13 – From Potenza to the Lucanian Apennines National Park, a ring-route through cultivated hills and mountain landscapes
Difficulty: high
Bike type: touring / road race / e-bike
Departure: Potenza railway station
Arrival: Potenza railway station
Total miles: 85.3 approximately
Road surface: asphalt
Height difference ascent: 1580 m
Height difference descent: 1580 m
Time of year: recommended from March to November
Variation for Brienza
Km 14.4
Height difference ascent: 450 m
Height difference descent: 450 m
ROUTE
A circular route between Savoia, Satriano, Brienza and Sasso di Castalda, suitable for cyclists experienced in hill climbs, which should be taken into two stages.
ROUTE 13
It starts from Potenza, the highest regional capital in Italy. Elegant and welcoming, the city develops around the old town centre dating back thousands of years, made up of stately palazzi and ancient gates, medieval towers and historic stone steps, narrow alleys and cobbled streets and featuring the Theatre, museums and art galleries.
The itinerary continues towards Picerno, the town of Lucanica IGP, in the heart of the Melandro. According to tradition, it was founded in the 2nd century B.C. on the ruins of ancient Acerrona, on the slopes of Mount Li Foj. Today, it is an ideal destination for experienced hikers and mountain bikers, but also for families with children.
The tour continues past high cliffs and spectacular scenery to Savoia di Lucania, the home village of Giovanni Passannante, the anarchist who in 1878 made an attempt on the life of King Umberto I of Savoy during his visit to Naples.
The next stop is Sant’Angelo Le Fratte, “the town of cellars” which in August hosts the wine and food festival “Le Cantine Aperte di Sant’Angelo Le Fratte”.
Cycling easily along the valley floor, we reach Satriano di Lucania, the town of murals and of the painter Giovanni De Gregorio, known as “Il Pietrafesa”, one of the greatest exponents of Lucanian painting culture between late Mannerism and Baroque.
The last stop, before returning to the capital, is Tito, one of the villages in Basilicata that fall within Italy’s youngest National Park, the Lucano Val D’Agri Lagonegrese Apennines.
Variation: for those who want to extend the route, we recommend the ride to Sasso di Castalda to cross the famous Tibetan bridge known as the Ponte alla Luna (Bridge to the Moon) and then to reach Brienza, a charming medieval village dominated by the Caracciolo Castle.
ROUTE 13 variant
