The "La Valle dell’Anapo" tour offers a 97 km route divided into three stages with a total difference in height of 1,600 meters. If you intend to face this route of medium difficulty in one go, it is recommended to divide it into at least three parts in order to enjoy the very suggestive places and breathe the air of the Pantalica.
The first one starts off at Sortino, the east entrance to the Natural Reserve. From the baroque village, hometown of honey
and the well-known pupari, the "Puglisi", you face the provincial road n°29, initially dug into the rock. The road continues to Ferla and reaches 785 meters above sea level at the intersection with provincial road n°10, and then descends to the town, the western gate of Pantalica.
From Ferla, a beautiful and lonely road without end (SR Ferla - Pantalica - Sortino) allows you to immerse yourself in the mysteries and wonders of the Necropolis of Pantalica, so much so that upon reaching the end of the route, a good idea could be to descend on foot to immerse yourself in the refreshing waters of the Calcinara stream, which flows between the high walls of the canyon, and then discover one of the many caves present, starting with the Grotta del Pipistrello. With the return to Ferla the total is of 48.8 km and 896 meters of difference in height and a good dose of beauty to justify a long stop in the beautiful Baroque city where churches are not lacking.
The second part of the trip includes a return to Sortino passing through Cassaro with 48 km of cycling and 704 meters of difference in height.
From Cassaro, climb up and down among olives and carob trees until you reach the Solarino plain, then climb up again to encounter the Anapo valley and the old railway station to reach Sortino. After that, descend towards the eastern gate of the Pantalica where the journey can end, now provided with rich knowledge. The roads used are usually secondary with relatively low traffic. With a few exceptions, their maintenance status is good. The index of accessibility and safety is high with a rating of 8.6/10.0.
For those who have spare time and a MTB, it is recommended to visit Sortino and plan a hiking expedition along one of the most beautiful routes in the Anapo Valley, a unique environment with a path that runs between the Anapo and Calcinara rivers and which combines the beauty of the Pantalica necropolis with the charm of a journey along the abandoned railroad with its tunnels and still visible industrial archaeological artifacts. Due to the presence of multiple gates to be crossed, it is
recommended to visit with an accompanying guide or otherwise obtain prior authorization from the Regional Forest Company.
Itinerario e Tappe
Antonio Abate. The road is beautiful, safe and panoramic. The traffic of vehicles is rare, except in the areas of the city limits. In F Ferla, it is recommended to take the "Via Sacra" with the bike to be able to visit the five Baroque churches.