From north to south, from mountains to sea, from countryside to hills, from plains to inland, Italy offers endless opportunities for cyclists of all levels. Places of rare beauty to explore by road bike, on cycle paths and through towns, along the coast and up steep climbs. Let's discover some of Italy's most beautiful cycling routes.
For all tastes
It's no easy task to choose just a few of the hundreds of cycling routes in Italy. There's truly something for every taste and level, with varying degrees of difficulty and length. Whether you love steep climbs or flat coastal roads, historic town centers or rolling hills, you're sure to find something for you among these itineraries. We present three of the most beautiful road bike routes in our country:
- the Mincio cycle path
- Crossing the Val d'Orcia
- the Bourbon Cycle Path
Mincio cycle path
This route winds from Peschiera del Garda to Mantua , between Veneto and Lombardy, along a cycle path. It's an easy route, about 45 km long and with a modest elevation gain, making it suitable for amateur cyclists of all levels.
The road bike route known as the "Mincio Cycle Path" begins in Peschiera del Garda, near Porta Brescia. It follows the right bank of the Mincio River to Mondambano, where it changes course and begins to run alongside the left bank. The uniqueness of this route is that, in addition to admiring a variety of natural beauty, it offers the opportunity to visit small towns and ancient villages with incredible historical and cultural charm. The medieval village of Borghetto is undoubtedly one of the most charming and deserves a brief stop for refreshments among the area's characteristic windmills.
Once in Pozzolo, you can decide to take a detour toward Volta Mantovana: from here, the bike path moves away from the riverbanks and continues along the canals of the countryside, all the way to the city of Mantua. It crosses the Mincio Regional Natural Park, a protected area characterized by a wide variety of nature: moraine hills, lakes, plains, and rivers, home to many bird species, including storks, herons, marsh harriers, peregrine falcons, and black kites. It's a perfect area to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature, pedaling effortlessly among ruins that tell the story of these ancient places.
Crossing the Val d'Orcia
One of the most beautiful areas in Italy, and quite possibly the world. The Val d'Orcia , in Tuscany, is internationally recognized as a geographical area of unparalleled beauty. It's also famous among cyclists as home to a section of the Strade Bianche cycling route. The Val d'Orcia crossing is a 72 km cycling route that presents no particular difficulty, starting and finishing in Bagno Vignoni, in the province of Siena.
The route begins with a very short stretch of Via Cassia before turning right towards Spedaletto, following the Orcia River and then turning right towards San Piero in Campo. After about 14 km, you reach the road connecting Sarteano to Radicofani, where you turn towards Radicofani. Here begins one of the few challenging sections of the route, a 2.5 km climb that, at the end, offers a spectacular view of the Val d'Orcia, Mount Cetona , and Mount Amiata .
We start from Radicofani, continuing downhill to the SS2 Cassia. From here, we turn left towards Bagni San Filippo, a spa town at the foot of Mount Amiata. A bit more climbing, this time towards Campiglia d'Orcia, passing through the hamlet of Zaccaria. We continue along a road that offers extraordinary views of the valley, pedaling towards Castiglione d'Orcia. From there, we easily return to the finish line. An extraordinary road bike tour in one of the most fascinating places in the world.
Bourbon Cycle Path
We're taking a dramatic change of scenery and moving to the southern tip of the province of Bari. The Ciclovia dei Borboni (Bourbon Cycle Route) is a long road, over 300 km long, connecting Bari to Naples. What we're describing here is just the first section, all on secondary roads with little traffic. This 67 km road bike route takes you through some of Puglia's most evocative and historic locations, starting in Bari and ending in Castel del Monte. The difficulty level is medium, but the short length makes it a suitable itinerary for all cycling enthusiasts.
We start from the bike path on Viale Unità d'Italia in Bari. We cycle, keeping an eye out for signs for the Madonna della Grotta sanctuary , which is worth a visit in itself. After the sanctuary, we turn right onto a beautiful road, more suitable than ever for cyclists: with little traffic and stunning scenery. Here, we cycle alongside the lame, karst formations formed by the runoff water.
Continuing, you first reach the village of Modugno and from there the ancient hamlet of Balsignano, near which a Neolithic village has been discovered, the oldest in the Lower Murgia. History, landscape, and sport come together in a fascinating mix.
Leaving the provincial road, you pedal through a thick olive grove and climb easily towards Bitetto. After another 4 km, you reach the summit of Palo del Colle. To recover from the climb, you immediately descend towards Palombaio. The road now runs parallel to the provincial road, and all you have to do is continue straight to reach your destination. Here, the surrounding countryside offers magnificent views of olive trees, vineyards, oak trees, and all the other typical vegetation of the area. A cycling route in Puglia of rare beauty.
Conclusion
The ones we've described are just three of the many cycling itineraries in Italy. They're suitable for amateur cyclists of all levels, and the routes aren't particularly difficult. However, our advice is to always pay close attention to every detail: before setting off, your bike must be in perfect condition, and you should bring any road bike accessories that might be most useful for your itinerary. If you have any doubts about certain aspects, such as a cyclist's diet , don't hesitate to seek advice from experts. Then... pedal away and enjoy the splendid landscapes you encounter.
