Consider a nice off-road trip to the northern Italian destination of Bolzano! The uncluttered city, also known as Bozen, is the perfect location if you're planning a gravel trip with cycling friends. It is a city and area where you will find everything. It's not a long flight (to Verona and then by train) or you can take the train all the way to Bozen from Utrecht. Due to long waiting times at Schiphol Airport or lost luggage, the latter might even be the faster option 😉. Gravel in Bolzano is versatile, challenging, but is a must-do.
Text: Femke Rotteveel - photos: Femke Rotteveel - Sander Kolsloot - Lotte van Trigt
Culinary highlight
Bolzano is bursting with delicious restaurants, such as dinner at Italia & Amore or lunch at Corte. Of course, what should not be missing from the trip is a wine tasting and especially one where they serve Lagrein. That's the local grape variety, which they serve among others at Schmid Oberrautner entertaining to delicious wines. In October, it was too cold to sit in their beautifully landscaped garden, but otherwise you could linger there for hours.
Lazy day out
On a rainy day, there are also a number of options; for example, you can Runkelstein Castle visit, where from the tower you have great views over the valley with all its vineyards. Or you can go to the Archaeological Museum, where the whole story of Ötzi the Iceman can be read and viewed. Also fun for people who don't like museums!
Bolzano = cycling
But if you plan this trip, the first and foremost thing is of course about cycling. You don't have to worry about that in this area either. Bolzano is the start of the Giro della Dolomiti, a stage race for amateurs, with stages that guarantee beautiful views and great climbs. But you can also do well here on a gravel bike. To get out of the city, use the 'piste ciclabili', a beautifully constructed cycle path that will have you out of the city in no time.
Vineyards - Orchards - Gravel
After that, you can expect a combination of cycle paths among the apple orchards with mountains to the left and right and dirt roads among the vines. If you want to climb on gravel, you can do that too, but make sure you and the rest of the group have good climbing legs, because everything is steep here. What you can then expect after steep climbs are beautiful views over the valley. Often with the mighty Dolomites in the background too. You have to suffer for a while, but then you have something.
Stoarnane Mandl - a real challenge
Rise rates of 15% are no exception, sometimes there are even outliers of over 20% among them. But is it worth it? Definitely! After a long morning on the bike, you are at 2,500 metres and have reached the stone male, Stoarnane Mandl. Hikers and cyclists stack stones into little towers here & so every visit it looks different because of weather conditions and newly made stacks. This place exudes something magical.
Descending is fun but challenging and be careful not to accidentally catch one of the mtb or hiking trails. Route preparation is essential if you want to gravel in this area. Choosing the right route is essential here. In particular, look at routes that have been ridden before and also pay attention in Komoot to the 'this road is difficult. You also have to pay close attention to the falling darkness and the weather that is very changeable in the mountains.
In short
In short, Bolzano is a perfect city to depart from for challenging gravel rides with beautiful views and relax with Italian food or wine tasting on your return. Gravel in Bolzano is a bit different from, say, the Achterhoek. You can cycle well almost all year round, with the real winter months excepted. Soon in spring it warms up here and until the end of October you can enjoy the area in a nice sunshine. If it's really hot, it's better to head for the mountains, where it cools down a bit more. October is the most beautiful month, the month of Törggelen.
Read also: Bolzano: your gravel basecamp in the Dolomites
Routes gravel in Bolzano
See here some (very challenging) routes we rode (in part) during our visit to Bolzano.
