Bike tours - tips by Peter Amann

"For racing cyclists, the Cilento is like Majorca without hubbub. That’s the way it’s going to be, even if the Giro d’Italia runs through the National Park area more often."

In his travel guide "Cilento aktiv mit Costa di Maratea" (available only in German), expert for Southern Italy, hiking guide and journalist Peter Amann describes ten bicycle tours.

By courtesy of the author, we are able to give you a short introduction into these tours. Detailed information about bicycle racing and mountainbiking in the Cilento as well as about the tours (incl. detailed altitude chart) is found in the book mentioned above.

The perfect place for a break – tranquil Ogliastro Marina.

1. Sea and Monte Stella

If we follow only the coastal road, this is the ideal tour to start with. A short detour via Ogliastro Marina to Punta Licosa is possible, too. A bit more 'puff' is required for the return via the northern foothills of Monte della Stella. In any case, great views are guaranteed.

Start/Destination: Marina di Casal Velino
Duration: 3 h
Length: 70 km

Goethe was already fascinated by the Doric temples of Paestum.

2. Over the hills to Paestum

Not suitable for the untrained, but a goody for athletic active vacationers. Time is required for a visit to the famous temples of Paestum. A scenic high altitude road runs via Capáccio, the medieval follow-up settlement of Paestum, back into the Alento valley.

Start/Destination: Marina di Casal Velino
Length: 105 km
Duration: 5 h

The Cilentissima-Tour starts at Casalvelino.

3. Cilentissima – across the Sentinella-Pass

The ultimate challenge – physical fitness, very good condition required – for experts only! Cycling at its best on perfectly tarmaced roads, most of them with light traffic only, and lots of Belvedere. The 230 km tour, which equals Giro d’Italia standards, includes five mountains and 2,400 m in altitude. At Passo della Sentinella, we are only a bit short of 1,000 m.

Start/Destination: Marina di Casal Velino
Duration: 10 h
Length: 192 km

Santa Maria di Castellabate is a fishing borgo full of atmosphere and with kilometers of sandy beach.

4. On the coastal road

Lots of sea and lots of kilometers. From Marina di Camerota you cycle along the coastal road to S. Maria di Castellabate and then back again. A tour you can undertake even in bad weather, but should not at weekends or in midsummer!

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 6 – 7 h
Length: 144 km

Coastal road rich in panorama between Marina di Camerota and Palinuro.

5. Mingardo and Lambro valleys

A good tour to start with to get a feeling for the coastal road and to explore the Palinuro hinterland. Next time, you might be attracted by the serpentine roads of Licusati. The descent from Centola to Palinuro is fun and a panoramic delight.

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 2 h
Length: 41 km

6. Between Mingardo and Fiumarella

To both sides of Palinuro, there are magnificent sandy beaches. In the hinterland, we cycle through shady chestnut woods, olive groves and friendly mountain villages. To quench your thirst, stop at one of the nice bars or water wells on the way. An extra included: Andreas Heinbokel’s favorite descent from Catona to Terradura.

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 5 h 30 min.
Length: 104 km

Descent from Catona (guest photo Schlesies).

Pisciotta is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the Cilento.

7. Terradura and Ródio

The coastal road offers a fantastic view of the sea. From Ascea we cycle uphill through olive groves to Catona – a dream of a route, which we enjoy descending during cycling tour 6. During our ride past Ródio, there is time for a break at Pisciotta. Those who are keen on more mountains might, on the way back to Marina di Camerota, make a detour via San Nicola, Foria and Centola, for example.

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 5 h
Length: 78 km

8. At the foot of Monte Sacro

The ideal bike tour for those who like long ascents which are not too steep. After leaving the beautiful coastal route, we follow the scenic, old, inland S.S. 18, where there is hardly any traffic since the highway has been opened.

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota.
Duration: 6 h
Length: 111 km

9. Round the Monte Bulgherìa

A wide arc into the heartland and a lot of points for the mountains classification. Instead of a chocolate power bar, delicious honey awaits you at Torre Orsáia! The serpentine descent from Lentiscosa back to Marina di Camerota is breathtaking.

Start/Destination: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 6 – 7 h
Length: 98 km

Reward for your efforts – a terrific view (guest photo Michael H.).

For the Mingardo valley you need a very good physical condition.

Scário on the Gulf of Policastro (guest photo Huber).

10. From Scário to the Gulf von Policastro

Passing through the solitude of alpine mountains, we arrive at the Gulf of Policastro, a piece of Switzerland in Southern Italy. The 'program' includes four rapid descents and an extreme ascent to Giovanni a Piro.

Start/Duration: Marina di Camerota
Duration: 5 – 6 h
Length: 102 km