Precise tour descriptions, informative maps, a list of bike-friendly accommodation that is happy to accommodate cyclists for just one night. We travelled to Umbria and experienced an Italian miracle.
The north: Wild mountain scenery
When you think of Umbria, you first think of Perugia and Assisi - two cities that enjoy an international tourist reputation. But cyclists are far better off in the quiet hinterland. Lonely roads and medieval villages beckon here. However, a bike with good gearing is recommended for the ubiquitous climbs on the ridge of the Apennines. Gubbio is the ideal starting point for both cultural and scenic journeys of discovery.
Tour 1: From Gubbio through the Bottacione Gorge
The pilgrimage land of Assisi
The Franciscan Way of Peace is the name of a pilgrimage route across Umbria that has also been made increasingly accessible to cyclists in recent years. From Spoleto to Assisi, for example, there is a 60-kilometre cycle path with no significant gradients. The pilgrimage site of Assisi attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. One of the most beautiful cycle routes in Umbria is the ancient high route through the ancient olive groves from Assisi to Foligno and back down the valley. 24 easy kilometres of cycling past many testimonies to the deep Christian faith.
Todi and the south
For centuries, the inhabitants of Todi enjoyed the town's quality of life completely unnoticed by the world. In the 1990s, however, an American professor put an end to this. In his study, he claimed that Todi was a perfect city. The result: Americans came in droves and property prices shot up. In the meantime, however, the hype has died down again. In addition, Todi has been a member of the "Citaslow" movement since 1999 - a movement to slow down and improve the quality of life in cities. This also suits cyclists very well.
The full-length 16-page travel special from issue 6/2010 is available as a free PDF download.
