosopher Empedocle and of the Writer Luigi Pirandello: here you can visits its House Museum where you can see the exhibition of his school report.
The next historic place is Syracuse, reachable taking SS 115. In this site you will find another ancient scenario: Apollo temple, Greek theatre where have place INDA shows (National Institute for Ancient Drama ) and Roman Amphitheatre used for gladiators fights.
Another important thing is the beautifulness of Ortigia, an island inside the hearth of the City, famous because of its particular construction characterized of white colour of plaster. This side is famous all over the world and it is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites together with Pantalica Necropolis, an archaeological side near Syracuse.
Going to North you will arrive in Catania, the second City of Sicily after Palermo.
You should visit the Dome where is S. Agata Cathedral and the statue of Elephant, the symbol of the City called Liotru.
From the Dome you can go to Ursino Castle, a construction made around XIII century.
If you remain in the centre of the city you can visit Monastery of Benedictine and the Ursino-Recupero Library which contains very old Books. In the back of this monuments you can find S. Nicola Church that is the bigger one of Catania.
Inside it you can admire a fantastic show because its ancient age, the Meridian and the Graves of soldier dead during World War II.
In the neighbourhoods there are Houses Museum of the Musician Vincenzo Bellini and the Writer Giovanni Verga. In the same place you can find Greek theatre and Stesicoro square, where you will see the ancient city underground.
Missed is the Via Etnea Street, a long way that rise up until the higher point of the city from which you can go to Etna. If you go in Catania on the 5th February you can see the folklore of S. Agata Festivity.
Then you are ending your circle and you should visit Taormina, sitting on a little hill where you can enjoy a wonderful landscape.
Are you a relaxing traveller?
Well, now I ask you a question: do you know how many tourists came here in Sicily for holiday? Japanese, Germans, English, French, American, Canadians and other people from all over the world are happy to spend their relaxing time here in Sicily.
A tourist can visits our beautiful beaches: Playa of Catania, Mondello in Palermo, Marina di Ragusa in Ragusa, Fontanebianche in Syracuse, Taormina near Messina.
But also the Sicily Nights offer some interesting thing, in fact you can live leisure of Nights of Catania full of Discos, Pub and Restaurant where you can taste the food of Sicily: Cannoli, Pistacchio, horse meat, Norma pasta, pizza.
Many Pubs or Disco are at the playa beach: after having dinner or having a dance you can have a swim in the Jonio Sea in the night.
If you want a night with magic landscapes go to Taormina, and you can observe from the central square the enlightened coast by a telescope just paying one euro.
Your relax can continue with a walk on the villages near Catania: Acicastello, with its Norman Castle, and Acireale with its beautiful Dome.
Read More:
How do I plan and Adventure Holiday?
January 8th, 2008
Thanks to Pfenwick
Every time I have to plan my vacations it’s a contest!
I have to search for multiple sites and read repeated information.
How can I do?
Here my personal step by step plan.
There are exactly 4 key elements to consider:
- What activity to practice
- Where practice it
- Search for detailed info about practicing the activities in that destination
- Planning
1. What type of activity practice?
The main i like are
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Trekking
- Bicycling
Before I choose the activity I verify its availability, my physical preparation and the risks linked to.
2. How do I choose my Destination?
Generally I use to follow:
- Friends, family or social network.
- Pick a random place in the world map
- Top 10 destinations in niche websites or blogs
3. Find detailed info on that Destination
I read magazines, guide books, blogs or review sites to find info on:
- Communications & Transports
- Document requirements
- Health and Safety
- Weather
- Terrain conditions
I like too much watching videos on Youtube to see what people really like and do.
Forum and message boards are a great source to find unbiased info and reviews.
My favourites are:
4. At least planning
The remaining points are:
- Check flights
- Buy travel insurance
- Pack your gear and accessories
My Top 10 essential to pack
- Anti-bacterial cream
- Anti-diarrhea medicine
- Backpack
- Bathing suit
- Batteries
- Boots
- Bug repellent
- Camera
- Clothes
- Gloves
Now you know how a plan my trips.
The top 10 Italy’s hotspots for outdoors
January 8th, 2008
Thanks to Garibaldi
Most tourists think that Italy is only churches, museums, art, etc…, but most people don’t know that in its territory you can find a lot of natural parks, hills, tracks and mountains.
There are a lot of outdoor recreation activities to practice: Hiking, Mountain Biking or Skiing.
Here the “Top 10″ regions:
- Liguria, where practice hiking trips in the Cinque terre
- Lombardy,where bicycle around the lakes district: Garda and Como lake
- Trentino, where trekking the Dolomites mountains in the Alps
- Veneto, where join a walking tour of Venice
- Emilia Romagna, where cycle the Chianti hills and the Modenese Appenine
- Tuscany, where bicycling in the wine regions and visit Siena and Florence
- Campania, where visit the Amalfi coast and Naples
- Umbria, with the Trasimeno lake and Perugia
- Lazio and Rome
- Apulia, where bike the Gargano park.
The list should be longer but it contains all the best.
If you want to plan your adventure vacation, you’ll need to do it right.
While searching be sure to know:
- Weather conditions. (Weather is very important. The best period goes from March to October)
- Know the terrain. (You can control on Google maps)
- Know Emergency and safety info.
Now you know exactly how to plan a vacation and where to live it.
Read more: