Giro d'Italia 2020 | Roadbook ENG by giroditalia.garibaldi

planimetria generale #theroute

VISEGRÁD BUDAPEST BALATONFÜRED

PONTE DI LEGNO

BORGO VALSUGANA

TORINO

RIVAROLO CANAVESE SANTENA

CUNEO GENOVA

SALÒ

MARMOLADA (Passo Fedaia) BELLUNO

APRICA COGNE

KAPOSVÁR

SANTUARIO DI CASTELMONTE

LAVARONE VERONA

TREVISO

Grande Partenza Hungary

MARANO LAGUNARE

PARMA REGGIO EMILIA

SANTARCANGELO DI ROMAGNA

SANREMO JESI

PESCARA BLOCKHAUS ISERNIA

NAPOLI

POTENZA

SCALEA (Riviera dei Cedri)

DIAMANTE

PALMI ETNA - NICOLOSI (Rif. Sapienza)

MESSINA CATANIA AVOLA

I N D EX

STAGES 01

BUDAPEST > VISEGRÁD

Ve 06/05/22

BUDAPEST > BUDAPEST (Tissot ITT)

Sa 07/05/22

KAPOSVÁR > BALATONFÜRED

Do 08/05/22

AVOLA > ETNA-NICOLOSI (Rif. Sapienza)

Ma 10/05/22

CATANIA > MESSINA

Me 11/05/22

PALMI > SCALEA (Riviera dei Cedri)

Gi 12/05/22

DIAMANTE > POTENZA

Ve 13/05/22

NAPOLI > NAPOLI (Procida Capitale Italiana della Cultura)

Sa 14/05/22

ISERNIA > BLOCKHAUS

Do 15/05/22

PESCARA > JESI

Ma 17/05/22

SANTARCANGELO DI ROMAGNA > REGGIO EMILIA (Parmigiano Reggiano Food Stage) Me 18/05/22

PARMA > GENOVA

Gi 19/05/22

111

SANREMO > CUNEO

Ve 20/05/22

121

SANTENA > TORINO

Sa 21/05/22

133

RIVAROLO CANAVESE > COGNE

Do 22/05/22

141

SALÒ > APRICA (Sforzato Wine Stage)

Ma 24/05/22

153

PONTE DI LEGNO > LAVARONE

Me 25/05/22

161

BORGO VALSUGANA > TREVISO

Gi 26/05/22

171

MARANO LAGUNARE > SANTUARIO DI CASTELMONTE

Ve 27/05/22

183

BELLUNO > MARMOLADA (Passo Fedaia)

Sa 28/05/22

195

VERONA - Verona ( Tissot ITT)

Do 29/05/22

203

REGIONS HUNGARY

EMILIA-ROMAGNA

107

SICILY

LIGURIA

118

CALABRIA

PIEDMONT

129

BASILICATA

AOSTA VALLEY

148

CAMPANIA

LOMBARDY

150

MOLISE

AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO

168

ABRUZZO

VENETO

179

MARCHE

FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

192

STAG E T Y P O LO GY

2 7 7 5

tappa a cronometro

D I STI N CTIVE I CO N S ABO UT H I G H LI G HTE D TH E M ES

TIME TRIAL STAGE

word

bassa difficoltà

hourglass

LOW DIFFICULTY

G E N E R AL I N F O

HI S TO R Y

column HI S TO R Y

media difficoltà

MEDIUM DIFFICULTY

book

alta difficoltà

dishes

HIGH DIFFICULTY

C U LTU R E

G AS TR O N O M Y

wine

E N O LO G Y

R EAD I N G G U I D E

S TA G E

S TA R T A N D F I N I S H

D I ST I N CT I V E I C O N S A B O U T H I G H L I G H T E D T H E M ES

S TA G E T Y P O L O G Y

01 02 09

09 02 10

ISERNIA - BLOCKHAUS

PARTENZA

ISERNIA > ISERNIA > MOLISE Nona tappa all’insegna della montagna qu-

sta che parte da Isernia, capoluogo dell’omonima provincia. Isernia vanta origini antichissime risalenti alla Preistoria. La città infatti annovera uno tra i siti preistorici più importanti d’Europa, “La Pineta”. Lo scavo ha permesso il recupero di fondamentali testimonianze relative a gruppi di Homo heidelbergensis vissuti a partire da 600.000 anni fa. Poi, nella prima metà del III secolo a.C. Roma decise di fon-

su una collina poco distante dall’abitato, e la Fontana Fraterna, una delle fontane monumentali più belle d’Italia, nella cui costruzione sono stati riutilizzati elementi decorativi di epoche diverse. Da Isernia si prosegue subito in salita per il primo GPM della tappa.

dare una città dal nome Aesernia per dare inizio a un lento processo di romanizzazione

del Sannio Pentro a quei tempi abitato dal popolo sannita. Tra i monumenti di rilievo vanno segnalati la cattedrale di San Pietro, sorta su un tempio

pagano italico del III secolo a.C., l’eremo dei Santi Cosma e Damiano, costruito anch’esso presso il sito di un antico tempio pagano

Isernia è sede di partenza per la quarta volta nella storia dopo il 1977, 1984 e 1989. In quest’ultimo caso, nella tappa Isernia-Roma, vinse Urs Freuler e Silvano Contini indossò per l’ultima volta la maglia rosa.

KM 4

VALICO DEL MACERONE > ISERNIA > MOLISE Si sale quindi fino ai 684 metri del Valico del Macerone, GPM di 3a categoria, un importante punto di passaggio fin dall’antichità. Durante la campagna piemontese in Italia centrale del 1860 vi si combatté l’omonima battaglia.

Tappone appenninico di alta montagna. Percorso all’insù fin dai primi chilometri. Dopo Guardiagrele si percorre l’unico tratto abbastanza tranquillo; inizia quindi la doppia scalata al Blockhaus. Da Pretoro si raggiunge Passo Lanciano per scendere a Lettomanoppello e salire all’arrivo da Roccamorice come nel 2017, con il finale con pendenze in doppia cifra lungo la serie finale di tornanti.

Il valico è estremamente popolare tra gli appassionati di ciclismo e di motoescursionismo per la ripidezza e la tortuosità della salita. Leggenda vuole che qui, durante una tappa del Giro d’Italia 1921, Costante Girardengo, affrontando le pendenze del valico, sia smontato dalla bici-

KM RIDDEN

S TA G E S

C I T Y/P R OV I N C E/R EG I O N OF THE TRANSIT POINT

opIMA pi

PaMON nt TAG an NA i

Ba TAP rt PA al i

S PECIAL I CO N S

HUNGARY

Hungary lies in the heart of Europe, in a territory with a very varied morphology: Hortobágy (the real “Hungarian puszta”), the foothills of the Austrian Alps, Lake Balaton, the Bükk mountains and the caves are all in the Carpathian basin, a place with a history stretching back thousands of years. It was here that the Romans established the province of Pannonia in the first centuries A.D., and in the 9 th century the Hungarian people

settled. In the year 1000, King Stephen was crowned. He succeeded in creating a strong and independent kingdom. His successors included Matthias Corvinus (Mátyás), who in the second half of the 15 th century maintained one of the richest Renaissance courts in Europe. After his death, the kingdom was weakened, and the central part of Hungary fell under Turkish rule. Hungary was reunified at the end of the 17 th century under the rule of the Austrian Empire. In 1867 the Compromise sanctioned the birth of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – a dual monarchy on equal terms, which would dissolve at the end of the First World War. After the Second World War, a repressive communist regime was established in the country. Impatience and disappointment with the lack of change expected after Stalin’s death led to the 1956 Revolution, which was stopped by the intervention of the Soviet army. Later, with the collapse of the USSR, Hungary moved peacefully and gradually to a democratic system. Today, the country is a member of NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004). Famous for its excellent wines (Tokaji Aszú, one of the world’s finest sweet wines, is produced here), Hungary is a land of charm. Although it has no sea front, it deserves the nickname ‘Land of Water’ for the many spas and sports facilities it offers near rivers and lakes with unique characteristics. It is a land where history and tradition coexist with the glamour of modern life: a pleasant contrast that is reflected in the kitchens of the country’s starred restaurants, appreciated for their Chefs’ ability to combine new trends with boundless culinary tradition. But Hungary is also home to important testimonies of history and culture. Seven of Hungary’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites are listed in the cultural category. Hungary also has an important musical tradition. Among the great Hungarian composers are Franz Liszt, a well-known exponent of romantic music, and Béla Bartók, a pioneer of ethnomusicology. Historically an agricultural country, Hungary’s typical products include Hungarian salami (Pick and Herz being the best known brands), Unicum bitters, Makó onions, Karcag sheep stew and Tisza fish soup. Hungary is also home to several festivals mainly during the summer: from cultural festivals (Jewish Cultural Festival, Sziget, VeszprémFest, Balaton Sound) to food and wine festivals (Budapest Wine Festival, Gourmet Festival) to sporting events (the international Blue Ribbon sailing race on Lake Balaton, Europe’s largest competition on a lake).

