Capo d'Orlando by bike
On 26 August 2026 Jovanotti set off from the Andrea Doria seafront at seven in the morning for a hundred and fifty kilometres to Palermo. That road starts here — and it isn't the only one.
That August morning
On 26 August 2026, around seven, a group of cyclists left the Andrea Doria seafront. At the front was Jovanotti, crossing Italy by bicycle to reach the dates of his tour. Ahead of him lay the longest stage of the whole journey: a hundred and fifty kilometres to Palermo, with some 1,100 metres of climbing along the Tyrrhenian coast. He had arrived two days earlier, on the 24th, after landing at Messina and stopping in Milazzo for a mulberry granita. The story →
Why this coast suits cyclists
It isn't a recent discovery. The road running between the sea and the Nebrodi alternates flat stretches with short, mean climbs, and the wind changes character at every headland: it's the kind of terrain that formed Vincenzo Nibali, from Messina, one of the few riders ever to win the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta. From here you climb to five hundred metres in twenty minutes and to thirteen hundred in an hour and a half. Few areas in Italy offer that kind of gradient starting from sea level.
Flat: the coast
The easiest route and the finest at sunset. From the Andrea Doria seafront you head east to the village of San Gregorio and on to Brolo, or west towards Torrenova. Almost entirely flat, always in sight of the sea, with the Aeolians in front of you. An hour and a half with stops. In summer, go out early or after six: in the middle of the day the coastal tarmac is an oven.
Climbing: the villages
This is the ride that counts here. You turn inland and climb to Naso, Ficarra, Piraino or San Marco d'Alunzio: five to six hundred metres up, real villages with their churches, red marble and viewpoints over the islands. Around twenty kilometres with five hundred metres of ascent. On a muscle bike that's an outing for the trained; with electric assistance it becomes a morning within anyone's reach. And the way back is all downhill.
High up: the Nebrodi ridge
The park's most spectacular route runs between 1,300 and 1,700 metres, on a surface that's 85% compact dirt: Portella Femmina Morta, Lake Maulazzo inside the beech forest, the Biviere di Cesarò with horses grazing, the woods of Mangalaviti, and views holding Etna to the south and the Aeolians to the north. Said honestly: you don't get up there pedalling from the coast. The bikes go up by car and you ride at altitude — organised tours do the same. Season May to October. The park →
Jovanotti's stage, if you want to repeat it
Capo d'Orlando to Palermo along the coast: about 150 kilometres and 1,100 metres of climbing, with the final stretch passing through Cefalù. It's no stroll — a full day for serious cyclists, to be tackled with a dawn start, plenty of water and care on the main road, which is busy in summer. Anyone not up for the whole thing can ride the first half, to Sant'Agata di Militello or Caronia, and come back by train: the railway runs parallel to the coast and the stations are all there.
What to bring, and what to know
On the coast: plenty of water, as fountains are scarce, and care in the road tunnels, where lights are needed even by day. In the hills: the gradients are short but hard, with pitches over ten per cent. At altitude: a jacket even in August, because at 1,300 metres the evening drops ten degrees, and no charging points — on an e-bike you climb on high assistance and descend with it off.
If you don't have a bike
We hire e-bikes from the property, for half a day or a full day, and we'll tell you which of the three rides makes sense for your day, based on the weather and how long it's been since you last cycled. Guests staying with us get priority on availability. Hire →
Frequently asked questions
What route did Jovanotti ride from Capo d'Orlando?
On 26 August 2026 he left the Andrea Doria seafront around seven, heading for Palermo: about 150 kilometres along the Tyrrhenian coast with 1,100 metres of climbing, passing through Cefalù. It was the longest stage of his ride across Italy.
Can you cycle from Capo d'Orlando into the Nebrodi?
To the hill villages such as Naso, Ficarra, Piraino or San Marco d'Alunzio, yes: about twenty kilometres with five hundred metres of ascent. For the Nebrodi ridge, between 1,300 and 1,700 metres, it's better to drive up with the bikes and ride at altitude.
When is the best time to cycle in Capo d'Orlando?
Spring and autumn on the coast and in the hills; May to October at altitude in the Nebrodi. In high summer, ride early in the morning or after six, as the coast gets very hot in the middle of the day.
Can you hire bikes in Capo d'Orlando?
Yes: we hire e-bikes for half a day or a full day, starting from the property in the town centre. Models, rates and availability are agreed when you enquire.
Keep reading
Orlandina Basket: thirteen thousand people who reached Serie A
Capo d'Orlando is the smallest town in Italy ever to play top-flight basketball. The club was born in a primary school yard and still fills a 3,600-seat arena on Sundays. How to see a game, and why it's the right reason to come in winter.
When to visit Capo d'Orlando: the right month for each trip
In August you come for the sea and find half of Italy. In September the water is warmer than in June and prices have dropped. In October, the feasts. Month by month: temperatures, sea, crowds and what's happening.
The produce of this coast: what to eat, and when
A salami that is Sicily's only IGP, a Slow Food Presidium cheese, and the lemon that built this town's wealth. Between coast and mountain everything changes within half an hour's drive: what to look for, and in which season.
Related destinations: Capo d'Orlando, Nebrodi Park.
Stay in Capo d'Orlando
A base in the centre — and everything else becomes a day trip.
The port for the Aeolians is 45 minutes away, the Nebrodi right behind. Breakfast served early for dawn departures.
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