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| Spotlight On |
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| If cycling is one of the true passions in your life, |
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| then you've come to paradise for no other country in the world is in love with the
bicycle like the Italians. The terrain and scenery here are simply unmatched: from flats to rolling hills to steep
climbs, Italy have it all. The villages, history, art and landscape will inspire you every day with new surprises. |
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Recommended periods
The routes can be covered all year round, but the ideal seasons (therefore
the ones we recommend) are the "transitional" ones, that is spring and autumn. Avoid the central summer
period, when the weather is really hot, and winter too, for the problems associated with the bitter cold, snow
and/or ice. |
Bike Road & Signal Rules
Bicycles comply with the same rights and rules like any other motor or
mechanical vehicle; in regard to civil and penal liabilities, a cyclist answers for any damage caused to things
and/or persons following reckless manoeuvring that departs from the Highway Code. So take heed on trafficked roads
and at bends, always keep right, let motor vehicles overtake you and respect road signals. For group bicycle excursions,
always ride with care. Do not ride in pairs, let alone in three or more. Never leave litter on the ground, do not
trespass public or private property, or rather, ask permission to transit/access, give pedestrians right of way,
slowing down and signalling your presence, check your speed and take bends anticipating obstacles, adjust your
pace to the terrain type and to your skills, never frighten animals and respect the environment. |
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| Useful links: |
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• Trenitalia Trains & Bicycles
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The Italian Federation of Urban Cyclists and Bicycle Tourism (FIAB)
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BICiTALIA First proposals for an Italian National Cycle Network
• EuroVelo, the
European cycle route network |
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A starting point ...
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Piedmont |
| Land of tourism and legends, sport activities and history. Variety of landscapes,
flora and fauna, architectures and cultural traditions. The Piedmont is an ideal destination for a bicycle tour,
combining gastronomy and famous wines with scenic bicycling through rolling hills dotted with vineyards, castles,
and Roman ruins. Barolo, Barbaresco, and Asti are not just the names of great wines: they are real towns that we
will explore. |
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Piedmont's
Parks - Cycle paths
ATL Biella Sport in the Biellese |
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Liguria |
| The Riviera dei Fiori can offer many qualified solutions for open air and sport tourism.
In particular, trekking and mountain bike lovers are increasingly attracted by the quiet itineraries and the breathtaking
views of Imperia's hinterland, rich in natural and historical-cultural sites. The main protagonists are the Ligurian
Alps with their precious botanical endemism and a rich fauna, distinguished by foxes, wild boars, er,nines, chamois,
alpine hares, marmots and golden eagle. Let's then discover this territory which is indeed comparable to more famous
mountains areas: through the ancient tracks of transhumance, ex military roads, panoramic and adventurous. |
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www.rivieradeifiori.org |
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Lombardy |
| Lombardy is one of the largest regions in Italy, rich in works of art, and the beauties
of nature. The region can boast charming hilly areas, large lakes in the foothills of the Alps and a great variety
of mountain scenery. The plain also presents natural habitats of considerable interest, the Valle del Ticino Park
being ideal for pleasant walks or cycling excursions in the woods alongside the river. In such a limited space
it is impossible to list all the monuments, churches and abbeys, the castles, palaces and villas in the cities
of Lombardy and scattered all over the region. |
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Lakes of Lombardy |
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Veneto |
| The Veneto is a land of generations-old cycling heritage and traditions. Soft green
hills, dreamy lagoons, sleepy villages and pulsating cities and of course the splendid villas of the famous architect
Palladio will accompany you in your discovery of the region around Venice. Furthermore, there is a vast network
of cycle tracks that offer itineries for everyone as well as marvellous routes for mountain-biking. The hilly areas,
where you can enjoy the pleasure of being in close contact with nature, also offer the possibility of long bike
rides. |
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Cortina
Turismo - the Mountain Bike trails |
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Trentino Alto-Adige |
| The Trentino-Alto Adige is the most northerly region in Italy. It is a region of completely
mountainous territory in which the presence of a still virgin and uncontaminated, sometimes wild, nature nevertheless
offers the opportunity to practice all kind of sports activities. Breathtaking valleys and lakes, the famous Stelvio
National Park and the majestic Dolomites: this region is a true paradise for everyone looking for fantastic excitement
on their bikes, whether on mountain bike trails or on roads. |
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Cycle
Paths in Trentino
Cycling in Trentino
www.fortezzebiketour.it
APT