Budapest > Visegrád 195 km

06 may 2022 FRI DAY

01 02 BUDAPEST - VISEGRÁD

A slightly undulating course across the plain north of the capital until it reaches and runs along the Slovakian border. The route skims some notable towns, such as Székesfehérvár and Esztergom. A testing final part awaits the riders: from Visegrád’s town centre they will climb for about 5 kilometres on a 5% slope up to the royal castle where the first Maglia Rosa is up to be grabbed after a sprint by a selected group of riders.

02 1001 START

BUDAPEST > HUNGARY The Hungarian start of the Giro 2022 include three stages on the Danube banks, kicking off from the capital city Budapest. Dynamic, cosmopolitan and innovative, Budapest is one of the major European capitals. With its architectural and natural heritage, which can be appreciated while strolling amidst the majestic buildings and relaxing in the thermal baths, Budapest offers a rare combination of beauty and history that fascinates the visitor with its authenticity. Here, modernity has made its way into the creative and varied cuisine, as well as the catwalks and design, while at the same time nurturing a rich and extensive cultural programme that embraces all shades of artistic expression, from street art to the highest standards of classical music. Past and present coexist in a unique way, making Budapest an inspiring and fascinating city, as well as one of the most visited capitals in Europe.

The city bears witness to a history dating back to Ancient Rome and over the centuries has played an important role in the creation of the Hungarian state. Today’s Budapest was created on 17 November 1873 by the merger of Pest on the left bank of the Danube and Buda and Óbuda on the right bank. Straddling the Danube River, Budapest is famous for its thermal springs, some of which have been used for therapeutic purposes since prehistoric times. Budapest’s skyline from the Danube bank is listed as a Unesco Heritage site. The hallmarks of this view are Buda Castle, the Castle district and Andrassy Út, the main avenue in the city. The typical Hungarian dish par excellence is gulasch, a soup with onions and paprika along with carrots, potatoes and meat.

Budapest, Buda Castle.

KM 75

SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR > HUNGARY The course then leaves the city heading south-west and runs through Martonvásár – with the splendid Brunszvik Castle, which houses Beethoven Museum and an amazing English garden – and Kápolnásnyék, where one can visit Vörösmarty House – the most meaningful place in which to commemorate the poet born in Nyék – and Cziráky Castle – one of the most elegant examples of classicist architecture immersed in a lush park that is famous across the country and needs some renovation. From here, the course runs along Lake Velence, the third biggest natural lake in Hungary and a perfect place where one can relax or carry out many interesting activities. Calm, shallow water, cycle paths, cultural and natural treasures, summer festivals and events – the offer on the lake shores is rich and includes Velence Korzo, with 3,500 metres of sandy free beaches, shops, restaurants, beach umbrellas and deck chairs for rent, water sports. And all of this within walking distance from the railway station.

Martonvásár, Brunszvik Castle.

The first intermediate sprint is set in Székesfehérvár, an important medieval town with notable landmarks including the Bishop Palace, one of the main buildings in “Zopf” style in the country; Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, one of the most outstanding Hungarian cathedral; Bory Castle, nowadays a museum; the Vörösmarty Theatre, the cradle of Hungarian theatre. Béla Ohmann’s masterpiece, The Right of Fehérvár, overlooks the city’s main square and illustrates one of the jewels of the Hungarian crown.

Székesfehérvár, Bishop’s Palace.

KM 167

ESZTERGOM > HUNGARY The route heads first north and then northeast and runs through Csákvár, the seat of the Esterházy Paòae – one the mountain estate of the ancient Esterházy family and today one of the most notable landmarks in Hungary worth a visit – and Bajna,

with the seemingly classicist Sándor-Metternich House, despite a number of partial reconstructions over time. The modern building stands on the site of a noble estate dating to the 15 th and 16 th centuries. The second intermediate sprint of the

Esterházy Palace, Csákvár.

stage is in Esztergom, on the right bank of River Danube, the ancient military fort of Solva dating back to Roman times. Quite a while after the Romans, prince Géza was the first one who built a palace with a near-by church on the hill, the Esztergom Castle. His son Vajk was born in the building on the northern side of the hill and was pabtised as István/Stefano and crowned there. In Esztergom is one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe, the Cathedral of Our Lady and Saint Adalbert. Past Esztergom, just under 30 kilometres remain to the finish. Before reaching Visegrád, however, the riders race through Dömös, with the highest church of Hungary: the church of Intercession stands on the highest peak of the mountain range that embraces Visegrád. From here a splendid panorama on the meandering Danube can be enjoyed.

Esztergom Castle.

FINISH

VISEGRÁD > HUNGARY The stage finish is set in the historic Visegrád, a small city in central Hungary, 35 kilometres away from Budapest and at 338 metres above sea level, a 4rd-category summit of the stage. Visegrád has always been the focus of interest throughout history due to its favourable location and strategic role. From 1323 to 1408 it was the capital of the medieval kingdom of Hungary. In 1335, the famous meeting between the kings Charles I of Hungary, Casimir III of Poland and the Czech monarch John I of Bohemia took place here. The most iconic building in Visegrád is the Citadel, house of numerous and interesting exhibitions mainly focusing on the Middle ages. The Citadel, visited by thousands of

tourists every year, is the highest place of the city: the terrace offers an amazing panorama on River Danube.

Citadel of Visegrád.

Royal Palace of Visegrád.

For the 14 th time, the Giro will set off abroad. Since 2010, save on the year of the pandemic (2020), the Giro started abroad on all the even years and in Italy on all the uneven years. Hungary is going to be the eleventh country that hosts the start of the Giro. (Earlier: San Marino, Principality of Monaco, Belgium, Vatican City, Greece, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Israel).

NOTE

Budapest > Budapest Tissot ITT 9, 2 km

07 may 2022 SATU RDAY

01 02 BUDAPEST - BUDAPEST

Tissot ITT

An entirely urban time trial from Pest to the historic centre of Buda. The start is set in Heroes’ Square. The course is characterised by a series of bends until the riverbank in front of the Parliament and then crosses the Danube and runs along the other bank. Once the river is left behind, the final steep sector (peak at 14%) leads to the finish in Buda’s square.

02 10 START

BUDAPEST > HUNGARY The second Hungarian stage, an individual time trial, unfolds in Budapest through two historic centres: Pest and Buda. The set for the start is Heroes’ Square, one of the major squares in Budapest at the end of Andrássy út near Városliget, the city park. In the middle of the square stands the Millenium Monument, built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000 th anniversary of Hungarian history. In this district the Széchenyi Thermal Bath is one of the biggest spas in Europe, and the Puskás Stadium is the 19 th largest European stadium in terms of seating capacity. The eastern flat part of Budapest is where the ancient Pest stood. Notable landmarks include the parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption, dating to the Middle-ages

and rebuilt several times – it is considered the oldest religious building of the city, and in its chapel one can see the ruins of an old Roman military camp and the original walls of the basilica dating to the times of Saint King Stephen; the imposing Parliament building, the seat of the Hungarian National Assembly, built between 1885 and 1904 in elegant neo-Gothic style with a sixteen-sided iron dome, decorated with around 40 million bricks and 40 kilograms of gold; Saint Stephen’s Basilica, which offers the possibility of climbing the dome and enjoying a breathtaking view of the city, while inside it houses the tomb of the famous football player Ferenc Puskás; and the Andrássy út, Budapest’s most important avenue, opened in 1876. Also on this

Budapest, Heroes’ Square.

