12 – Urban landscapes and natural oases, a round trip to discover the treasures of the Apennines
Difficulty: high
Bike type: gravel / road racing / e-bike
Departure: Potenza, train station
Arrival: Potenza, train station
Total miles: 103 approximately
Road surface: asphalt
Height difference ascent: 1730 m
Height difference descent: 1730 m
Time of year: recommended from March to November
ROUTE
Circular route with long but pedalable climbs and almost non-existent traffic.
Having a fairly high elevation profile, this stage tour is not recommended in the middle of winter, but highly recommended in summer, thanks also to the thick tree cover present.
ROUTE 12
It begins in Potenza, the elegant and welcoming regional capital, with a thousand-year-old historic centre made up of stately palaces and ancient gateways, medieval towers and historic stone staircases.
Crossing over the Musmeci Bridge, a gigantic and refined work of sculpture designed by the famous engineer from whom it takes its name, the route continues in the direction of Picerno, the town of Lucanica IGP.
Skirting the town of Baragiano, the tour reaches Bella, the municipality of Marmo Platano Melandro surrounded by unspoilt nature in which an Aragonese castle can be seen from all angles.
The next stop on this route in through the unspoilt nature of the Lucano Val d’Agri Lagonegrese Appennine National Park is Muro Lucano, the birthplace of Saint Gerardo Maiella, the patron saint of Basilicata.
Variation: by following an uphill stretch of about 6 kilometres, it is possible to reach San Fele, the village of the Waterfalls, and visit the ancient Sanctuary of the Madonna di Pierno, as well as the villages of Atella and Ruvo del Monte.
With a gentle descent you can then return to Muro Lucano to take the way back to Potenza.
The route, which is of high difficulty, can be covered in two stages.
