Leg 5
Rome to Bari
Coastline, monuments, vineyards, olive groves, hilltop towns but mostly rolling hills and outstanding views for 4 days.
Ridden by the Pioneers — no longer available to book
This is the route and itinerary as it was planned for the ride, kept as a record of the journey so far. For legs you can still join, see the Book Now page.
- Dates
- 26th to 29th May 2016
- Start
- Close to the Vatican 7am Thursday 26th May 2016 – Pre-start drinks with the ambassador on Wednesday 25th May 2016.
- Finish
- The Seafront in Bari 6pm Sunday 29th May 2016
- Days’ Cycling
- 4
- Distance
- 644 km
- Total climbing
- 10,211 m climbing (according to Strava!!)
- Max capacity
- 100 people (we expect it to sell out with mainly pioneers – please book asap)
Itinerary
Pre-Start – 7.30pm 25th May 2016
The British Ambassador to Italy, Christopher Prentice is hosting a Pioneers’ drinks reception for cyclists and supporters at the Villa Wolkonsky from 7.30pm on May 25th . It will be a great opportunity to see everyone again before the cycling begins the next morning.
Day 1 – 26th May – Rome to Gaeta 158 km & 2,437 m total ascent
View the route on StravaAn amazing day with the most varied scenery & cycling imaginable in one day. Meet next to Castel Sant’ Angelo, on the river, 500 metres in front of the Vatican at 7am for Registration with an 8am departure.
Cycle along the Tiber River briefly until we head past the Roman Forum and Colosseum until we hit the Appian Way – the very first Roman Road and cycle past the Catacombs. Road bikes weren’t a feature of Roman life so this is a real Ride25 adventure – small sections of the Appian Way (in the first km) have the original large cobbles and you will need to get off your bike to pass. After the Appian Way we start our first climb of the trip through the Castello Romani Park and through the hilltop town of Marino. We then travel through quiet farmland & vineyards before climbing to 335 m and then dropping down to the coast. The last section is along the coast road to Gaeta. The hotel is close to a decent beach and has a swimming pool. Dinner is on the beach.
Day 2 – 27th May – Gaeta to Avellino – 161 km, 2,136 m total ascent
View the route on StravaWe leave Gaeta and follow the coastline for the first 32 km before heading east, avoiding the congestion & general filth around greater Naples! Another day of outstanding views cycling through the Taburno Camposauro National Park in the morning. Lunch is on a hillside at a family run Agristourismo. The afternoon involves a long steady climb with an ice cream stop in the town of Montesarchio. We finish climbing in the Partenio regional park before our descent into Avellino – the home of Tony Sopprano’s father! Home for the night is a quirky 4 star hotel.
Day 3 – 28th May – Avellino Potenza – 153 km, 3,627 m total ascent
View the route on StravaDay 3 is a day to remember and probably the best cycling of all 5 legs so far. As soon as we leave Avellino we start cycling on incredibly quiet roads that continue all day with truly outstanding rural views for the whole day. This is the biggest day of climbing of all the trips so far but is also the most stunning and incredibly peaceful. Lunch is at a locally owned restaurant in the hills – in fact the only restaurant for miles! The afternoon continues with more empty roads, and outstanding views until we reach Potenza.
Day 4 – 29th May – Potenza to Bari – 167 km, 1,981 m total ascent
View the route on StravaDay 4 continues with more beautiful, quiet, undulating roads as we head east towards the coast. The whole area is sparsely populated with far reaching views galore. Lunch is at another agristourismo restaurant in the hills with great views. We then finish with a relatively gentle afternoon before cycling along the coastline into Bari for a celebration dinner in a Square in the old town by the harbour.