Budapest, the Parliament.

avenue are the Hungarian State Opera House and the House of Terror Museum, created to commemorate the victims of the National Socialist and Communist dictatorships of the 20 th century. Near the Parliament is one of the best known Holocaust memorials: 60 pairs of cast iron shoes arranged on the bank of the Danube to commemorate one of the darkest moments in history. The course then crosses the Danube on Margaret Bridge, the second permanent bridge built across the Danube. The bridge connects the southern end of Margaret Island with Buda and the Nagykörút in Pest. Designed by Frenchman Ernest Gouin, it was built about 25 years after the Chain Bridge: opened in 1876, it has since made Budapest a united city. Margaret Island is a green oasis in the centre of Budapest, covered with parks and sports and spa facilities, the city’s recreational area par excellence.

Budapest, St. Stephen’s Basilica.

FINISH

BUDAPEST > HUNGARY The time trial finishes by Szentháromság tér (Holy Trinity Square), the most important square in Buda, with a 4 th -category KOM summit at 172 metres above sea level. In the square is the Church of Our Lady of Assumption of the Buda Castle, more popular as Mattias Church, in Gothic style. It was the first church built in Buda and exceptional location for the royal weddings and crowning ceremonies. Originally an Ottoman Mosque and later transformed into a Baroque church, in the 19 th century it was renovated in Gothic style. It is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Budapest and it also houses concerts of classic music. Buda lies on a hill on the west bank of the Danube. Originally it was the fortress and the palace of the Kings of Hungary, but it turned into the capital of the kingdom in 1361 until the Ottoman conquest, in 1541. Buda was declared free city in 1703 and became the capital again in 1784. Notable landmarks include Buda Castle – the historic seat of the Hungarian kings and a Unesco Heritage site, it stands on the southern side of the hill and is surrounded by the Baroque castle district; Sándor Palace – the residence of the President of the Republic, it was built at the beginning of the 19 th century in neo-Classic style, was destroyed during the Second World War and then reconstructed from the 1990s; the Chain Bridge – the oldest one of Budapest, built between 1839 and 1849 to con-

nect Buda and Pest, with its impressive stone lions. Buda Castle also houses the Hungarian National Gallery, that showcases the richest art collection of the country. The thematic and historical exhibitions here give the possibility to discover the different periods of Hungarian art history. Along with the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the Széchenyi National Library are also located in the castle. The perfect place from which you can take wonderful photos of the major monuments of Budapest is the 140-metre-high neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque Fishermen’s Bastion, built between 1895 and 1902. This Unesco Heritage site appears in video clips of famous singers, such as Ellie Goulding and Selena Gomez. On this bank of the river, on Gellért hill, stands the Liberty Statue, a woman holding a palm leaf. Originally erected in commemoration of the Soviet army, today it is the symbol of Hungarian freedom.

Budapest, Matthias Church.

NOTE

Kaposvár > Balatonfüred 2 01 km

08 may 2022 SU N DAY

03 01 02 KAPOSVÁR - BALATONFÜRED

After racing on the first half of the course heading toward Lake Balaton, the peloton reaches Nagykanizsa and then Hévíz with its thermal lake. From there the undulating route runs through characteristic volcanic hills. The final 50-km section is along the coastline with a single climb leading to the Abbey of Tihany. The final stretch is almost completely straight and the first bunch sprint is to be expected.

03 02 10 START

KAPOSVÁR > HUNGARY The third and last stage on Hungarian soil sets off in Kaposvár, one of the most important cities of the Transdanubian region, an economic, cultural and sports centre. The city was mentioned in 1009 for the first time, and legend has it that it was founded on seven hills like Rome. The historic centre of Kaposvár is distinguished by its exceptional beauty. It is impossible to resist the charm of the eclectic and art nouveau architecture and the explosion of botanical species that frame the streets of the city, where the visitor will find a famil-

iar and welcoming atmosphere. The centre was largely built in the second half of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century. The main building in the town square is the Town Hall, built in 1902. Nearby is the Cathedral of the Assumption. Kaposvár’s main square was voted as the most beautiful square in 2017. The city has more than 30 pretty fountains: the first was installed by the Kaposvár Beautification Association on 13 July 1913 in front of the Csiky Gergely Theatre. The theatre, built in 1911, was recently renovated. In the surrounding area, is the impressive Lake Deseda. It was created artificially by diverting 8 kilometres of the Deseda stream into the dam that closes the valley. Today, the lake is an ideal place to spend leisure time, and is considered a paradise for fishermen, tourists, hikers and water sports enthusiasts. The surrounding area offers a wide range of attractions, such as the arboretum, the educational trail, an observatory and the Deseda adventure park.

Gergely Csiky Theater and Esterházy Bridge.

KM 69

NAGYKANIZSA > HUNGARY From Kaposvár, the course runs through several villages in the Somogy province and leads to the intermediate sprint, set in Nagykanizsa in the Zala province. The present town centre was built after Turkish rule and was used as a marketplace for

two centuries. It is a clearly Baroque-influenced space framed by the town hall on the west side, embellished by numerous statues and adorned by lush vegetation. Nagykanizsa is the only Hugarian town crossed by a meridian, in this case the 17 th.

KM 117

HÉVIZ > HUNGARY The riders keep on approaching Lake Balaton as they pass through Garabonc close to Kis-Balaton (Lesser Balaton). The south-western side of Keszthely Bay offers a beautiful view of the lake. On the eastern side of the lake is the protected island of Kányavári, which can be visited by anyone wishing to discover its unique natural landscape and rich wildlife. The island is reached by a wooden bridge – the symbol of Lesser Balaton. Héviz is the town by the lake of the same name, the biggest thermal lake, which is biologically active, in the world. The constant flow keeps the water temperature mild all year round and is therefore always swimmable. This is where one finds the Kehida Thermal Spa with a hotel and wellness centre offering visitors 2,400 sq m of water attractions. Decorated with Mediterranean-style interiors,

they boast 12 pools, a 94-metre-long giant slide, open-air hair-raising slides, outdoor pools with hot and cold water, thermal pools, a whirlpool island, a lazy river, a children’s pool, a pool bar and much more.

Héviz, Baths of Kehida.

KM 147

BADACSONY > HUNGARY The course runs toward the second intermediate sprint and passes Keszthely, with the Festetics Palace, one of the finest examples of Hungarian Baroque style. Its construction began in 1745 by Kristóf Festetics, but it was not until the 1880s that the palace took on its present appearance. Keszthely lies on the western shore of Lake Balaton, and the town beach offers a 35,000-square-metre sunbathing area and 12 different restaurants. Then, the race convoy passes through Gyenesdiás, with Diás beach, one of the most popular family attractions in the

Gyenesdiás, Diás Beach.

western Balaton region, the watermill (don’t miss the constantly updated herbarium in the adjacent herb garden) and the 231-metre-high Festetics viewing tower. The course touches Balatongyörök, whose panoramic hill (Szépkilátó) is the gateway to western Balaton.

The second intermediate sprint is set on Badacsony hill, which has taken up a strong symbolic value over time. On this mountain invested with an almost sacred significance stood the largest basalt stone quarry in Hungary.

KM 188

TIHANY > HUNGARY From Badacsonytomaj the course continues toward Köveskal, with the protected area of the Káli reservoir, Balatonakali, and the 15th century Kiniszi Castle nearby, and finally Örvenyes, home to Hungary’s oldest water mill. Then, it takes in the 4 th-category climb to Tihany – 174 metres above sea level – renowned for the historic Benedictine Abbey dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Aignan d’Orleans. The abbey dates to 1055. The

ceiling is adorned with frescoes by Károly Lotz depicting the allegories of faith, hope and charity, the three theological virtues. With the spires towering over the lake and offering a breathtaking view, the abbey has become a symbol and emblem of Tihany. Few people know that, in the 11 th century, the same king who founded the abbey here also created a monastery carved into the rock.

Two images of the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany.

