The Colorful Village and the Mountain of Cows bike experience

The Colorful Village and the Mountain of Cows bike experience

Cultural cycling, E-bike Tour, Full day bike experience, Full Day City Bike Tour, Full day Sport Bike Tour, Guided Bike tour, Half day bike experience, Half Day City Bike Tour, Half Day Sport Bike Tour, Nature cycling, Pedalata cicloturistica, Pedalata culturale, Pedalata naturalistica, Pedalata sportiva, Private tour, Sport bike tour, Tour culturale, Tour guidato
Excursion duration: 5 to 8 hours
Bike difficulty
Easy
Middle-Easy
Middle-Difficult
Difficult
Challenging
E-Bike difficulty
Easy
Middle-Easy
Middle-Difficult
Difficult
Challenging

Description

The adventure begins with the meeting of the participants and a 45-minute minivan transfer to Borgo Parrini. From there, we’ll start cycling towards the Monte Palmeto Nature Reserve, passing through an old train station and dirt roads. The climb to Monte Palmeto offers spectacular views of the Gulf of Castellammare and the surrounding plain, with historical references to the battle between the Carthaginians and Romans.

During the ride, we’ll reach an exceptional panoramic viewpoint and have the chance to encounter Cinisara cows, animals with an ancient history.

After exploring the plateau, we’ll descend on a dirt road to return to Borgo Parrini, where we’ll take a break to visit this unique rural village with its eccentric, Gaudí-inspired houses.

Finally, we’ll return to Palermo by minivan.


Location


Tour Plan

We’ll meet the participants, get settled into the minivan, and transfer to Borgo Parrini, where our cycling adventure begins. The transfer takes approximately 45 minutes.

Once we’re on our bikes, we’ll start pedaling towards the entrance of the “Monte Palmeto” Nature Reserve. We’ll pass an old, abandoned train station, and within a few kilometers, the paved road will turn into a rural dirt track.

Monte Palmeto (645 meters above sea level) is an ancient and scenic natural stronghold overlooking the plain and the Gulf of Castellammare. It will amaze you with its typical colors and scents. Some archaeologists believe this is the Eircte described by the historian Polybius, the encampment where the Carthaginians, led by Hamilcar Barca, fortified themselves in 245 BC to defend against Roman assaults, a clash that would ultimately establish Roman dominance in the Mediterranean.

Our uphill ride along the forest road will take us to an exceptional panoramic viewpoint, where we can observe the coastline and the vegetation that grows on these limestone rocks. Along the way, we might encounter herds of Cinisara cows, animals with an ancient history. There are records of their existence as far back as 1200, and one of the most credible theories about their origin is that they arrived in Sicily due to the shipwreck of a Spanish ship carrying animals from Africa destined for bullfights.

From the beginning, these dark-coated animals with long horns adapted to finding their pastures in arid land, climbing the heights.

After exploring the plateau, we’ll begin our descent on a dirt road back to the starting point, where we’ll enjoy a break and free time to refresh ourselves in the famous Borgo Parrini. This small rural village, founded by Jesuit fathers in the 17th century (in Sicilian, “parrini” means “fathers”/”priests”), has recently been transformed by a local entrepreneur. He turned the somewhat decaying agricultural village into a place with eccentric dwellings vaguely inspired by the style of Antoni Gaudí.

At the end of the visit, we’ll return to Palermo by minivan.


Point of Interest (POI)

  • The Palmeto Mount;
  • The “cinisara” cow’s pastures;
  • The picturesque hamlet of Borgo Parrini


Book info







    Price info

    INCLUDED SERVICES:

    • Cycling tour guide;
    • Whisper two-way radio system with disposable earpiece;
    • Rental of a e-mountain bike equipped with a protective helmet (regular MTB or Gravel bike available upon request);
    • Train transfer to the starting point of the bike tour (and return at the end of the activities);
    • 50 cl bottle of still water;
    • Tasting of local products at the end of the activities;
    • VAT, taxes, and service charges;
    • Accident insurance.

    EXTRA SERVICES:

    • Private minivan transfer supplement from your hotel to the starting point, replacing the train journey: €200.00 max 4 people;
    • Supplement for lunch and extension to a full-day tour: upon request.
    • Personal extras, tips, and others.
    Up to 2 people: € 400,00* (overall price) Fee for each additional participant: € 100,00 Max 6 people

    Conditions

    ×

    INCLUDED SERVICES:

    • Cycling tour guide;
    • Whisper two-way radio system with disposable earpiece;
    • Rental of a e-mountain bike equipped with a protective helmet (regular MTB or Gravel bike available upon request);
    • Train transfer to the starting point of the bike tour (and return at the end of the activities);
    • 50 cl bottle of still water;
    • Tasting of local products at the end of the activities;
    • VAT, taxes, and service charges;
    • Accident insurance.

    EXTRA SERVICES:

    • Private minivan transfer supplement from your hotel to the starting point, replacing the train journey: €200.00 max 4 people;
    • Supplement for lunch and extension to a full-day tour: upon request.
    • Personal extras, tips, and others.

    Departure date
    On request

    Departure from/to
    Palermo

    Total Km by bike
    30 km

    Total ascent
    650 EG

    Useful information
    This excursion meets the safety requirements for Covid-19. Sportswear and trainers are recommended.