Sicily Tour News

Duathlon Regional Championships (Enna) - Pergusa 03 Maggio 2009

The Duathlon Regional Championships were this past weekend in Pergusa, Enna.

I took part at this event (10 km of running, 40 km of biking, and 5 km of running), organized and promoted by A.S.D. TRIATHLON ENNA.

Overall winners were Jashut Teran Alex of Enna and Giusy San Filippo of Catania.

I completed the race in 2:01:28 (fifth).

Pergusa is a small village, located near Enna (the highest provincial capital of Italy).
In Enna you can visit: the Castello di Lombardia, the Duomo, Palazzo Varisano, Torre di Federico and the church of San Tommaso.
In the end, the overall age group winners are:
Men’s Top Ten Overall Results

1. Jashut Teran Alex 1h56m10s

2. Dolce Vincenzo 1h56m35s

3. Giammona Matteo 1h57m06s

4. Guerrieri Gualtiero 1h59m43s

5. Foti Sebastiano 2h01m28s

6. Di Fatta Nicola 2h01m42s

7. Carlino Salvatore 2h04m22s

8. Favazzi Cono 2h04m46s

9. Titolo Giovanni 2h06m33s

10. Intagliata Stefano 2h06m55s

Sebastiano Foti (Bike tour leader Mandala Organic Tours)

May 9th, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Sicily Volcano Trail 2009 - The event is here

Sicily Volcano Trail 2009 - The event is here!

The Sicily Volcano Trail 2009 edition started last monday! At the moment the competition is leaded by Daniela Gilardi for the woman category, and Geopfert Pascal in the man category.

You can find all updates on VolcanoTrail.it

May 1st, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Tour of Etna by bike 2009

Tour of Etna by bike 2009 - Bronte 03 May 2009

Next 03 May 2009 in Bronte (Etna Park) will take place the “Tour of Etna by bike 2009 ” (valid for the Grand Prix Regionale 2009).

Organized and promoted by the A.s.d Cycling Evolution 2007, Comune of Bronte and Provincia of Catania. The race (120 km) will start off at Bronte at 09h00 am.

Bronte is the land of the pistachio but also a territory rich of admirable forests and of inexhaustible itineraries along the slopes of Etna and the sides of the Nebrodi mountains.

To visit: The Castle of Nelson, Library of Real Capizzi College, Museum of Ancient Local Civilization and the Cathedral.

Our bike tours!

April 22nd, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Sicily Grand Tour by bike

Sicily Grand Tour by bike from 1st May 2009 to 3rd May 2009

From Trapani to Catania, Sicily Grand Tour offers you a chance to ride and to cross the island.

And all along this superb route, for 72 full hours and 330 km, a spirit of irresistible fun will reign supreme.

Four cyclists (Rino Catalano, Fabrizio Aquaviva, Antonio Mangione, Santi Paladino) will not want to miss this experience.

Contemplative cyclists can savour the beauty of the landscapes, speed demons can eat up as much asphalt as they like, and more gregarious types can make lots of new friends.

Our Bike Tours!

April 17th, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Closed subscriptions to the Sicily Volcano Trail

Closed subscriptions to the Sicily Volcano Trail - 25th of April 2009 to 02th of May 2009.

The Sicily Volcano Trail organization closed the subscriptions to the competition that will be disputed from April 25 to May 2 between the Aeolian Islands and the Mount Etna. The 2009 start line has been published on the official web site of the Sicily Volcano Trail.

The 2009 edition is even more marked by the massive presence of foreign athletes, predominantly Frenchs, but has been received subscriptions also from severals Italian athletes. Including the winner of the latest edition of the Etna Sky Marathon 2008 Riccardo Chioccoloni. The organization also points out that the site is open the information services dedicated to the event, where you can clarify any doubts about everything concerning the event.

April 12th, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Sprint Duathlon race (Trapani)

Sprint Duathlon race (Trapani) - Buseto Palizzolo 29 March 2009

Lots people say that once you've been to Western Sicily you'll always want to go back, and last weekend's Buseto Palizzolo Duathlon only seems to re-enforce that saying. I took part at the fourth edition of sprint duathlon race, organized and promoted by the Trapani Triathlon Team.