FINISH

BALATONFÜRED > HUNGARY Balatonfüred, a holiday resort on the northern shore of Lake Balaton hosts the finish of this final stage abroad. Balatonfüred is mentioned for the first time in the Tihany Abbey census in 1211. In the Middle Ages there were several settlements in the area of today’s Füred. Tourism in town already started a few centuries ago. After the local acidulous water was declared medicinal water in 1971, Balatonfüred became a spa town and since 1987 the International City of Wine and Vine The town is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, not least because Balatonfüred has so many attractions. One of the most famous is the Tagore promenade, named after the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, who spent a few weeks in Balatonfüred in 1926 for medical treatment. Along

Balatonfüred, the lakefront of Tagore.

the beautiful Tagore promenade, which is almost one kilometre long, there are restaurants, cafés, ice cream parlours and souvenir shops. Another notable landmark is the Vaszary Gallery, a beautiful eclectic building in a park that is worth a visit, even just outside. The area has several parks, including the Koloska-völgyi Natural Park, open all year round, that can be a perfect alternative for those who wish to leave behind the summer bustle in Balatonfüred or those who look for an ideal destination for a stroll in nature in fall, and the Balatonfüred Adventure and Cycling Park, which has – among other things – a 17-metre-high rock wall, an obstacle course with 144 obstacles and a skill course in the forest.

NOTE

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Avola > Etna/Nicolosi (Rifugio Sapienza) 172 km

10 may 2022 TU ESDAY

04 01 02 AVOLA - ETNA/NICOLOSI (Rifugio Sapienza)

A stage in the Sicilian hinterland with an uphill finish. From Avola, the route touches the center of Sicilian Baroque in Noto, then the areas of Pantalica and Vizzini towards the volcano. The final climb, which ends at the Sapienza refuge as on other occasions, faces an unprecedented route. The climb starts from Ragalna (like in 2018), and then moves to the Nicolosi slope (like in 2011) for the last 14 kilometers.

04 02 10 START

AVOLA > SIRACUSE > SICILY First stage in Italy of the 2022 Giro d’Italia, back and forth between the provinces of Syracuse and Catania. We start from Avola, the “hexagonal city”, overlooking the Ionian coast of eastern Sicily, between the Ionian Sea and the sides of the Iblei Mountains. Among the places of interest the is the Chiesa Madre, destroyed by the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt the same year. In the surroundings of Avola, you can visit the nature reserve Cavagrande del Cassibile. Particularly famous is the Avolese Carnival, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. As for the cuisine, an absolute excellence is the Avola almond: the most cultivated variety is the Pizzuta, an excellent product appreciated all

over the world. Another product of the territory is certainly Nero d’Avola, a black grape variety from which a very pleasant wine with a strong body is obtained.

Panoramic view of Avola.

KM 6

NOTO > SIRACUSE > SICILY Noto leads the route towards the Sicilian hinterland. Known as the “Capital of the Baroque”, its historic center was included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites: destroyed by the 1693 earthquake, that struck the south-eastern part of Sicily, it was rebuilt in the baroque style. Noto is home to some of the most fascinating and decorated churches in the region: San Francesco all’Immacolata, Santa Chiara, San Carlo, San Domenico, as well as the cathedral basilica di San Nicolò and the Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso. The local cuisine is particularly rich and varied: among the first courses, “ravioli di ricotta” seasoned with pork sauce, “tagliatelle”,

Cathedral of San Nicolò.

“cavateddi” and “lasagne”, all made with durum wheat flour. Among the second courses, the “coniglio alla stimpirata” stands out. The tradition in the making of desserts is also very rich, for which the almond of the Noto hills called the “Romana di Noto” is used. The vineyards of the area produce intense

and strong grapes, which give life to Eloro DOC (from Nero d’Avola grapes), Moscato di Noto DOC, Rosso Sicilia IGT, Bianco Sicilia IGT and Inzolia Sicilia IGT. Leaving Noto and entering the hinterland, you reach the town of San Corrado di Fuori and cross the Cassibile river.

KM 37

PALAZZOLO ACREIDE > SIRACUSE > SICILY The stage continues uphill to Palazzolo Acreide, in the Iblei Mountains, between the late Baroque cities of the Val di Noto (UNESCO site). The Piazza del Popolo is dominated by the Chiesa di San Sebastiano with a spectacular staircase, while in Piazza San Paolo there is the Basilica di San Paolo, the most important of the city churches, with a Baroque style facade. The Palazzo Municipale was built in the eighteenth century. The Chiesa dell’Annunziata is the oldest church in town: rebuilt after the earthquake, it was enlarged and now has three naves. Not far away, in the Anapo Valley, is the Pantalica necropolis, the largest in the Mediterranean with about five thousand tombs built in artificial caves. The area of Palazzolo Acreide is also known for its black truffle and for the olive groves, from which the Olio Monti Iblei PDO is obtained.

Basilica of San Sebastiano, Palazzolo Acreide.

KM 66

VIZZINI > CATANIA > SICILY From Palazzolo Acreide, we continue to the province of Catania and reach Vizzini, near the plateau of the Iblei Mountains, on the slopes of Monte Lauro. In the municipal area is the small village of Cunziria, which

in 1981 was chosen by Franco Zeffirelli as the set for the opera-film “Cavalleria Rusticana”: the duel of the Verga novel is set in the fields filled with prickly pears surrounding Vizzini.

KM 93

SCORDIA > CATANIA > SICILY The route then descends, going back to the province of Syracuse and then again to that of Catania, where the road to Scordia is crossed by a railway level crossing, one of the main areas in Sicily for the cultivation of citrus plants. The Chiesa Madre, dedicated to San Rocco, was rebuilt in 1712 in the baroque style. The stage makes a short passage through the province of Syracuse before going back to the province of Catania. After crossing a railway level crossing, the route gets to Ponte Barca, a district in the municipality of Paternò, which houses the Simeto Oasis, a protected nature reserve near the Simeto river.

San Rocco Church, Scordia.

KM 136

PATERNÒ > CATANIA > SICILY Paternò is venue for the first intermediate sprint, where the climb leading to the final finish begins.

The Castello Normanno is the symbol of the city, a tower built in 1072 as part of a defensive structure at the behest of Ruggero I. Worth mentioning are also the Chiesa di Santa Barbara, with its eighteenth-century neoclassical facade, the renaissance church Chiesa del Carmine, and the Chiesa del Pantheon, which also serves as a military shrine. From Paternò, the stage continues to Santa Maria di Licodia, on the south-western slope of Etna. The bell tower Torre Campanaria, built in 1143, is the symbol of the city.

Norman Castle of Paternò.

KM 148

BIANCAVILLA > CATANIA > SICILY In Biancavilla, in the Etna Park, the riders run into the second intermediate sprint of the stage. Among the notable buildings, we should mention the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Elemosina, dating back to the fifteenth century and with the highest bell tower in the province, the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Rosario, with a magnificent Baroque facade, and the Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunziata, where the

seventeenth-century original building has undergone several changes over the centuries. The stage climbs up to the 1000 metre-high Castelluccio-Paratore, belonging to the municipality of Biancavilla, and then continues to the headquarters of the Astrophysical Observatory of Catania “Mario Girolamo Fracastoro”, in the district of Serra La Nave, located in the area of Piano Vetore.

FINISH

ETNA-NICOLOSI > CATANIA > SICILY The stage finishes with the uphill arrival at the 1892 metre-high Etna-Nicolosi, a first category GPM, located in Rifugio Sapienza. Nicolosi, a town on the slopes of Etna, was built around the twelfth century by the inhabitants of the areas surrounding the monastery of San Nicolò La Rena, now headquarters of the Etna Park Authority, the main entity for nature protection in Sicily. The main church of Nicolosi is the Chiesa Madre, dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Nicolosi also hosts two interesting museums: the Museo della pietra lavica ceramizzata and the Casa museo della civiltà contadina. Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, located on the southern slope of Etna, is the bottom station of the Etna Sud ski resort, located at the end of the road that goes up the south-east side of Etna from Catania, with the ski lifts that branch off alongside it with the Etna cableway.

Etna, also known as Mongibello, is the highest volcano in Europe, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013.

Entrance to the former Monastery of San Nicolò.

For the seventh time Etna will be a stage finish of the Giro. Stage winners on Mount Etna – 1967, Franco Bitossi; 1989, Acacio da Silva; 2011, Filippo Savini (1st passage), Alberto Contador (finish); 2017, Jan Polanc; 2018, Esteban Chaves; 2020, Jonathan Caicedo.

