Cycling in the Marche: the quiet wonder of discovery

Un tratto della pista ciclabile che si sviluppa sul lungomare adriatico

So, autumn… Autumn and spring are now undoubtedly the best times of year for lovely holidays spent cycling or walking, with milder temperatures and without the risk of getting sunburnt in the sweltering heat. Weather permitting, right up until November and the ‘Indian summer’, the Marche region is an ideal destination for long weekends spent enjoying its beauty, its natural surroundings, the rolling hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, right through to the tranquillity of the most secluded parts of the Apennines. An extraordinary variety of landscapes concentrated within just a few kilometres.

There are various routes to choose from. The Adriatic Cycle Route can serve as the starting point for this cycling trip. The coastal route runs along the Marche coastline in two main sections: to the north, from Gabicce Mare to Fano, and to the south, from Porto Sant’Elpidio to San Benedetto del Tronto. The southern section runs almost entirely along cycle paths, whilst the rest of the route is yet to be completed. A network of cycle routes branches off from the Adriatic Cycle Route, heading inland (further details at www.letsmarche.it).

The Abbaye Cycle Route, for example, winds its way for 69 km from the Adriatic Sea inland. It links Civitanova Marche to Tolentino, with an elevation gain of 500 metres, passing through medieval villages, Romanesque churches, castles and expanses of vineyards.

Il tartufo bianco di Acqualagna, che sarà protagonista della Fiera in programma dal 25 ottobre

Another route, longer and more ‘wild’, is the Ciclo Appenninica Alte Marche. A 200-kilometre loop with 3,200 metres of elevation gain, which can be completed over several days and passes through nine municipalities: Acqualagna, Cagli, Piobbico, Apecchio, Cantiano, Sassoferrato, Arcevia, Serra Sant’Abbondio and Frontone. The route, which is equipped with e-bike charging points, follows secondary mountain roads, far from traffic, winding through historic villages and spectacular gorges.

For mountain bike and gravel enthusiasts, the Grande Anello dei Sibillini – a 180-kilometre route in nine stages along forest tracks and minor roads – offers the chance to explore the most picturesque landscapes of the Monti Sibillini National Park, spanning the regions of Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo. The route starts in Visso, the park’s headquarters, and passes through Fiastra, Amandola, Montegallo, Castelluccio di Norcia and Norcia, combining mountains, villages and unspoilt nature. For those reaching Castelluccio, a detour to the Pantani di Accumoli is highly recommended, with its dazzling greenery and natural ponds where horses come to drink. In this writer’s opinion, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

La Sala dei Globi della Biblioteca Federiciana di Fano, ondata nel 1681 da Domenico Federici come sua libreria personale

“Focusing on cycling and cycle tourism,” comments Marina Santucci, director of the Marche Tourism and Internationalisation Agency (ATIM), “means investing in a different way of getting to know and experiencing our region. The Marche region is particularly well-suited to this: it boasts a network of routes that winds through diverse landscapes, from the inland villages to the coast, allowing visitors to combine outdoor activities, culture, nature and the exploration of the local area. It is a sector that enables us to attract a broad, international audience, one that is increasingly keen to choose cycling as a means of travel and to experience the destination at a different pace and in a different way to traditional tourism. In this regard, the Marche region is establishing itself as an increasingly recognisable cycling destination.”