Appennines, Italy

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Completed trip

Price

Duration

€4,900

12 days

Start location

Destination

Fiesole

Monopoli

Min. group

6 people

Trip took place in Fall 2024. If you are interested in organizing a custom trip please contact us.

About the trip

The central and southern Italian Appennine mountains traverse Tuscany, Umbria, and Abruzzo, areas famed for their rolling hills of vineyards, olive groves, and picturesque Medieval towns. Join team Scalata for a twelve-day journey along the Appennines as we travel from Florence to Monopoli on the Adriatic Sea. We’ll cover an average of 125km a day and between 1,800 and 2,800m in elevation per day, including two legendary mountain climbs: the Gran Sasso and Blockhaus. We finish each ride at 4-star hotels in towns boasting Roman amphitheaters, Medieval Castles, and renowned Renaissance churches.

All meals will be included, and we’ll indulge in the rich local foods of these renowned culinary regions—even stopping for an olive oil tasting and production tutorial. All dietary needs or restrictions will easily be met. Should guests need laundry services, riding food, or mechanical support, team Scalata will be riding alongside guests and bringing up the rear with a support vehicle, also used to transfer luggage between destinations. The team’s high standard of customer service ensures that from the start of each day to the end, guests can focus on riding and simply enjoying the idyllic surrounds of the Appennines.

Arrival in Fiesole

DAY 1 | Sunday

Welcome to Tuscany! Today, the team will help guests upon arrival in Fiesole by either unboxing and tuning up their bikes or assisting with rentals. In the afternoon, we’ll have a brief spin to awaken the legs, followed by a welcome dinner and briefing on the coming week.

Fiesole to Arezzo

DAY 2 | Monday

We set off from Fiesole and head through the beautiful city of Florence towards the Chianti region. We’ll then ride along gravel roads—the same featured in the Strade Bianche and Eroica—before stopping for lunch near the Eroica shop in Gaiole. After 115km and 2,000m of elevation, the day ends in Arezzo, a city with ninth-century B.C. origins that still boasts Roman ruins and outstanding Medieval churches, such as the Basilica di San Francesco and Duomo di Santi Pietro e Donato.

Arezzo to Todi

DAY 3 | Tuesday

From Arezzo, we coast through olive groves and vineyards before passing by Trasimeno Lake. The Medieval town of Todi awaits us at the end of the day, which once boasted a population larger than that of Rome in the Middle Ages. We’ll have earned the chance to relax in the historic town center after completing 140km of riding and 2,300m of elevation.

Todi to l’Aquila

DAY 4 | Wednesday

Today, we push further into Umbria and towards the foothills of the Apennines. We’ll have a scenic picnic at Santa Rufina before arriving in L’Aquila after covering 140km and 2,300m of elevation. Of note in L’Aquila is the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, an authoritative example of Romanesque architecture and the site of Pope Celestine V's coronation in 1294.

L’Aquila to Popoli

DAY 5 | Thursday

The Gran Sasso awaits us. It’s a challenging ride with the reward of spectacular views at the peak of Campo Imperatore. From there, we descend towards the small town of Popoli and look forward to a plunge in the fresh Alpine river of the Popoli Termi. In total, we’ll cover 116km and 2,400m of elevation.

Popoli to Lanciano

DAY 6 | Friday

Yesterday’s ride up the Gran Sasso prepared us well to tackle the legendary Blockhaus. First included in the Giro d’Italia in 1937, the Blockhaus is a formidable climb. With a gradient of up to 15%, the narrow road up culminates in a breathtaking viewpoint at the top and flowing descent into Lanciano. Formerly the center of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, Lanciano was the largest city in Abruzzo throughout the Middle Ages, renowned for its ceramic, silk, and goldwork industries. We’ll unwind in the ancient city after completing 105km and 2,800m elevation.

Lanciano to Campobasso

DAY 7 | Saturday

The Sannio and Matese mountains will surround us as we ride through rolling hills to Campobasso, a Medieval town largely rebuilt in the Renaissance. The day consists of 126km and 2,800m of elevation.

Campobasso to Lucera

DAY 8 | Sunday

We set out from Campobasso a more leisurely day of 115km and 1,800m elevation with a picnic lunch in Valfortore. Our day finishes in the Apulian town of Lucera, an ancient city with a Roman amphitheater dating to the rule of Augustus. Unique to the town is its Medieval past as a Muslim sanctuary during the rule of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, during which time the Duomo was converted into a mosque. The rich history of Lucera will surprise you.

Lucera to Melfi

DAY 9 | Monday

Rolling hills and idyllic farmlands lie ahead as we continue south towards Melfi, a city safeguarded by Norman walls, Medieval gates, and the impressive Melfi Castle. One of the most historically significant castles in Southern Italy, the landmark is just one of the many treasures of this charming city. On our way there, we’ll cover 130km and 2,200m of elevation.

Melfi to Matera

DAY 10 | Tuesday

Today’s ride offers another scenic journey through the Apulian countryside, including 140km and 2,100m of elevation. However, a surprise awaits in Matera. This spectacular city dates back to the Paleolithic period and is renowned for its rock-cut urban core. Matera, in its entirety, is built into twin cliffsides, nestled in between the hill country of Basilicata and the Murgia plateau. On the high or ground level of the city, Medieval churches and administrative buildings overlook the settlement district below, comprised of twelve levels of descending paths, stairways, courtyards, and houses—all built from the landscape’s natural rock. It's a singular and awe-inspiring place to behold.

Matera to Monopoli

DAY 11 | Wednesday

It’s our final day of riding—and a relaxing one at that. We’ll cover 105km and 900m of elevation as we head to Monopoli, a town nestled on the Adriatic sea. The beauty of the water and vibrant energy of this coastal city will be a sweet reward after our days of hard work.

DAY 12 | Thursday

Departure from Monopoli

We’ll say our goodbyes and the team will help guests prep for their departures—whether packing up bikes, returning rentals, or helping plan the next stages of travel.

YOUR GUIDE

Nicola Venerus

The founder of Scalata, Nicola, is a native of Friuli Venezia-Giulia. He started cycling in 2012 after transitioning from years of playing semi-professional football. Soon after, his hobby of working on his bicycle became a career when he decided to train as a mechanic, marking the beginning of a career in workshops in Sydney, London, and Manchester, where he was a mainstay of The Service Course.

Concurrently, he joined Rapha Travel, where he gained years of experience running cycling trips in Italy, Spain, France, and Norway. In 2019, he started Scalata to offer tours of his most beloved—and most challenging—routes and climbs. Now a resident of the Veneto, Nicola lives and rides in the Dolomites, and, when not touring, serves as a mechanic for the Italian National Cyclocross Team.