The Apennines are the mountains that run almost the whole length of Italy from Liguria (in the North) to the tip of Calabria (in the South) and even into the island of Sicily. They are Italy’s equivalent of North America’s Great Divide on a much smaller scale (roughly 1/3).
As well as being the watershed, these were literally a great divide because until the coming of the railroads it was quicker to sail from Ancona on the Adriatic east coast to Rome on the west.
Drivers today that have to cross still complain about the task. But riders find there an amazing playground of quiet valleys and passes among forests of chestnut, oak, and beech trees. A network of secondary roads departs from the valleys formed by the rivers that spring near the mountain peaks.
There seem to be in the inhabitants an atavistic mix of respect and admiration for nature that could derive from having to rely on it and its products for millennia because long haul trading wasn’t as lively as in coastal towns and in the Po River Valley. Their practical sense of hospitality goes back to the days when pilgrims traveled to reach Rome, and to WWII days when the Italian resistance, the partigiani, found shelter and hospitality while organizing their liberation plot with the help of the allies.
The Apennines are divided into three sectors: northern, central, and southern. They are comprised predominantly of sandstone and limestone marl (clay) in the north, limestone and dolomite (magnesium limestone) in the center, and limestone, weathered rock, and Hercynian granite in the south.
Riding on the "Alta Via" trail of the Parks
Unique landscapes and amazing views will welcome our riders along the longest hiking trail in the northern Apennines.
Our route crosses the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna several times.
The trail was and still is a hiking trail that runs north to south, taking advantage of the national and regional parks present in the area. In recent years, a modified version of the Alta Via dei Parchi was scouted and marked for mountain bikers. Our program will cover the second part of it for a distance of approximately 160 Mls (250 km) and 33,000 ft (10,000 mt) of elevation gain.
This itinerary is home to breathtaking places that fill walkers and riders with a sense of awe and adventure. There are vast landscapes, unspoiled wilderness and the historic remains of ancient borders.
This trail is suitable for expert riders who want to experience some exhilarating trails and do not mind the occasional “hike-a-bike” section.
What is the Alta Via dei Parchi (High Path of the Parks)
The Alta Via is a trail through the Apennines in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. There are almost 500 kilometers of uphills and downhills that include all the best that this area of the Apennines has to offer: glacial rings, lakes set in the splendor of high altitude prairies, thick forests and clear rivers, volcanic rocks and gypsum cliffs.
There are eight parks crossed through by the Alta Via: two national parks: Appennino Tosco-Emiliano e Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna; five regional parks: Alto Appennino Modenese, Valli del Cedra e del Parma, Corno alle Scale, Laghi di Suviana e Brasimone, Vena del Gesso Romagnola and one interregional park: Sasso Simone e Simoncello.
What’s Included:
- Seven nights accommodation
- Welcome drinks to introduce the program, staff and to award the best fundraisers
- All breakfasts
- All lunches (on full riding days and consisting of picnics)
- All dinners with water and house wine
- Daily guided rides
- Entrance to two thermal spas
- Free Wi-Fi (through the hotels or through us; not always reliable in remote areas)
- Bike case transportation from starting point to the last hotel
All riders will receive the following straight from World Bicycle Relief:
- WBR jersey
- WBR t-shirt
- WBR water bottle
- 2 WBR hats
- WBR socks
- Fundraising support and individualized page for their efforts
Cost per person in double occupancy is $2,495.
Premium Packages
- Airport transfer from and to the airport (Bologna – BLQ) $90 or $45 each way
- Massage package (four) $200
- Private room $500
Bike Services
- Daily bike wash and maintenance (parts - if needed - sold aside) $195
MTB Rental
- MTB Full suspended $300 (make/models TBA)
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