Campania is an ideal location for cycling holidays. The region does not suffer from extreme temperatures, with mild winters and warm summers freshened by a sea breeze: pleasant conditions for enjoying a cycle tour of Campania. There are, however, some great contrasts between the coast and the hinterland. The inland areas are characterized by high mountain ranges and so are affected by a winter climate which is often quite harsh and damp.
The main rainfall comes between November and January, with almost no precipitation in the summer. The wettest areas are the high plateaus of Matese and Partenio.
Visitors who stay at the hotels for cyclists in Campania can enjoy a varied and exciting cycling holiday, following some fascinating cycle routes in the region, or breath-taking mountain-bike itineraries.
Campania has so much to offer: a coastline with clear blue waters, thermal springs, famous cities, mediaeval villages, nature reserves, age-old traditions and an extraordinary cultural legacy. There are many places of worldwide fame, such as Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius, the Amalfi coast, the sea at Cilento and the spa-baths of Ischia.
To take an example: the area around Cilento, in the province of Salerno, offers visitors a beautiful coastline with crystal-clear seas. In general, this coastal region remains pristine and untouched, with areas of high ground, rivers and pathways: a beautiful natural setting for anyone keen on walking or trekking. Families with children can enjoy bicycle rides or walks in the open air, or can go out on an organized boat-trip from Porto di Pisciotta to explore secret coves and little, hidden sea-caves.
For those who love the countryside, the region provides a rich natural heritage: in 1991, the Vesuvius National Park was established, as well as the Cilento and the Vallo di Diano National Park in the area around Cilento.
Cilento is also the setting of two interesting archaeological sites which, together with the excavations at Paestum, can be classed as the most important historical remains in the province of Salerno. These are the archaeological site at Velia, with its famous “Porta Rosa” (Pink Gate), and the excavations at Antica Volcei, in the district of Buccino.
In fact, the Campania region hosts 60% of Italy’s archaeological heritage, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Vanvitelli Palace at Caserta and the huge Carthusian Monastery of St. Lorenzo at Padula.
Those considering taking the family on a cycling holiday in Campania will find the region is well suited to such a purpose, thanks to the availability of bike hotels, opportunities for cycle trips and a good variety of cycle routes, like the one from Sorrento-Amalfi.
For those who like to be outside in natural surroundings, we suggest a visit to the fascinating Oasis of the Morigerati Caves on the Bussento River (Morigerati (SA), Tel. (+39) 0974 982016). It offers a variety of walking paths and mountain bike itineraries which are delightful to follow in the company of family or friends. Classified as a WWF oasis since 1985, the 670-hectare reserve was established to protect the landscape and conserve the biodiversity of this fascinating area. Canyons, waterfalls, ravines and crystal pools are just some of the attractions the visitor will encounter along the river. With its narrow bridges, wooden ladders and paths carved out of the rock, the trail offers you stunning glimpses of the limestone system which shaped this natural phenomenon.
For more adventurous types, there are the “canyons” of Cilento – Sanza (SA), which can be explored either by trekking or by mountain bike.
If you leave from the little village of Sanza, you can climb to the summit of Mount Cervati. You can follow the historic route of the “Madonna della Neve” (Madonna of the Snow), with halts at the Fontana dei Caciocavalli (Caciocavalli Fountain) and the Piano degli Zingari (Plain of the Gypsies), cutting through the woods of the Foresta dei Temponi to finally reach the cave of the Madonna delle Nevi. You should certainly not miss seeing the Affondatore di Vallivona, a spectacular limestone crater enclosing a small lake. The next stop on your tour is the village of Felitto, famous for its PGI fusilli pasta, with its noble mansion known as the “house of a hundred rooms” and the “Arab house” dating back to the 12th century.
Not far from this historic centre are the gorges of the River Calore, leading down to the WWF Oasis of Remolino with its beautiful artificial lake nestling between walls of red rock. This area can be explored either on foot, on horseback or by canoe. Another interesting sight to visit is the Cave of Bernardo, named after a legendary brigand who is said to have lived in the cave. There is also the extraordinary natural bridge of Pretatetta, made from two enormous blocks of fallen limestone. Near here is the ghost town of Roscigno Vecchia, an old settlement with an extraordinary atmosphere and all the buildings of a typical Cilento village preserved intact, including the noble mansions and chapels. We recommend a visit to the Museo della Civiltà Contadina (Museum of Farming Life), which you will be shown round by Giuseppe, the sole inhabitant of the village.
