In the center-south of Italy, most of the trails remain on one or on other side of the Apennines.
The route we show goes a little further north, starting from the famous art cities of Umbria, going to the Appenines to finally go back to the Adriatic Sea, at the heigh of Ancona.
In this case tackling a bit of climb is inevitable, but this itinerary tries to avoid the steeper and busiest trails, passing along asphalted but secondary roads.
Foligno is about 150 km from the sea, and from here we go to Ancona. The city is easily reachable from every Umbrian country: Spoleto, Trevi, Assisi and also Perugia.
You start pedaling north-east along the valley of the Topino River, keeping the hill of Mount Subasio to the left. The route of old Flaminia road is largely followed. The road steadily rising and continues among small or tiny villages, sometimes in areas where the trees protect from the sun, sometimes through cultivated fields.
After about 20 km the slope becomes higher (between Nocera Scalo and Nocera Umbria) reaching 3.7% in average. Nocera Umbria con already be a beautiful first stop to rest after the climb has been made; staying here will also allow you to visit the historic center reconstructed after the 1997 earthquake.
Then you reach the plain dominated by Gualdo Tadino (35 km), it’s also worth pausing in this city.
The road is generally more flat, but there not miss ups and downs. At the heigh of Scheggia, turn right to cross the Apennines at Calcara Bridge. From now on the road will generally be downhill to the sea.
The road then enters a deep valley surrounded by high peaks. At Fossara Island with a short deviation along the road that waves in the valley to the north you arrive in less than 3 km to te Abbey of Santa Maria di Stiria, a fascinating place in the mountains, founded by San Romualdo in the early XI century.
At the height of Gaville you leave behind the main mountain range, and the road opens into a wide valley which leads to Sassoferrato. Here it’s worth stopping a bit to visit the village and the archaeological site of Sentinum.
After crossing the Frasassi Caves Regional Park along the waters of the River Esinom at the heigh of Serra San Quirico (103 km), you enter to Vallesina. Continue along the slight descent through fields and small villages, taking local roads sometimes unpaved.
The final stretch has many twists to avoid busy roads. You reach the sea at Rocca Priora.