| Distance | 44.5 km (green bypasses: 23 km – 34.8 km) |
| Elevation gain | + 1.100 m | -1.100 m |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Surface | paved and unpaved, with some sections on unstable surfaces |
| Recommended bike | MTB, e-MTB, gravel bike |
| Highlights nearby | Spoleto, Piedipaterno, Vallo di Nera, Castel San Felice, Abbey of Saints Felice and Mauro, Sant’Anatolia di Narco. |
THE ROUTE
The railway line connecting Spoleto and Norcia was inaugurated in 1926 and was regarded at the time as a remarkable feat of engineering.
Along its route of more than 50 kilometres, 19 tunnels and 24 bridges and viaducts of considerable architectural interest were built, together with spiral sections and gradients never exceeding 4.5%.
The railway closed in 1968 and, after many years of disuse, part of the route was restored and converted into a cycling and walking trail in July 2014.
Today, it is not possible to follow the entire former railway alignment between Spoleto and the Valnerina. Where necessary, the open sections of the former railway are connected by bypasses along regional, municipal, rural and ordinary roads.
From Spoleto, the route follows the historic railway alignment to Caprareccia Station. From here, cyclists must use the bypass along Regional Road 395 to reach Forca di Cerro.
From Forca di Cerro, it is possible to continue directly towards Piedipaterno along Regional Road 395, using a connection accessible to all cyclists, or to reach Tassinare via a municipal road recommended only for experienced cyclists. From Tassinare, the route rejoins the former railway as far as San Martino, where a further bypass along rural and municipal roads leads to Sant’Anatolia di Narco Station.
From Sant'Anatolia di Narco Station, the route continues along the former railway to Piedipaterno, passing through the Castel San Felice area, where cyclists can visit the village and the nearby Abbey of Saints Felice and Mauro. From the station, by climbing towards Sant’Anatolia di Narco, it is also possible to connect with the Nera River Cycle Route which crosses the Valnerina and continues as far as the Marmore Falls.
Some sections of this segment are currently affected by ongoing works. The route alternates unpaved sections along the former railway with paved roads open to motor vehicle traffic and more demanding connections characterised by steep gradients and unstable surfaces. Along the way, cyclists pass through woodlands, viaducts and unlit tunnels. These features make the experience particularly scenic, but require efficient lights mounted on the bicycle or helmet.
SEE ROUTE DETAILS ON KOMOOT
OPEN SECTIONS
The sections currently accessible are:
- Spoleto – Caprareccia Station, along the former railway: open
- Caprareccia Station – Forca di Cerro, via the bypass along Regional Road 395 (S.R. 395): accessible to all
- Forca di Cerro – Piedipaterno, via the bypass along Regional Road 395 (S.R. 395): accessible to all
- Forca di Cerro – Tassinare, via the municipal-road bypass: recommended only for experienced cyclists, as the section features steep gradients and unstable surfaces
- Tassinare – San Martino, along the former railway: open
- San Martino – Sant’Anatolia di Narco Station, via bypasses along rural and municipal roads: recommended only for experienced cyclists, as the section features steep gradients and unstable surfaces
- Sant’Anatolia di Narco Station – Piedipaterno, along the former railway, with some sections affected by ongoing works
CLOSED SECTIONS
The connections between Caprareccia and Tassinare and between San Martino and Sant’Anatolia di Narco Station, along the former railway alignment, are currently closed and not accessible. They are marked in red on the updated map.
Some sections of the route may be affected by works, maintenance operations or temporary changes to access conditions.
Between Castel San Felice and the junction for Vallo di Nera, works and construction vehicles may be present. The route remains accessible on the sections indicated as open. In areas affected by the works, the passage of cyclists and pedestrians is regulated by signage and instructions from on-site personnel.
Access conditions may change over time. Before setting out, always check the latest updates published by Umbria Mobilità.
Accessibility map
The map, updated on 30 July 2026, identifies the open sections of the former railway, the open sections affected by ANAS works, the bypasses, the closed sections and the intersection points. The different colours make it easy to identify each connection and its current access conditions.
View the updated accessibility map of the former Spoleto–Norcia Railway
