Between unspoilt nature and millenary history — Italy’s Basilicata by bike
Bike Touring Collection by Basilicata
10
Tours
54:07 h
502 mi
42,475 ft
Between ghost towns and rock churches, crystal-clear sea and wild mountains, art, history and culinary tradition, Italy’s Basilicata is a kaleidoscopic region, a succession of colours, sounds and shapes, dancing together to create a multiplicity of souls and landscapes. Cycling is undoubtedly the best way to discover all the facets of this exceptional land, on roads that are never too busy and always in complete safety.
In this Collection, we propose 10 itineraries that give you the chance to explore this region far and wide. You can venture among the castles and verdant forests of the Vulture-Melfese and cycle from the Sassi di Matera through the lunar landscapes of the Calanchi to the beaches of Magna Grecia. You can climb the Piccole Dolomiti Lucane and the highest peaks of the Pollino National Park, and set out to discover the traditions and food and wine culture of the picturesque villages of the Lucanian hinterland.
Basilicata is a largely mountainous and hilly land. Here, over the course of history, villages and hamlets have sprung up on hills and plateaus to allow for better defence. This is why many of these routes include some climbing. But don't worry: you can easily split each of these Tours into several stages to suit your level of fitness. Or, you can link several routes together and create the perfect itinerary for your cycle adventure – the choice is yours! You’ll find more detailed information on the individual Tours in their descriptions.
Discover more cycling routes in this amazing region by downloading the Basilicata FreetoMove app, available for iOS and Android.
You can find more information about the region here basilicataturistica.it/en/discover-basilicata/sports-and-outdoor/bike-and-mountain-bike or here italia.it/en/basilicata.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Difficult05:3651.2 mi9.1 mph4,650 ft4,650 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A tour on average demanding, due to its length and the considerable amount of ascent, which will take you between wheat fields and centuries-old olive trees to immerse yourself in the green of the Monticchio lakes.
Depart from the Melfi railway station and proceed uphill through the countryside along…
by Basilicata
- Intermediate03:0635.3 mi11.4 mph525 ft1,825 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A rather simple tour within everyone's reach, which develops almost exclusively downhill and on the flat, it can be covered in one day even by those who are less trained. An itinerary full of history, which from Matera, the city of the Sassi, will take you to Metaponto, the capital of Magna Graecia.
Start…
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- Difficult07:2369.1 mi9.4 mph5,200 ft5,200 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This ring tour, with departure and arrival in the center of Matera, will take you to discover some of the most evocative villages of this part of Basilicata: Montescaglioso, Grottole and Miglionico. Due to the length of the itinerary and the decent amount of ascent, a good level of training is required…
by Basilicata
- Difficult04:0235.7 mi8.8 mph3,950 ft4,825 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A tour of medium-high difficulty, due to the presence of challenging climbs, which will take you from Castelmezzano to Pietrapertosa, two of the most beautiful villages in Italy, nestled in the heart of the Little Lucanian Dolomites. From here, the itinerary continues through the lunar landscapes of…
by Basilicata
- Difficult05:5853.0 mi8.9 mph5,175 ft5,175 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A circular route to discover the villages and landscapes of this slice of the Lucanian Apennines, which requires a fair amount of training on the climb.
Start from Potenza, the highest capital of Italy, cycling towards Picerno, in the heart of the Melandro Valley. Continue between high rocky walls and…
by Basilicata
- Difficult05:2747.1 mi8.6 mph5,275 ft5,275 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A tour that starting from the Archaeological Park of Grumentum will take you to discover the most beautiful mountain landscapes of Basilicata, between Mount Sirino and the splendid high-altitude water mirror of Lake Laudemio. Beautiful valleys and verdant woods await you, within a scenario that gradually…
by Basilicata
- Difficult04:2837.3 mi8.4 mph4,750 ft4,750 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A ring tour for those who love the mountains, starting and ending in the picturesque village of Rotonda, in the heart of the Pollino National Park, in the province of Potenza. A long demanding climb awaits you that will take you to 1,600 meters above sea level in the most beautiful places in this part…
by Basilicata
- Difficult05:2549.8 mi9.2 mph4,275 ft4,275 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A tour that, starting from the Roman archaeological site of Grumentum - the "little Lucanian Pompeii" - takes you to discover the unforgettable landscapes of the Val d’Agri and the Pertusillo Dam. The itinerary can easily be divided into two stages.
Depart from the Archaeological Park of Grumentum and…
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- Difficult05:1654.9 mi10.4 mph3,125 ft5,625 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A spectacular itinerary, which, starting from the Gallipoli Cognato and Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park, takes you directly to the Ionian coast, passing through some of the most evocative places in the Lucanian hinterland.
The starting point is the village of Accettura. Ride through the green forest…
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- Difficult07:2669.1 mi9.3 mph5,550 ft5,200 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A tour that will take you from Vulture through the Bradano Valley, ideal to be divided into two or three stages. The first stretch, up to Genzano di Lucania, is free from particular difficulties and suitable for any level. The climbs to the villages of Acerenza, Oppido Lucano and Irsina require a good…
by Basilicata
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Collection Stats
- Tours10
- Distance502 mi
- Duration54:07 h
- Elevation42,475 ft
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