20 – In the footsteps of Giro d’Italia: from the Pollino National Park to Matera
This stage tour retraces much of the stage of the Giro d’Italia that passed through Basilicata in 2020. The last kilometres are those the 2013 Giro d’Italia covered in the region.
ROUTE
The route starts from Rotonda, the gateway to the Pollino National Park, and crosses the entire Lucanian side of the park, amidst unspoilt natural scenery where the thousand-year-old Heldreich’s pine reigns supreme.
After passing through the villages of Viggianello and San Severino Lucano, surrounded by the lavish scenery of the Bosco Magnano, you descend to Francavilla in Sinni and then climb up to Chiaromonte, a treasure trove of valuable objects and papers from China, brought to Basilicata by Ludovico Nicola di Giura, the only Mandarin Mayor in history.
After a long descent, skirting the artificial reservoir of the Monte Cotugno Dam, you reach Senise and from here go up towards San Giorgio Lucano and then reach Valsinni, the romantic village overlooked by the feudal castle where the young poet Isabella Morra was born and lived.
After passing Rotondella, the tour continues towards the beaches of the Ionian Sea, enjoying the natural spectacle provided by the ravines. First stop on the Ionian coast is Tursi, with the splendid Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Anglona, then Craco, the ‘ghost town’, Pisticci and finally Bernalda.
With a moderately demanding climb, you then reach Montescaglioso, famous for the Benedictine Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo and from here, skirting the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, in Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019.
Stage 1 - from Rotonda to Senise
Difficulty: medium / high
Bike type: road racing / gravel / e-bike
Departure: Rotonda
Arrival: Senise
Total miles: 70,2km
Road surface: asphalt
Height difference ascent: 1300 m
Height difference descent: 1560 m
Starting from Rotonda, seat of the Pollino National Park, you cross the entire Lucanian side of the park passing through Viggianello and San Severino Lucano After passing Bosco Magnano you go down to Francavilla in Sinni and then go up to Chiaromonte. Long descent and arrival in Senise, overlooking the Montecotugno dam.
ROUTE 20 stage1
Stage 2 - from Senise to Pisticci
Difficulty: medium
Bike type: road racing / gravel / e-bike
Departure: Senise
Arrival: Pisticci
Total miles: 96km
Road surface: asphalt
Height difference ascent: 1240 m
Height difference descent: 1160 m
From Senise go up towards San Giorgio Lucano and take the old state road 104 Jonio – Sapri which leads to Valsinni, whose castle dominates the river. Continue through orchards and beautiful curves up to below Rotondella, to visit if you have an extra day to dedicate to the trip. Cross the Sinni river and reach Tursi passing by the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Anglona. When you reach the bottom of the Agri valley (a short stretch with probable traffic), turn off for Craco. We are in the heart of the Calanchi area. The destination of the day is Pisticci, reachable with a series of hairpin bends on the old road, to avoid the long tunnel.
ROUTE 20 stage2
Tappa 3 - Da Pisticci a Matera
Difficulty: medium
Bike type: road racing / gravel / e-bike
Departure: Pisticci
Arrival: Matera
Total miles: 70,6km
Road surface: asphalt
Height difference ascent: 940 m
Height difference descent: 920 m
Starting from Pisticci, cross the Basento at Tinchi until you reach Bernalda. From Bernalda you go down towards the Bradano and cross the bridge over the river (closed to car traffic but accessible by bike). Continue left towards Montescaglioso, reachable with a moderately demanding climb. Leaving Montescaglioso along the Parco delle Chiese Rupestri with a climb that becomes challenging in the last kilometers before reaching Via Lucana, which leads downhill to the center of Matera.