SICILY

Sicily is an autonomous region, and the largest island in Italy and in the Mediterranean Sea. It comprises three major island groups, the Eolie, the Egadi and the Pelagie Islands, along with the isles of Ustica and Pantelleria. It is the largest and the fourth most populated region in Italy, with over five million inhabitants. It is divided into the following provinces: Palermo, Catania, Messina, Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Enna, Ragusa, Syracuse and Trapani. The ancient “Trinacria” (as it was named for its roughly triangular shape) is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, by the Strait of Sicily to the west, by the Mar di Sicilia to the south, by the Ionian Sea to the east, and by the Strait of Messina (which separates Sicily from Calabria) to the northeast. It is a land of volcanoes, with Mount Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano. The territory is mainly hilly, with some mountain ranges, and limited lowlands. The shore is varied, and the island enjoys a Mediterranean climate. In its ancient history, it was settled by the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans. In the Middle Ages, it was ruled by the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the House of Anjou, the Aragonese and the House of Bourbon under the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (which also comprised the Kingdom of Naples). Following the expedition of the Thousand, led by Garibaldi, it became part of Italy. The ancient Greek colonisation, at the time of Magna Graecia, left a rich and remarkable historical and architectural heritage, as well as major cultural legacy by Archimedes, Empedocles, Stesichorus and other leading figures, especially around Syracuse and Agrigento. The Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) is a remarkable legacy of that time. Heritage of the Roman period includes the Graeco-Roman theatre of Taormina; legacy of the Byzantine period comprises the traditional chapels called “Cuba”, while the Islamic period left a rich artistic heritage. Valuable architectural legacy remains of the Norman and Swabian periods, as well as of the Anjou, the Aragonese and the Bourbon rule, before the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. Several sites in Sicily have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage, such as the Valle dei Templi (referred to above) in Agrigento, Syracuse and the rocky necropolis of Pantalica, Arab-Norman Palermo, the cathedral churches of Cefalù and Monreale, Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, and the natural heritage sites of the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna. The customs and folklore of the island include a number of religious festivals, such as the Festa di Santa Rosalia in Palermo, the Festa di Sant’Agata in Catania, the Festa di Santa Lucia in Syracuse and many others. Notable cultural heritage also includes the Carnival celebrations in Acireale and in other towns, the Opera dei Pupi (the traditional marionette theatre), and the colourful carretto (Sicilian cart). Throughout the centuries, Sicily has been home to a large number of intellectuals, poets, writers and artists of all kinds. Local cuisine offers a wealth of delicacies such as granita and cassata, almond milk, arancini (rice balls) and other deli specialties, along with endless kinds of pasta and wine, mostly Marsala liquoroso, Zibibbo, Nero d’Avola, Moscato di Pantelleria, Malvasia and Bianco d’Alcamo. Major agricultural products include cereals, olives and citrus fruits (with CDO status), Pomodoro di Pachino (local PGI tomato), carobs, almonds and pistachios. Fishing is still a main and widespread activity, with Sicily ranking first in Italy in terms of fish catch. The region boasts a wide range of industrial activities, especially around Catania and Palermo, and in other dedicated areas of the territory. Tourism offers a wide range of destinations and possibilities, and is a major pillar of the economy of the island. However, the infrastructures and the road network are not always adequate to the growing requirements of this industry. Sicily has been a venue for several major sporting events, and the birthplace of many successful athletes and cycling aces, such as Vincenzo Nibali, to name just one. A native of Messina, Vincenzo is a Giro, Tour and Vuelta winner, and a very popular and most loved rider.

NOTE

Catania > Messina 174 km

11 may 2022 WED N ESDAY

05 01 02 CATANIA - MESSINA

A classic stage of the Giro in Sicily. From Catania to Messina, through Portella Mandrazzi and on its gentle slopes down to the northern coast where the course runs across villages like Villafranca Tirrena and Ganzirri, with the huge Strait Pillar of the old power line. The stage, suiting the sprinters, is likely to finish in a bunch sprint.

05 02 10 START

CATANIA > CATANIA > SICILY The stage sets off on the east coast of the island, near Catania, at the foot of Mount Etna. Catania was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in the Sicilian Baroque style. The centrepiece of Catania is Piazza Duomo, with the Cathedral of Sant’Agata, rebuilt on the rubble of the 11 th -century Norman cathedral destroyed in the earthquake. At the centre of Piazza Duomo is ‘u Liotru’, a lava stone elephant symbol of Catania, supporting an Egyptian obelisk. On the north side is the Town Hall (Palazzo degli Elefanti). In Piazza Federico II di Svevia stands the Ursino Castle, built at the behest of the Swabian Emperor. Today, it is Catania’s most representative museum: it houses Roman and Greek artefacts and the Art Gallery. Catania’s cuisine is one of the richest and tastiest in Sicily. The seafood dishes: include the seafood salad with boiled octopus, prawns and ox-eyes (typical shellfish of this sea), the marinated masculini (anchovies from the Ionian Sea marinat-

Dome of the Cathedral of Sans’Agata Catania.

ed in oil and lemon), “u mauru” (raw seaweed dressed with lemon). Among the first courses pasta alla Norma deserves pride of place, named after a famous masterpiece by Vincenzo Bellini: tomato sauce, fried aubergines, basil and grated salted ricotta cheese. Panorama of Catania.

The main dish of Catania’s renowned rotisserie is arancini, small rice timbales stuffed with various fillings. Typical desserts are the cannoli di ricotta, the cassata siciliana, but above all the frutta martorana or pasta reale (soft almond-based pastry in the form of coloured fruit). The most representative wines in the Catania area are those produced on Mount Etna: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello

Cappuccio, Carricante, Minnella and Catarratto, all vines that contribute to the production of wines classified as Etna DOC. The course continues along the coastline, characterised by lava cliffs, and reaches Acireale. Its main square is Piazza Duomo that is overlooked by the 15 th-century Cathedral, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Baroque Town Hall. The peloton then races through Guardia.

KM 24

GIARRE > CATANIA > SICILY Giarre is an important commercial centre, lying between the fertile coastal plain and the foothills of Etna. The centre of Giarre developed around two streets, Via Callipoli and Via Archimede, now Corso Italia. Lava paved streets are lined with patrician buildings erected between the 18 th and early 20 th centuries. There are some notable Art Nouveau edifices, such as Palazzo Bonaventura (formerly Quattrocchi) and the former Fratelli di Mauro hydroelectric power station. In the main square (Piazza Duomo) stands the neoclassical Chiesa Madre dedicated to Sant’Isidoro Agricola, whose construction began in 1794. The oldest church in Giarre, however, is the sanctuary of Santa Maria la Strada, in the hamlet of the same name: it dates from 1081.

The Cathedral of Giarre.

Typical local products include cor’i cani (Italian for ‘heart of dog’), a special drink made from lemon granita, mint and water. The singer-songwriter Franco Battiato was born here in 1945. The course continues on to Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, at the centre of an important citrus-growing area, where the so-called Torre rossa (Red Tower) stands. It is a funeral building from the Roman times, one of the few examples of monumental funerary architecture in ancient Sicily.

KM 55

FRANCAVILLA DI SICILIA > MESSINA > SICILY As the route runs on inland, it enters the province of Messina and passes through Chianchitta, populous district of Giardini-Naxos, and Motta Camastra, in the hamlet of Fondaco Motta, a short distance from the Alcantara Gorges, characteristic lava gorges with overhanging vertical walls.

The first intermediate sprint is set in Fran-

cavilla di Sicilia, in the centre of the Alcantara Valley, north of Mount Etna, not far from the first peaks of the Nebrodi Mountains. Francavilla has a Museum of Franciscan and Peasant History, housed inside the Capuchin convent.

KM 75

PORTELLA MANDRAZZI > MESSINA > SICILY The course take in the 2 nd -category climb to Portella Mandrazzi, 1125 metres above sea level. The pass, in the Mounts Peloritani chain, also marks the border between the municipalities of Francavilla di Sicilia and Novara di Sicilia, where the descent starts. Novara di Sicilia lies at the foot of an imposing rock spur, the Rocca Salvatesta, which reaches an altitude of 1340 metres. The ancient castle, now in ruins, was built in the 5 th century, while the Cathedral,

dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, was originally built in the 15 th century but has been rebuilt several times. Then the peloton races through Mazzarrà Sant’Andrea, an agricultural centre specialising in the cultivation of flowers and citrus fruits, and Terme Vigilatore, an ancient spa centre on the Tyrrhenian coast with its 1 st century BC Roman villa in the San Biagio district, an interesting example of a luxury suburban Roman villa.

