Bike rides to the Italian coast – 10 ways to take a dip
Road Cycling Collection by Michele Pelacci
10
Tours
69:22 h
779 mi
85,400 ft
Those who cycle in the summer know that travelling towards the sea is always a winner. Firstly, because you’ll always have some flat or downhill riding and the feel of the sea breeze on your face. Crossing mountainous, or at least hilly, areas to reach the sea, means it’s often cooler, too. And finally, cycling to the sea embodies the freshness of summer – even if it’s a tough ride, you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean as soon as you arrive.
This Collection comprises ten Tours in northwest Italy, between Emilia and the sea. As many as ten more or less parallel lines leading from well-connected locations not far from the Via Emilia to the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas, at the La Spezia, Genoa and Tuscan beaches.
Separating each departure and arrival is a succession of passes, ascents and descents through the Tuscan-Emilian and Ligurian Apennines. Some passes are very famous, such as the Cisa or the Cerreto. Others are less famous but even more beautiful, such as the Cirone or the Pradarena. You can also expect to see archaeological ruins, semi-deserted villages, sanctuaries and monuments.
None of these Tours are particularly easy. The shortest covers more than 80 kilometres (50 mi) and involves around 1,700 metres (5,500 ft) of climbing, which could be a challenging undertaking for those without much experience. Nothing is impossible, especially with an e-bike, but check the degree of difficulty indicated for each Tour. In addition, it’s possible to reach the sea on one Tour and return via another.
Every single kilometre is on asphalt, so a road bike is perfect for reaching the beaches. There’s no best season to make these crossings, but the temperature of the seawater becomes prohibitive in the colder months. So set off with full water bottles and a strong desire to go uphill: the sight of the sea at the end of the ride will reward your efforts.
One last piece of advice: you’ll always arrive in tourist resorts, so make sure you book a place to sleep, the train or bus for the return journey in advance, or even just a restaurant. And most importantly, enjoy the sea!
On The Map
Tours
- 07:0682.5 mi11.6 mph8,475 ft10,700 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Since it doesn't have a train station, I suggest you get to Pavullo – the capital of Frignano and the second largest municipality in the province of Modena – via the Abetone and Brennero state road 12. Once the car is parked on the Pavullo plateau, surrounded by hills, head south and take a long up and…
- 07:2480.4 mi10.9 mph9,525 ft9,850 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Sassuolo, with its various railway stations and the many connections with Modena, is the starting point of this second crossing. For the initial 30 kilometres, the slopes are anything but demanding: you just have to go up the courses of the Secchia first and then the Dolo. Shortly after Ponte Dolo, however…
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- 09:0195.2 mi10.6 mph11,950 ft12,200 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The second most populous municipality in the province of Reggio Emilia after the capital, Scandiano was also praised by the poet Giosué Carducci and its Rocca dei Boiardo is of great artistic value. Reachable by train from both Reggio and Casalgrande, Sassuolo and Rubiera, Scandiano is perfect for starting…
- 07:1982.7 mi11.3 mph8,975 ft9,125 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
A great classic for those who cycle in the province of Reggio Emilia, the climb towards the Cerreto pass is revisited for this fourth crossing: in fact, I advise you to avoid the numerous tunnels of the SS63 between Casina, Felina and Castelnovo ne' Monti to enjoy a real ride Apennine away from traffic…
- 06:5778.8 mi11.3 mph8,600 ft8,925 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Located on a small but historic railway line that connects Reggio Emilia to Ciano d'Enza, in the Reggio Pre-Apennines, Bibbiano is a municipality famous for the production of an excellent Parmigiano Reggiano. Having stocked up on the cheese, she begins to go up the Enza river towards Vetto. Instead of…
- 05:2366.7 mi12.4 mph5,600 ft6,425 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Langhirano, one of the capitals of Parma Ham, is a delightful starting point for this sixth crossing. It is easily reachable from Parma and the neighboring foothill villages. In the first 25 kilometers of the Tour you will have to go up the course of the Parma stream, with gentle slopes up to Bosco di…
- 06:4769.8 mi10.3 mph9,300 ft10,125 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Characterized by a lot of altitude difference in a relatively few kilometres, this seventh crossing starts from the Ghiare hamlet in the municipality of Berceto, in the Parma Apennines. Located about 500 meters lower than Berceto, Ghiare is supplied by a station that connects Parma to La Spezia, perfect…
- 04:3051.5 mi11.4 mph5,600 ft6,900 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Equipped with a railway station on the Parma-La Spezia line, Borgo Val di Taro is an excellent starting point for those who decide to reach the sea by bike. This traverse, the shortest of this collection, starts immediately uphill towards the Cappelletta pass, just over 1,000 meters above sea level…
- 07:2887.1 mi11.7 mph8,775 ft9,000 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Also known by the medieval name of Borgo San Donnino, Fidenza is the most important and populous town in Parma after Parma itself. It has a station, a toll booth on the A1 and is well connected to both Parma and Piacenza. Therefore, the ninth crossing from Emilia to the sea starts from here. After a…
- 07:2784.9 mi11.4 mph8,600 ft8,750 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The tenth crossing from Emilia to the sea takes place mostly in the province of Piacenza. It starts from the capital, easily reachable thanks to the motorways and the railway network, and goes up the Trebbia. Up to Bobbio, a village known for the abbey of San Colombano, one of the most important monastic…
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Collection Stats
- Tours10
- Distance779 mi
- Duration69:22 h
- Elevation85,400 ft
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