MTB 11 - La Romana, the Mills at Galgata and the abbey of Montelabate - Bike in Umbria

MTB 11 - La Romana, the mills of Galgata and the abbey of Montelabate

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Positive height difference : +620
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Negative height difference : -620
From Ramazzano, the trail follows the SP 175 towards Casa del Diavolo and turns right at the first crossroads (km 1.2) towards Piccione and Montelabate. At km 2.9 it turns left and begins to climb towards the beautiful Abbey of Montelabate, at km 5.1. From here it goes uphill along path no. 202 to Belvedere, where the climb and the dirt track end at km 11.2.
The trail continues along the SS 298 for a few metres (beware of traffic) then turns left at km 11.8 onto another dirt road. It continues straight ahead for a few kilometres, but by turning right towards Biscina, riders can pick up the “Cammino Francescano della Pace Assisi-La Verna” (St. Francis’ Way from Assisi to La Verna).
The trail descends to the left following the signs to Galgata, which lies on the right at the bottom of the valley. The second climb of the trail starts here: it is less than a kilometre but has a very steep gradient of up to 20%, forcing less experienced riders to dismount. At the end of the steepest stretch (km 16.6), the trail turns left onto the main dirt road for several kilometres over rolling terrain.
After the woods, the castle of Civitella Benazzone can be seen to the left, and at km 24.9 the trail returns to the Abbazia di Montelabate, where the dirt track ends. From here, it turns right and returns to Ramazzano along the same route taken at the start.
The centre of Perugia, just a few kilometres away, has already been described in the route starting from Ponte S. Giovanni. The most important building to be seen in the area is the abbey of Santa Maria di Valdiponte (better known as the abbey of Montelabate, photo on the left). This is a Benedictine monastery north of Perugia, founded between the 9th and the 10th centuries. The monastery reached the height of its importance in the XI and XII centuries when it expanded its possessions and increased its influence over a vast area. After the 16th century it began a long period of decline which ended with the closure of the monastery in 1859-60. The monastery currently belongs to the Fondazione Gaslini in Genoa. The small fortified village of Civitella Benazzone is also worth visiting along the way, but it is the natural beauty of the area that truly dominates the trail.

Civitella Benazzone

La Romana, the Mills at Galgata and the abbey of Montelabate

La Romana, the Mills at Galgata and the abbey of Montelabate

La Romana