KM 113

BARCELLONA POZZO DI GOTTO > MESSINA > SICILY A tunnel leads to Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, most populous municipality in the metropolitan city after Messina and a popular tourist destination. Notable landmarks include the Duomo of San Sebastiano, in neoclassical style, the church of San Giovanni Battista, a national monument, and the beautiful beach of Calderà, a long stretch of gravel and pebbles. As the course cuts across the Milazzo promontory, a second tunnel leads to Monforte Marina, a coastal resort in the municipality of Monforte San Giorgio with typical beaches of fine, light sand.

Cathedral of San Sebastiano, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto.

KM 136

VILLAFRANCA TIRRENA > MESSINA > SICILY The riders fight for the second intermediate sprint of the stage in Villafrance Tirrena. Here, the castle of Bauso (the town’s ancient name), a fortified building of 16 th-century origin, nestled in a magnificent Italian-style garden, awaits restoration. Near the hamlet of Calvaruso a sanctuary preserves a legendary 17 th -century

wooden statue of Ecce Homo. Here, the course enters the municipality of Messina passing through Rodia and Spartà, two fishing villages, Ganzirri - by the lake bearing the same name in the Capo Peloro Lagoon Natural Reserve – and Piazza Castronovo.

FINISH

MESSINA > MESSINA > SICILY Finally, the riders approach the finish line in Messina, a port city (first port in Italy for number of passengers in transit) on the Strait of the same name, near the extreme north-eastern tip of Sicily (Capo Peloro). The Duomo is one of the oldest in Italy. The building dates to around 1150. The belfry has a magnificent animated astronomical clock, which is considered the largest and most complex in the world. At the entrance to the Port of Messina, in the old San Salvatore fort built in 1546, stands the 7-metre-high Madonnina del Porto, made of gilded bronze by the sculptor Tore Calabrò. It was inaugurated in 1934 by Pope Pius XI. The culinary tradition in Messina is one of the oldest in Sicily and, although it was mainly influenced by the Greeks, it has developed an original style. Fish and seafood, almond-based sweets, candied fruit, and

ricotta cheese are the basic ingredients. The art of ice-cream making is also particularly appreciated for its granitas. Messina has an important and historic university - the Studiorum Universitas founded in 1548 - where Giovanni Pascoli also taught.

The Madonnina del Porto, Messina.

The first finish in Messina dates to 1930: the Palermo – Messina stage. Luigi Marchisio claimed the victory after 10 hours of racing, ahead of Learco Guerra. The 1930 stage finishing in Messina was crucial: Marchisio became the GC leader and held the Pink jersey up to Milan.

NOTE

CALABRIA

Calabria is the ‘tip of the boot’ of the Italian peninsula. The region is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, and by the Ionian Sea to the east. Mountains of different elevations cover most of its territory. It shares borders with Basilicata to the north. Reggio Calabria lies at the southern edge, overlooking the Strait of Messina and facing Sicily. It is the most populous city of the region, and has a graceful seafront lined with elegant buildings. The Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia (Museo Archeologico della Magna Grecia), housing the famous Riace Bronzes, speaks to the ancient history of the region.

Calabria has five provinces: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia. Agriculture is well-developed, with olives, grapes, citrus and the traditional bergamot oranges being the main produce. Industry is crippled by the lack of infrastructures and by external influences, which negatively affect any initiative. Tourism is a major resource for local economy, and the region offers a wealth of options to cater to all needs: seaside tourism on the lovely beaches, mountain tourism on the Sila and the Aspromonte, and cultural tourism to explore the rich history of the region throughout its monumental heritage. A multi-faceted reality whose extraordinary potential deserves to be nurtured and explored to the fullest.

Palmi > Scalea

(Riviera dei Cedri) 192 km

12 may 2022 TH U RSDAY

06 01 02 PALMI - SCALEA

(Riviera dei Cedri)

A slightly undulating stage that is likely to finish in a bunch sprint once again. Past a climb in the very first part of the route through Mileto, Vibo Valentia and Pizzo, the course runs along Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast with a series of short climbs and descents. A super-fast finale for the packed bunch is to be expected.

06 02 10 START

PALMI > REGGIO CALABRIA > CALABRIA The stage starts in Palmi, which sits on the extensive “terrace” cut into the northern flank of Mount Sant’Elia, a buttress of the Aspromonte mountains jutting out into the sea at the southern end of Tyrrhenian Calabria. Here, facing the incomparable natural scenery offered by the nearby Aeolian Islands, the Straits of Messina and the view of the volcano Etna, Palmi is set halfway up the coast between low, sandy beaches and high, rocky cliffs, so much so that it can be defined as a “city of sea and hills”. The unquestionable beauty of the landscape, due precisely to its position, is framed by the sea and the hills. The scenery is characterised by typically Mediterranean vegetation: palm trees, prickly pears, orange gardens and above all olive groves are spread out along the ‘Palmi plain’, bearing witness to the passage of Greeks and Saracens in times long past. The city was founded at the end of the 10th century by refugees from the neighbouring town of Taureana, who had escaped the looting and destruction of their village. At first, the development of the town was slow and only after the 15th century did Palmi become an active trade and industry centre and begin to expand. Today, Palmi is a continuously growing city; with more than 20.000 inhabitants, it attracts a large number of foreign tourists every year, especially during summer, with its outstanding nature, environmental beauty and also

the cuisine: the cheese, cured meats and vegetable hors d’oeuvres, the ‘pasta china’, the ‘struncatura con le sarde’ (pasta with sardines), the pasta accompanied by the famous swordfish or cuttlefish are all worth tasting. And for those who love mountain flavours not to be missed are the tasty dishes made with local pulses. Exceptional dishes are the stockfish, prepared in various typical recipes, the tasty aubergine or courgette parmigiana, the anchovies pie and, among the desserts, the zeppole, the pignolata and the nacatole. The city hosts the Accademia d’Arte Drammatica della Calabria, a theatre school attended by young people from all regions of Italy. View of Palmi.

Palmi hosts a stage start for the second time in history after the Palmi-Camigliatello Silano stage in 1982, when the Frenchman Bernard Becaas won his only stage at the Giro ahead of three Italians: Giovanni Renosto, Davide Cassani and Giuseppe Saronni.

KM 1

GIOIA TAURO > REGGIO CALABRIA > CALABRIA The race route leaves Palmi and shortly afterwards reaches the town of Gioia Tauro, which gives its name to the homonymous gulf and plain. Rich in history, Gioia Tauro is home to a recently inaugurated archaeo-

logical museum as well as a fine medieval town centre. In favourable weather conditions, from the belvedere it is possible to admire the Stromboli Volcano and some of the Aeolian Islands .

KM 10

ROSARNO > REGGIO CALABRIA > CALABRIA The race rolls on towards Rosarno, the northern tip of the Gioia Tauro Plain, which overlooks the port of Gioia Tauro and the surrounding plain from a hill. The town’s symbol is the Clock Tower, which forms the backdrop to the main street, Corso Garibaldi. Noteworthy religious buildings include the Church of San Domenico, now called Chiesa del Rosario, attached to the destroyed convent of the Dominican Preaching Fathers, founded in 1526 under the name of Santa Maria del Soccorso. The convent hosted Friar Girolamo Musitano, one of the most learned theologians of the 17 th century. In Rosarno there is the Medma Archaeological Park, an ancient city of Magna Graecia, consisting of a large expanse of olive trees

in the immediate vicinity of the current cemetery of Rosarno. Closely connected to the archaeological park is the Medma Museum, which exhibits a large number of the objects found over the years.

View of Rosarno.

KM 30

MILETO > VIBO VALENTIA > CALABRIA After passing through the province of Vibo Valentia, the race crosses Mileto, formerly the capital of a county under Roger I of Altavilla (c. 1031-1101), who was later the first Count of Sicily. The town houses the remains of an 11 th century abbey, destroyed during the 1783 earthquake, as well

as a neo-Romanesque cathedral where a spectacular nativity scene is set up at Christmas. It then climbs to 515 metres at the “Luigi Razza” Airport, a 4 th category KOM, within the municipality of Vibo Valentia, the next stage of the route.

