Winner in 2020 of the Italian Green Road Award for the Bike to Coast project. – the bicycle and pedestrian path nearing completion along the entire regional coastline between the seaside resorts of Martinsicuro and San Salvo, an integral part of the national Adriatic Ciclovia – last November, the Abruzzo region won second place in the biennial European Greenways Award 2023 for its scenic Green Way of the Trabocchi Coast, a southern segment of the Bike to Coast between Ortona and Vasto (with some sections to be completed), characterized by the presence of the ancient and striking fishing machines built of wood and suspended over the sea.
The new and prestigious recognition thus consolidates the region’s image as an authentic bike-friendly tourist destination,a privileged destination for lovers of two-wheelers. In addition to the Adriatic route, in fact, there are several bicycle routes that gently creep through hillocks carpeted with vineyards and olive groves until they conquer the main peaks of the Apennines.
The bicycle touring routes in Abruzzo
Among the most striking, it gives deep emotions to ride among the rock walls of the Sagittario valley towards the lake of Scanno from the romantic heart-shaped perimeter or dive into the biodiversity paradise of the Pescara Springs Regional Reserve admiring up close the extraordinary color of the waters counterpointed by the lush vegetation.
Similarly, it excites to be able to reach the Lavino Sulfur Springs Equipped Park from downtown Scafa safely thanks to the newly inaugurated bicycle path. From theTorre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area, then, with minimal effort you can reach the Calanchi di Atri Regional Reserve, but once at your destination, fatigue will fade before the lunar beauty of a dreamlike landscape. And how can one not be amazed at the enchanting views offered by the Aterno bicycle path that, alternating paved and unpaved stretches and nearing completion, from the scattered hamlets at the foot of L’Aquila’s capital city creeps gently into the territory of the Sirente Velino Regional Park among medieval villages, castles, monasteries and Roman bridges, including the natural wonders of the Stiffe Caves.
The new bicycle tourism map
A selection of the cycleways and road and MTB routes currently usable in Abruzzo is available on the new regional cycling tourism map, distributed in printed form at trade shows and free to download in PDF format in its digital version from the Media Gallery of the portal abruzzoturismo.it. Reproduced in elegant graphic sign the map contains 45 routes, each with its own QR CODE through which to obtain the GPX track on the Koomot platform along with photos and brief descriptions of the tours.
To underscore the multimedia nature of the editorial product, other QR CODEs allow you to link to the regional map of camper areas, the dedicated portal cicloturismo.abruzzoturismo.it with a complete list of bike-friendly routes and facilities, and to services offered by Trenitalia in Abruzzo. With a view to sustainable mobility, we would like to remind you that on all regional trains running in Abruzzo, including those of the TUA (Trasporto Unico Abruzzese) company, bicycle transportation is free within the limits of available seats.
Cycling events in Abruzzo
In addition to hosting – between arrivals and departures – four stages of the next Giro d’Italia, Abruzzo will be the protagonist of other events for two-wheel enthusiasts. May 17-19 will be the Marina of Fossacesia (CH) on the Costa dei Trabocchi to host the village of Art Bike & Run + Wine, the event promoted by Legambiente and dedicated to families and tourists among art performances, group games, non-competitive running race, bicycle time trial, food and wine bike ride and an event space for tastings, workshops and children’s activities.
On Sunday, June 9, the village of Mutignano di Pineto (TE) will be the setting for the Cerrano Gravel-MTB Experience, a non-competitive cycling event designed with the aim of promoting the Terre del Cerrano area and its landscape, cultural and food and wine excellences through three different routes of 50, 80 and 110 kilometers.
On Sunday, June 2, Scanno and its romantic heart-shaped lake will be the site of the Stazzi Marathon, an event that has been held since 2004 capable of attracting numerous bikers each year, becoming over time one of the most important events of the MTB circuit, with the routes winding through the shepherds’ huts located between the hamlet of Frattura, the pass of Monte Genzana, Passo Godi and the lake.
On Saturday, June 8, however, Castel del Monte will host the Nova Eroica Gran Sasso, the new and unprecedented all road event in the heart of the Italian Apennines, with trails winding on the Campo Imperatore Plateau along the ancient tratturi, the white roads used since ancient times for the Transhumance of the flocks, a practice recognized in 2019 by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Finally, on Sunday, October 27, the 13th Chestnut Cyclotourism will kick off from Sante Marie, three routes of various distances and difficulties immersed in beech and chestnut woods carved out next to walls from the Italic era, remains of Benedictine monasteries and other wonders offered by the Marsican territory.
