MTB 12 - The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco - Bike in Umbria

MTB 12 - The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco

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Positive height difference : +530
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Negative height difference : -530
Leaving the historic centre, the trail descends towards Camiano and continues downhill to km 2.4, where it turns right onto a wide dirt road towards Fabbri. Here, it turns right just before the cemetery and continues to just below Turrita along a pretty country road through the vineyards. It returns to the paved road at km 7.6 then turns left and, after 600 m, right, climbing along the paved road to Turrita. From here, it continues straight for a few kilometres, crosses the main road towards Cortagnone, then returns to dirt road at km 10.3. This is where the most scenic part of the trail begins, along a rolling dirt road (photo on left) over vine-clad hills where the view stretches from the Martani hills to Montefalco.
At km 15.5, the trail leaves the main dirt road to the right, first descending and then climbing a rather steep climb. At the paved road it turns right towards Casale, then left at the church along another downhill dirt road (here, less expert riders can continue straight ahead and return to Montefalco following the road signs). This is the most difficult, rough part of the trail, but it can be tackled by less expert bikers if they are careful enough. At the end of the descent, after a short run through thick vegetation, it climbs again to rejoin the paved road at km 19.5, near Pietrauta. From here it continues straight back to Montefalco, or alternatively, it can be extended along a couple of dirt tracks to Montepennino, before returning outside the walls of Montefalco.
Montefalco, famous for its Sagrantino wine and the beautiful views that have earned it the name of “la ringhiera dell’Umbria” (the balcony of Umbria). Among the buildings worth visiting are the church of San Francesco, the Pinacoteca, with works by Francesco Melanzio, Antoniazzo Romano and paintings from the Umbrian school between the 14th and 18th centuries, and the crypt with archaeological finds and sculptures. The village is still enclosed by its 13th century walls and is dominated by the church of Sant’Agostino, built, together with its convent, in the second half of the 13th century. A few kilometres from Montefalco is Foligno, third-largest town of Umbria, which has beautiful buildings such as the Duomo, the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Infraportas, the church of San Salvatore, the former church of San Domenico and the Oratory of the Nunziatella. Along the trail there are magnificent views of the valleys below and many vineyards where riders can stop to taste wine and other local products.

The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco

The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco

The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco

The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco

The Sagrantino wine trail and the views from Montefalco