KM 40

VIBO VALENTIA > VIBO VALENTIA > CALABRIA The race reaches Vibo Valentia, capital of the homonymous province, for an intermediate sprint in the most populous city on the so-

called Costa degli Dei. A crossroads since the times of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire that dominated, with its port and tourist resorts, the hinterland, the Serre mountain range and also the maritime area, as far as the port in the Marina district. It is in the vicinity of Vibo Marina, precisely in the Porto Salvo area, that the greatest concentration of industrial activity in the municipality is to be found. The historic centre is enchanting, dominated by the ancient Norman-Swabian Castle, which now houses the ‘Vito Capialbi’ Archaeological Museum, rich in Italian, Greek and Roman archaeological findings, medieval ceramics and Renaissance objects. The baroque Duomo, dedicated to the patron St Leoluca is of great artistic interest. Its bronze doors, work of the artist Giuseppe Niglia, tell a lot about the history of this land. The ruins of Hipponion, including the great walls from the 6th and 5th centuries BC and some of the towers of the old city, are equally interesting and worth visiting. Vibo Valentia takes the toll also food-wise: its cuisine is genuine and characterized by a very strong, ‘spicy’ flavour, especially due to the extensive and traditional use of chilli peppers.

A typical dish of this land is the so-called “fileja”, a homemade pasta rolled up on an iron and then dressed with meat sauce. There are

also tasty specialities from the surrounding area: dairy products from Monte Poro, especially pecorino cheese, the tempting ‘nduja’, a cured sausage produced in the Capo Vaticano area, and the famous Tropea onion. The Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) stopped in Vibo Valentia on several occasions, recounted in detail in works and letters.

Coast of Vibo Valentia.

KM 88

FALERNA MARINA > CATANZARO > CALABRIA The journey continues in the province of Catanzaro, passing Lamezia Terme International Airport and reaching Falerna Marina, a town of the municipality of Falerna, on the coast. Located close to important communi-

cation routes, Falerna Marina had an important commercial development during the 1990s. Its geographical location has transformed it into a seaside tourist centre. Falerna’s seafront is like a tree-lined garden that

runs along the sea, entirely pedestrianised, and during the summer season it comes alive with the opening of kiosks, bars, pubs, pizzerias and ice-cream parlours. Along the coast there are several lidos equipped with umbrellas, deckchairs and areas for children. The special feature of this stretch of coastline is the wind that blows through it, mak-

ing it one of the best kite-surfing spot in the Mediterranean sea. Panorama of Falerna.

KM 94

NOCERA SCALO > CATANZARO > CALABRIA The race rolls along the coast of the province of Catanzaro, passing through Nocera Scalo, a

town in the district of the municipality of Nocera Terinese, before entering the province of Cosenza.

KM 107

AMANTEA > COSENZA > CALABRIA A quick passage through the town of Campora San Giovanni, which marina offers fast connections to the Aeolian Islands, leads to the entrance to Amantea. The town is said to have originated from the founding of a fortified citadel called Nepetia by the Byzantine Greeks in the area that is now old Amantea. Nepetia was conquered by the Arabs in the 9 th century, who made it the capital of an emirate and renamed it Al-Mantiah. When Niceforo Foca, a Byzantine leader, reconquered the town in 885, the name Amantea remained. The composer, pianist and musicologist Alessandro Longo was born in Amantea in 1864.

Panorama of the city of Amantea.

KM 133

PAOLA > COSENZA > CALABRIA The route then continues along the coastal roads passing through the towns of Longobardi Marina and Torremezzo di Falco-

Sanctuary of San Francesco di Paola.

nara to reach the town of Paola at Km 130. One of Calabria’s religious tourism destinations, Paola is known as the birthplace of St Francis of Paola, founder of the Order of Minims, who was proclaimed a saint in

1519. The city is home to the regional Sanctuary of San Francesco da Paola, located in the upper part of the hilly municipal area, in a valley bordered by a stream and rich in vegetation. The sanctuary houses part of the relics of the patron saint of Calabria, and contains two basilicas, one modern and one dating back to the 16 th century. From Paola, the race heads north down to Marina di Fuscaldo, a town in the municipality of Fuscaldo.

KM 147

GUARDIA PIEMONTESE MARINA > COSENZA > CALABRIA Guardia Piemontese Marina, the second intermediate sprint of the stage, is part of the municipality of Guardia Piemontese, which has the pecularity of being an Occitan language island in southern Italy: the community was in

fact founded in the 12th century by Waldensian refugees from Bobbio Pellice in Piedmont. Guardia Piemontese, and in particular the seaside village, is the setting for Guardia ‘82, a well-known song by Brunori Sas, the Calabrian singer-songwriter and winner of two Targhe Tenco awards and a Nastro d’Argento. From here the Giro takes in along the coast to Cetraro Marina, a town of the municipality of Cetraro, which was probably the first maritime city founded by the ancient Bruzi, and then briefly to Diamante, the starting point for the next stage, and Santa Maria del Cedro, home to an ancient Norman castle, the Castello di San Michele, dating from back to the 11th century.

The ancient watchtower.

FINISH

SCALEA > COSENZA > CALABRIA The stage ends in Scalea, one of the oldest towns in Calabria, heir to the Greek-Lucan city of Laos and the Roman Lavinium. The old town of Scalea has typical medieval architecture dominated by the remains of the Norman Castle. The Ajnella cliffs, full of caves and small bays, are located along the coast, while the beach stretches south for kilometres and is only interrupted by the imposing rock on which Torre Talao stands. Scalea is located at the centre of the Riviera dei Cedri, which stretches for about thirty kilometres along the Tyrrhenian Sea and then

towards the mountains of the Pollino National Park, representing, in fact, the gateway to Europe’s largest national park. The Riviera takes its name from the typical local cultivation, the citron, which is used as a fine candied fruit, as a flavouring for liqueurs or thirst-quenching drinks, for the preparation of granitas, creams and jams. The mainstay of Scalda’s cuisine is blue fish: from marinated anchovies to stuffed anchovies and ‘rosamarina’, a sauce made from fish, oil and chilli pepper. Torre Talao, Scalea.

Diamante > Potenza 196 km

13 may 2022 FRI DAY

07 01 02 DIAMANTE - POTENZA

This is a very lively stage through the mountains of Calabria and Lucania, with an overall height difference worthy of a stage in the Dolomites. Monte Sirino is the first “commitment”, once part of the Giro, now included again after 23 years. After crossing Viggiano, the route climbs the Montagna Grande di Viggiano, an unprecedented climb, to reach Potenza after the final ascent of the Sellata.

02 07 10 START

DIAMANTE > COSENZA > CALABRIA The seventh stage starts from Diamante, still in Calabria. The village juts out into the sea, overlooked by the ancient Torre del Semaforo. An 8-kilometre stretch of beach, one of the most beautiful on the Tyrrhenian coast, has granted Diamante with the Blue Flag. Off the coast between Diamante and Cirella is Cirella Island, one of only two islands in Calabria. The district of Cirella is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological evidence, with the evocative remains of the ancient Cerillae destroyed in 1807 by the British. Not far away is the Convento dei Minimi, built in 1545 and consecrated to the cult of San Francesco da Paola, just before the spectacular promontory of Punta Cirella. In Diamante’s cuisine, seafood specialities are wonderfully combined with typical country dishes. An essential element in every dish is the chilli pepper. Diamante is the seat of the Accademia Italiana del Peperoncino (Italian Chilli Pepper Academy) and every year hosts the famous Peperoncino Festival,

which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2022. Sea and spicy flavours triumph in the

‘raganella’, an eggless omelette with blue fish, breadcrumbs and chilli flakes. The city is also known for the production of citron, the oldest citrus fruit in the world, sought after by Jews for the Feast of Huts, which grows here in the variety called Liscia Diamante, used in sweets and liqueurs. In the Diamante area, Chiarello di Cirella, a raisin wine that Pope Sixtus V liked, was recently rediscovered and produced with great success. It is made from the pressing and fermentation of the Adduraca grape, from the dialect word ‘adduro’ (perfume). Verbicaro wine is also produced here, in the various types of white, red and rosé, and in 1995 obtained the DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status. Leaving Diamante, the route passes Scalea, the finish of the sixth stage, before skirting Praia a Mare and crossing the border into Basilicata. Immaculate Church Conception, Diamond.

