Technical Sheet
Starting and finishing point: Gualdo Tadino
Distance: 42 km.
Total ascent: 700 metres
Grade: medium
Road surface: asphalt
Recommended type of bike: road
Places to visit in the area: Gualdo Tadino, Valsorda, Casa Castalda.
This route starts from Gualdo Tadino at the foot of the Apennine mountains straddling the border between Umbria and the Marche, and moves off across the green hills between Gualdo Tadino (see ‘photo above) and Assisi. Given the modest length of this ride, we have chosen to include it among the medium-grade rides, even though the two climbs, Voltole and Montemezzo, require above-average fitness together with sufficiently agile gears (the last section of the Montemezzo ascent in particular is rather steep in places).
The starting point is the Adolfo Leoni cycle track, situated on the outskirts of Gualdo Tadino, and from here you move off along the Via Aurelia Saffi. When you get to the Via Flaminia (SS3), an ancient Roman road that enters Umbria from Otricoli, and crosses the region to the Valico di Scheggia.
At the junction with the Via Flaminia, turn right and then right again, in the direction of Assisi, along the SP270: this road takes you to the beginning of the climb to Voltole, and the hardest part of this climb is right at the beginning, where the gradient is about 8%.
At the end of the climb (km. 9) you come to the junction with the SS444: turn left here towards Assisi, and then ride past Osteria di Morano and Modannuccia di Morano (km. 14), where the tough climb up to Montemezzo awaits you.
The pass is situated at km. 16, and the fatigue of getting up there is thoroughly repaid by the magnificent view over the valleys lying below. This steep climb is then followed by about 1 kilometre of slightly uphill road, before descending down towards Assisi. At km. 19.5 turn right towards Casa Castalda, along an initially rolling road that is also present in route 23 (which starts and finishes on the outskirts of Perugia). At the junction signposted to Collemincio, bear left, and then at km.
24.5 bear right as you descend towards Casa Castalda. At the end of this steep and windy descent you come to the junction with the SS318: turn right here towards Gualdo Tadino, and continue to descend for a further 3 kilometres (take care here as this section of road is often very busy with cars and lorries).
At the end of the descent, follow the signs to Gualdo Tadino, and take the SP245 which in just under 10 kilometres takes you back to the town gates. At km. 41, just before you get to Gualdo Tadino, turn right and follow the signs for the cycle track (ciclodromo), and you will find yourself riding along a narrow minor road taking you back to the starting point.
Things not to miss
Gualdo Tadino lies in a splendid natural setting at the foot of the Apennines straddling Umbria and the Marche, and one must is a visit to the nearby Valsorda.
The town itself has numerous buildings of interest, including the Rocca Flea, a twelfth-century military fortress that was rebuilt by Federico II in 1247, and has recently been restored. The town’s religious architecture includes the thirteenth-century Cathedral of San Benedetto, with its splendid Romanesque-Gothic façade featuring a beautiful rose window; the church of San Francesco, and the church of Santa Maria dei Raccomandati (13th century).
In the nearby area, one can also visit the ancient village of Fossato di Vico, situated on the border with the Marche, Casa Castalda and Valfabbrica: the "Franciscan Peace Trail", from Assisi to Gubbio, passes through Valfabbrica: in fact, this 40 km. trail (which winds its way through the woods around Assisi and Valfabbrica along the Chiascio Valley) was conceived on the basis of the classical elements of nature, namely water, wood and stone, and may be followed on foot, on horseback or by bike.
