Itineraries

The route starts from Rotonda, home of the Pollino National Park, and ends up in Maratea, the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is medium difficulty and can be done in a single day, partly following the Rotonda – Lagonegro cycle path, carved out of the former disused railway of the Ferrovie Calabro Lucane.

Crossing through the green and wooded areas of the Pollino National Park and following the signs for Maratea, after Rotonda you reach Lauria, behind which rise the peaks of the Sirino massif, an ideal destination for high mountain enthusiasts.

After passing the birthplace of the Lucanian director and actor Rocco Papaleo, beyond Lake Sirino, you leave the cycle path to begin a descent towards Rivello.

Another 9 km of inland road takes you up to Trecchina, where you can stop and visit the historic centre and the sixteenth-century baronial castle, situated on the highest point of the town.

Leaving the town, after about 2 km of climbing, you can look out over the wonderful landscape of the Tyrrhenian coast. Follow the signs for the “Centro Storico” to reach Maratea and end the day in the piazzetta of the old town, among the picturesque alleyways of “the city of 44 churches”.

It starts from Rotonda, home of the Pollino National Park, and after a 25 km climb you reach the plains of Piano Ruggio, at an altitude of 1600 metres. The landscape is constantly changing. In a few kilometres, you pass from Mediterranean scrub to the tall woods which are characteristic of the centre of the Park, oaks and Turkey oaks, giving way to an increasingly dense beech forest.

A stop at the Piano Ruggio fountain will allow you to admire the majestic Serra del Prete, which dominates the plateau. Following the path at the bottom of the valley that plunges into the beech forest on the right, it is possible to take a stroll to the Malvento belvedere, to admire some specimens of Heldreich’s pine clinging to the ridges, at a point where the panorama extends as far as the eye can see over nearby Calabria.

At this point the route becomes more and more rideable, with alternating downhill and uphill sections.. After coming out of the wood, at the end of a 16 kilometre scenic descent through vast grassy meadows, we reach Viggianello, one of the ‘Borghi più Belli d’Italia’ (Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages).

Continue downhill until you reach the valley, and then climb up to Rotonda, the finishing point of this spectacular tour among the highest peaks of the Lucanian side of the Pollino National Park.

Starting from Terranova del Pollino, go up into the shade of the green beech and chestnut woods which are so typical of the area, where it is also possible to admire the extraordinary specimens of the centuries-old Heldreich’s Pine, the symbol of the Park.

Then a pleasant descent leading to San Severino Lucano begins, the destination of one of the most popular pilgrimages in Basilicata, in honour of the Madonna del Pollino.

Variation:
After passing the hamlets of Muscello and Falascoso, about 38 km from the start, you come to a fork in the road. For those who are more athletically prepared, it is possible to continue straight and reach, after about 16 km at 4% of average gradient, the 1600 meters of Piano Visitone and Piano Ruggio and then from there to head on towards Rotonda.

The next stop on the tour is Viggianello, the “town of brooms”, certified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” by the association “Borghi più belli d’Italia”. Another 10 kilometres and you reach Rotonda, where in June i you can watch one of the traditional tree rituals of this area of Basilicata, the Sagra dell’Abete, a propitiatory rite linked to the fertility of the land.

The route, which can be divided into two stages, starts from the archaeological excavations of Grumentum, the most important Roman site in Basilicata, known as the “Little Pompeii” of Basilicata, and then proceeds towards Sarconi, the village known for the production of IGP bean, the main ingredient in the local cuisine, used both for the preparation of savoury and sweet dishes, from first courses to jams, from soups to ice cream.

After a pleasant ride, by following the signs for Spinoso, you reach the centre of this hillside village located in the centre of the Lucano Val D’Agri Lagonegrese Apennine National Park. From here, a 4 km cycle path leads to the shores of Lake Pertusillo, an artificial reservoir dammed by the Agri river.

Follow the road back to Spinoso.

Variant: by travelling a few more kilometres, it is possible to visit San Chirico Raparo, a village of ancient origins built around a castle of Angevin origin that was destroyed, and from here Castelsaraceno or Chiaromonte and Fardella, in the Pollino National Park.

The next stop on the tour is Armento, a very small town whose history is linked to connected to important archaeological discoveries, such as the Kneeling Satyr and the Golden Crown of Kritonios, now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Munich.

A nice climb then allows you to conquer the peaks of the surrounding mountains and reach Montemurro, the town that gave birth to the “poet-engineer” Leonardo Sinisgalli and the Risorgimento patriot Giacinto Albini, and eventually Viggiano, the town that houses the Black Madonna, patron saint of Basilicata, before returning to Grumentum.

The next stage of the tour leads to one of the most beautiful mountain views in the region, reaching Mount Sirino and Lake Laudemio, a lake situated at high altitude.

The route, which at first is quite easy, turns into a challenging mountain route through scenery that changes from being typically Mediterranean to mountainous. Splendid valleys, thick and imperious forests and endless ridges accompany the cyclist on a ride with a high altitude feel.

Variation: heading towards the lake, following the signs for Conserva di Lauria, you reach the town of Lauria. After a beautiful descent of about 20 km you will join this route to itinerary 19 (Rotonda – Maratea), reaching the Tyrrhenian coast.

The arrival at Lake Laudemio is spectacular, with a climb that ends in front of Europe’s southernmost glacial lake, at an altitude of more than 1500 metres.

After a well-deserved stop, we head back to Grumentum, taking a break to admire the Madonna del Sirino, nestled in the mountain, and passing the village of Moliterno, known for its Pecorino Canestrato IGP, one of the excellences of Lucanian gastronomy, made from sheep’s and goat’s milk.

Variation: At 10 km from Lake Laudemio, at the end of the descent, you will arrive at a T-junction. Turning left, following the signs for Lagonegro, passing through the coastal towns of Rivello, Nemoli and finally Maratea.

High difficulty tour, to be divided into two stages.

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.

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.