Norcia and Castelluccio are two unmissable places for cycling enthusiasts in Umbria.

The only recommendation is to have a good level of fitness, since we are in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains and to reach the incredible scenery of the Castelluccio plain you have to climb, and not a little.

Besides the scenic beauty, the area is famous for its culinary delights. Cold cuts, cheese, lentils and much more will be the right reward for the efforts made on the pedals.

The reference point of the route is Norcia, from where we set off following the signs for Visso. The road immediately begins to climb for about 6 kilometres towards Forca D'Ancarano before descending in the direction of Preci.

The section of the Valnerina provincial road leading to Visso is the only one where you need to pay some attention to traffic, especially on working days, when you may encounter heavy vehicles.

From Visso, you must continue slightly uphill to Castelsantangelo sul Nera, both still heavily marked by the 2016 earthquake.

From Castelsantangelo sul Nera begins the hard and long (and beautiful) climb that leads up to the Valico di Forca di Gualdo. It is about 10 km with an average gradient of 7.6%, so stuff for trained people.

Once you reach the pass, you can admire the splendid scenery of the Castelluccio plain, truly unique, before descending towards Norcia.

The best times to tackle the route are spring and summer. Between June and July you can also admire Castelluccio's famous blossoming, but be careful on weekends, because you might find a lot of traffic.

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