When you travel to a different country, there are a lot of things you need to consider. Transportation is one of those things. You need to plan out how you will get to and from the airport, how you are going to navigate public transportation, and even if you’re going to rent a car.
Italy is a beautiful country, and many people believe it best seen outside of a vehicle. If you’re looking to experience Italy differently, and also looking for a little adventure, here is the country’s six best bike trails.
Lake Varese Bike Trail
This bike trail is about 15 miles long and wraps around the lake. There are about a dozen places to rent a bike in the area, but keep in mind the path is unpaved most of the way. This bike trail also offers riders the opportunity to visit many of the other towns surrounding the lakeside.
Parco Costiero del Ponente Ligure (Cycling Riviera)
Located in Liguria, this path runs almost 15 miles between San Lorenzo al Mare and Ospedaletti. The trail follows along an old railroad line that ran down the coast and is completely devoted to bike and foot traffic only. Currently, work is underway to extend the trail another four miles to connect with Imperia. This portion should be open in 2021.
Path of the Reclaimed Land
This Tuscan cycling trail will take visitors along the ancient Canale Maestro Della Chiana. This waterway was established in the 16 century to help farmers with drainage thus ‘reclaiming the land.’ The path extends 38 miles between Arezzo, Siena, and Umbria. Cyclists will travel across a multitude of surfaces as they tour the local Italian farmlands.
Peschiera-Mantova Bike Trail
As the name would suggest, this 26 miles path connects the fortress Peschiera del Garda to the Mantova region. This paved trail will allow cyclists a glimpse of one or two castles along the way. There are train stations at both ends of the trail for riders who need to get back to their starting point but don’t want to ride the trail again.
Bourbons’ Bike Trail
Named for the Bourbon dynasty that once reigned in Southern Italy, this bike trail is for those that look for a multi-day bike trip. This trail runs about 211 miles along the coast from Bari to Naples. Though this ride is long, there are only a few small hills, and the path is almost entirely paved. The Bourbons’ Bike Trail will also take you through the Alta Murgia National Park and past the UNESCO Heritage Site, Castel del Monte.
Via Claudia Augusta
During the time of the Roman Empire, roads were built to establish better trade routes throughout the Republic. The Claudia Augusta bike trail runs through Austria and Germany for over 200 miles before entering Italy. The Italian leg of the journey is about 240 miles and ends in Venice at the Adriatic Sea. The one downfall is the path does not go through any of the local towns along the way, so cyclists will need to deviate from the route for those visits.
Sources:
- Lake Varese [Inspirerock.com]
- House of Bourbon [Vacanzattiva.com]
- Cycling Riviera [Italy Cycling Guide]
- The Canale Maestro Della Chiana [Sentierodellabonifica.it]
- Via Claudia Augusta [Italy Cycling Guide]
- Peschiera Mantova[My Corner of Italy]
- Peschiera Mantova Cycle Route [Life in Italy]
- Feature Picture [Flickr]
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