If you want to go cycling in Italy, there are countless possibilities. The most popular options are the Dolomites, Tuscany but also the Italian brand area and Emilia Romagna captivating. That Italy is much more than just these highlights, we already knew that. behind. Whether it’s gravel or road bikes, Italy has everything to be the cycling destination of Europe. One of the least known options is when you go cycling in Calabria. Stefano Nucera, born in Calabria and also known as ‘Calamaro’, runs his own podcast, the Broomwagon. His story is very inspiring. He has been able to call many places in Europe his home and that’s where we are too about written. When it comes to cycling in Calabria, we definitely wanted to use his expertise. Because would you consider going gravel biking in Calabria, one of the poorest parts of Italy? Not immediately, but after this story, that will probably be different.
Have you never cycled in the mountains? Then read the tips from our explorer Nynke.
Cycling in Italy: Calabria
The tip of the Italian heel: Calabria. It’s a bit of a forgotten area. In terms of tourism, it’s snowed under and the infrastructure for it also seems to be lacking. Some of you may know Reggio Calabria because of the opportunities to take the boat to Messina in Sicily. Villa San Giovani is also such a place. Furthermore, Calabria is often at the back of the tourist guide. Is that unfair? Perhaps. If you’re adventurous, this is a region where you can still discover true Italy. Including the tentacles of the mafia, although they are less visible than you might think.
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Basecamp Catanzaro
Stefano was born in Catanzaro, a town in the heel of the boot. It is the capital of Calabria and with 95,000 inhabitants, it is quite manageable. From here you can discover the most beautiful parts of the region. You are here very close to the Parco Nazionale della Silla. That is the pride of this region. Calamaro himself lived in Catanzaro from the age of 12 to 18, and he still considers it a beautiful place to enjoy the mountains.
Cycling route to Cascate del Crocchio
One of the recommended routes is the mountain bike route from Selia Marina, a little southeast of Catanzaro, to Cascate del Crocchio. You start here from sea level and climb all the way up to 1300 meters altitude. A magnificent climb. Along the way, you stop at a beautiful bar-restaurant called ‘Il Semaforo Sila’ – The traffic light. According to Stefano ‘an absolute must-see. The climb itself is quite steep at the beginning, with percentages of 15-18%. That’s not a bad thing, and if you’ve brought the wrong cassette, it’s quite difficult to recover from that. Along the way, you really have to stop at the Crocchio Waterfalls. The nature is stunning and it’s very peaceful there, especially in September. There are very few cars and very few other tourists. You have the road to yourself.
Alternatives
In the end you climb to the highest point, but from there you can continue further into the hinterland, which is truly the Granturismo of Tuscany. Calabria. That you end up above 3,000 meters on that route shouldn’t come as a surprise. With the start and finish in Catanzaro, you’ll be on the road for a whole day, but with the small villages, coffee shops and southern Italian atmosphere, that shouldn’t be a problem. Below you’ll find the beautiful cycling route in Calabria.
Staletti
Still more tips and variations? That’s always possible. How about a nice bike ride towards the beautiful Staletti? You can follow the coastline from Catanzaro or move a little further inland. In any case, it is essential to stop at Bar Jolly for a delicious ‘Cremolata’. Especially in the hot summers, you don’t want to get too hot. A delicious Cremolata can cool you down and prepare you for the next part of your cycling adventure.
Want more inspiration to go cycling in Italy? Then go to our special ‘Cycling in Italy‘page with more information and tips/tricks for perhaps the most beautiful cycling country in the world.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.