The race, valid for the national 2009 ranking. The winner was Giuseppe Di Noto from Palermo. I completed the race in 1:10:19, setting my personal record by 3 minutes.

Buseto Palizzolo is a small village, located near San Vito Lo Capo (province of Trapani) famous for its spectaculars beaches and mountains.

Sebastiano Foti (Bike tour leader Mandala Organic Tours)

The complete photos set on Flickr - Our bike tours in Sicily

April 7th, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Sicily: not only sun and beach

Mt. Etna covered by snow

Many people think Sicily is only sun, beach and summer holidays. It is not so wrong, but look at this photos taken by Marianne Lopez (Mandala tour leader) last week on the Mt. Etna.

Impressive panorama, isn't it?!

See the complete photos set on Flickr and check out our Etna tours!

April 5th, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-04

Test twit #
Duathlon Buseto Palizzolo - 29/03/209 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandalatour/sets/72157616224667128/ have fun #

April 4th, 2009 | Tags: Mandala Tour | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Walking in Pantalica

Walking in Pantalica (Syracuse)

The Necropolis of Pantalica with over 5000 tombs dating from the13th to the 7th centuries BC. “Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica” on the list of unesco world heritage sites.Pantalica are a natural park in the south-eastern of Sicily: there the Greek art are perfectly preserved.

Pantalica is located on a plateau surrounded by canyons formed by the Anapo and Calcinara rivers The Anapo valley is accesible by a path that runs for 10km along the ancient train route between Syracuse and Vizzini. The route to the plateau can also split off to the Sella di Filiporto starting from the Ferla region or, on the other side, the bank of the Sortino, which then leads to the Grotta dei pipistrelli (Cavern of the Bats).

It's a pleasure to walk in this luxuriant vegetation, the sounds of nature are all around you and you can stay in a little quiet oasis were is possible to visit the older civilization and relax oneself on the shore rive. Occasionally it's possible to find near the old train station a man that produce honey as the ancient time (1900) he is a sympathy old man and is happy to speak and explain his passion when he meets stranger people. It's easy to find some roadbooks that describe all paths in Pantalica or to have a tour guided with the Mandala organic tours a Sicilian agency specialized in trek tours.

Our excursions in Sicily!

April 3rd, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment

Walking in Taormina

Walking in Taormina.

Last week, I walked in Taormina, situated on “Monte Tauro” the southernmost spur of the chain of the “Monti Peloritani” and communicating the attraction of this medieval village and its unique natural setting is certainly not an easy task. The beauty of the town's geographical position, the magnificent landscape with its luxuriant vegetation: olive-trees, pines, palm trees, Mediterranean vegetation that covers all the heights above the town. The monuments and architecture of Taormina reflect the town's millenary history: from the Greek theatre and the Hellenistic Odeon to remains from the roman period, like the Naumachie, a monumental nymphaeum of the imperial period. The view can not disappoint yourself since the Italian coast is in front of you and near there is the volcano Etna with is 3350m above the sea level, is possible when there is a lava flow on the southern side to see this magnificent earth- manifestations.

It's possible to go to visit the castle of Castel-Mola a little village built to defend Taormina by the invasions, there is the possibility to choose the path to go up between the Taormina's gardens with its lemon-trees, almond-trees and the Prickly Pear or to the religious complex called the “Sanctuary of Madonna della Rocca” stands on a limestone spur on the south-eastern slopes of Monte Tauro, the Sanctuary is marked by a white cross clearly visible even from Taormina. And after the visit of Castel-Mola I visited a particular and tipical pub called ” Bar Torrisi” were is possible to drink a fresh glass of almond wine, a typical Sicilian wine.

And after visited Taormina and Castel-Mola you can continue the path to go down from Taormina to “Isola Bella” a little island were you find a big English villa build by an English lady loving by local people. You can stay on the beach and swim in a crystal-clear sea. It's easy to find some roadbooks that describe all paths in Taormina or to have a tour guided with the Mandala organic tours a Sicilian agency specialized in trek tours. A fantastic day resemble to a painting signed by a romantic landscape painter.

David Lo Schiavo (Tour leader Mandala Organic Tours)

Our trekking tours!

March 31st, 2009 | Category: Travel | Leave a comment