Valli di Sole, Pejo, Rabbi itineraries by mountain bike |
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Friuli-Venezia Giulia |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the smallest regions in Italy. Its highly-attractive
landscape ranges from alpine sceneries to hills, plains, beaches, lagoons and karst areas. The sandy shores, the
shady pinewoods and the lagoon sides are a magical scenario for a bicycle ride. Thousands of fun opportunities
are also offered by the well-marked hiking tracks and paths with their various difficulty levels, while a mountain-bike
ride is a good way to enjoy the "wilderness" of some road or path itineraries. |
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Valli del
Natisone 30 Mountain Bike rountrips |
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Emilia-Romagna |
| Emilia Romagna takes its name from "Via Emilia", the old Roman road linking
Rimini to Piacenza, going from the Adriatic Sea to the wide plains of the north, running through marine villages,
lagoon landscapes, old medieval towns and offering beautiful views of castles, hills, towers, abbeys. Emilia-Romagna
produces some of the most delicious and beautiful things in the world: Prosciutto di Parma, Tortellini, Lasagna,
Parmigiano Reggiano, Ferrari, Ducati. A culinary bicycle tour is a gourmet's delight. |
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www.emiliaromagna.info [in italian]
Destra Po: cycling tourism route on the right bank of the Po
Cesenatico Bike itineraries |
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Tuscany |
| For those who always associate tourist cycling with nature, art and culture, Tuscany
is certainly the appropriate region , thanks to its historic and artistic treasures which fit in perfectly in a
varied natural setting. From the Tyrrheanian coasts to the wooded slopes of the Apennine mountains, the cyclist
will find an infinite amount of hilly or mountainous areas which should be crossed slowly in order to observe:
the work in the fields, the small frescoed church of the town, the thick forest, the rational plan of the historic
villages or the breaking of the waves of the sea. |
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www.terresienainbici.it |
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Umbria |
| Umbria, Italy's "green heart" , a stunningly beautiful region waiting to
be discovered. Bike through truffle-laden forests and vineyard-covered valleys, rolling pastureland and fields
of grain. Discover the well-preserved medieval hill towns harboring splendid Renaissance art and relics from Umbrias
Roman and Etruscan past. |
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Azienda di Promozione Turistica dell'Umbria
Via Mazzini, 21 - 06100 Perugia ITALY
Tel. 075 575951 - Fax 075 5736828
E-mail info@apt.umbria.it
www.umbria2000.it |
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Abruzzo |
| The variety of its landscape brings together two separate environments that do not
mix very easily: the seaside in all its remarkable beauty and the fascinating charm of its mountains; two quite
contrasting landscapes brought together by gently rolling hills. The hills and wonderful scenery, together with
the relatively small amount of road traffic, make Abruzzo an ideal place for cycling enthusiasts. The slopes of
Campo Imperatore and the Maielletta are just as testing as the mountain passes in the Dolomites for the fittest
cyclists. |
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Regional Cycling Federation
Tel. 085 4210450 - 085 4221647 |
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Campania |
| Exploring its landscape, visitors can discover the ancient lost cities of Pompeii
and Herculaneum, the remains of Paestum and Velia, the enchanting islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida, and the
delights of the Amalfi coast. The most "classic" routes through its islands and coasts are extremely
well known, but they can be seen in a fresh light just by moving slightly inland from the sea to discover areas
full of wonderful surprises. There are plenty of interesting routes for cyclists, although, with the exception
of the Sele plains, all the other paths follow extremely difficult routes. |
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coming soon |
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Calabria |
| The unsurpassable beauty of nature stands out not only in the almost 800 kilometres
of coastline lined with beautiful beaches and clear-blue sea, but also in the wilder mountainous areas. Calabria
offers endless opportunities to practise this type of sport. Small paths that wind up the hills and mountains and
the little roads along the coast are particularly charming and cycling along them will allow you to admire unique
scenery in a quiet atmosphere far from the madding crowd. |
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Mountain-Bike Sila Club
87052 Camigliatello Silano (CS)
Tel. 0984 578667 |
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Sardinia |
| Sardinia is the second biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It's well known for
the wild beauty of its beaches and for its mild weather. If you add that it rains during winter only you'll get
a perfect-all year-riding place. The island doesn't have high mountains (max elev. 1842 m.) but the soil is rocky
almost everywhere. The vegetation is the very characteristic Mediterranean bush and it's not so uncommon to find
completely wild trails. Unmatched hospitality, excellent Italian food and wine, fascinating historical and cultural
heritage, and beautiful coastal and mountain scenery make bicycling Sardinia unforgettable. |
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Federazione Ciclistica Italiana
via Sonnino,155 - 09127 Cagliari ITALY
Tel. 070 663231 / 070 663243 |
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