KM 36

MARATEA > POTENZA > BASILICATA After passing the town of Castrocucco, you enter Maratea, the only town in Basilicata that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Gulf of Policastro. The municipality is made up of two nuclei, on the top and side of Mount San Biagio. The upper core is the old town, called the Castle because it is fortified with walls and bastions, while the lower core is the old town, called the Borgo. The Maratea coastline is characterised by a great variety of landscapes and natural features: the spectacular Acquafredda cliffs falling sheer into the sea, the ravines hidden among the rocks, the emerged and submerged caves and the small beaches that fit perfectly into this unique setting, surrounded by the green Mediterranean schrubland. The most important and well-known artistic element of the whole area is certainly the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount San Biagio, from which it is possible to admire a wonderful panorama of the whole Gulf of Policastro.

The Statue of the Redeemer, together with the churches and chapels scattered throughout the territory, makes Maratea ‘the city of 44 churches’. The Basilica of San Biagio, which houses the statue of the patron saint, stands out among them all, as does the route of the churches in the historic centre, each of which contains frescoes and statues of exquisite workmanship.

Christ the Redeemer, Maratea.

KM 45

PASSO COLLA > POTENZA > BASILICATA The Passo Colla marks the transition from Maratea to the neighbouring municipality of Trecchina. The climb is a second category KOM, and leads up to 594 metres above sea level. Trecchina is an ancient Lucanian town, like Maratea, divided into two nuclei, the ‘Castello’ and the ‘Piano’. The heart of the town is Piazza del Popolo, the natural stage for Trecchina’s life, which backdrop consists of several Art Nouveau buildings overlooking the central Viale Jequiè. Campanile San Michele Arcangelo, Trecchina.

KM 65

LAURIA > POTENZA > BASILICATA From Trecchina we then move on to Lauria, which is the meeting point of the three valleys of Noce, Sinni and Mercure. It was in Lauria that the first hydroelectric power station in Basilicata was built in 1900. From Lauria, the route climbs quickly to the small town of Pecorone, not far away, and

then to Cappella Sirino, another town of Lauria.

View of the Castle of Lauria.

KM 90

MONTE SIRINO > POTENZA > BASILICATA We climb to 1402 metres above sea level for the first category KOM of Monte Sirino, part of the Sirino Massif, southern offshoot of the Lucano Val d’Agri Lagonegrese Apennine National Park. Among the peaks of the massif, that of Monte Sirino, which reaches 1907 metres above sea level, is surpassed only by the peak of Monte Papa (2005 metres). On Sirino there is a well-equipped ski area where you can practice both alpine and cross-country skiing. The area is served by a chairlift and five ski lifts. Due to the fa-

The Sirino massif.

vourable geographical position, the abundance of snowfall and the altitude, the slopes are often open until late spring. On the mountain there is the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve, much venerated by the people of Lagonegresi and the inhabitants of

the Valle del Noce. The sanctuary dates back to 1629 and can be reached by following a path through rocks and beech woods. The small temple has a quadrangular shape and is completely covered with dry stones.

KM 126

VIGGIANO > POTENZA > BASILICATA After descending in the vicinity of the town of Grumento Nova, the route then climbs towards the intermediate sprint in Viggiano,

a town with a long musical tradition: here it was customary for many young people to

learn to play an instrument and seek their fortune around the world as musicians. The singer Billie Joe Armstrong of the American band Green Day received honorary citizenship of Viggiano in 2018, thanks to his direct descent from great-great-grandparents from Viggiano. Also important is the production of harps and the tradition of high-level musicians specialising in this instrument. Viggiano is also home to Europe’s largest onshore oil field, which has been exploited since 1996 with the construction of 42 oil wells and the Oil Centre, where the first refining phase takes place.

View of Viggiano.

KM 135

MONTAGNA GRANDE DI VIGGIANO > POTENZA > BASILICATA Almost 500 metres of altitude difference must be overcome to reach the Montagna Grande di Viggiano, a second category KOM on the eastern ridge of the upper Val d’Agri, at the highest point of the stage.

Great Mountain of Viggiano.

Mount Viggiano (1723 metres) is an elongated rocky massif that stands out amidst beech vegetation. On the top of the mountain is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sacro Monte di Viggiano, the patron saint of Lucania. A little lower, at about 1600 metres above sea level, is the ski resort, with three slopes of varying difficulty served by two ski lifts and a conveyor belt. The route descends again towards Calvello, a town of Norman origin dating back to the 11th century and famous for its production of artistic ceramics. Moving on into the Lucanian hinterland, we then reach Abriola, home to an ancient church dedicated to St Gerard, which contains some frescoes dating back to 1566, painted on previous medieval paintings that have not yet been fully brought to light.

KM 172

LA SELLATA > POTENZA > BASILICATA From Abriola, the route continues uphill to La Sellata, a third-category mountain pass at 1255 metres above sea level. La Sellata is a renowned mountain resort in the surroundings of Potenza, also known as a ski resort.

There are two ski lifts here, called Pierfaone, with a total length of 1500 metres, which serve slopes of a certain difficulty. At a higher altitude there is a cross-country ski run. From Sellata, it is possible to see Mount Volturino (1836 m) and Mount Madonna di Viggiano (1724 m). The route continues down towards Pignola, a small town that, despite its small size, offers a wide variety of landscapes: dense woods, with beech and chestnut groves and vast areas of spruce and fir trees; the Pantano plain, with its highly prized agri-

In the background, Monte Volturino.

cultural products; the lake, a wetland area that has been a wildlife oasis managed by WWF Italy for several decades and where a particularly valuable birdlife overwinters and nests.

KM 189

POTENZA CENTRO > POTENZA > BASILICATA The second intermediate sprint of the stage is already inside Potenza, which will also be the finish. Potenza Centro is the oldest part of the city: most of the historical buildings are located here. The district is popularly called Sopra Potenza, referring to its elevated position compared to the rest of the city: Potenza Centro in fact comprises highest city point (819 metres above sea level).

Torre Guevara, located on the edge of the historic center.

FINISH

POTENZA > POTENZA > BASILICATA The stage ends in Potenza, the capital of Basilicata and the region’s most populous municipality. At 819 metres above sea level, Potenza is the highest-altitude regional capital in Italy. Known as the ‘city of stairs’, it has the most extensive system of escalators for public transport in Europe. Numerous valuable religious buildings line the streets of the city, in particular the cathedral dedicated to the Potentine saint Gerardo della Porta, the chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, which original layout dates back to the 5 th century, and the chiesa della Santa Trinità, whose presence is attested as early as 1178, although it was later damaged and rebuilt. Two bridges over the Basento river symbolise the history and relevance of Potenza: the San Vito bridge, of Roman origin, and the Musmeci bridge, designed by architect Sergio Musmeci (1926-1981), a leading proponent of the “structural minimum”, i.e. the theory of minimum impact on the ecosystem. The main dish of Potentine cuisine is ‘o strascinato con lo ndrupp’c’, which is eaten on Sundays. It is handmade pasta, with flour and water, dragged across the ta-

ble with the fingers to create the hollows where the sauce will be deposited. As far as wines are concerned, Aglianico del Vulture, dear to Frederick II, is the wine par excellence of the Potentine table.

Church of San Michele Arcangelo, Potenza.

Potenza is a stage finish for the 14 th time. The first finish in Potenza was in 1929, on the 4 th stage, a decisive one as Alfredo Binda, besides taking the victory, conquered the GC leadership and maintained it up to Milan. The latest finish in Potenza was 21 years ago, on the 3rd stage in 2001, which was won by Danilo Hondo, who signed his last success in the Corsa Rosa.

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21 itinerari, 1729 Km,

BASILICATA

Basilicata is a kaleidoscope of alternating colours, shapes and sounds, creating countless sceneries to please the eye. Despite its modest size, it has an exceptionally rich historical, cultural and folk heritage. Its pristine natural environment and fairy-tale landscapes are both a peaceful oasis and a source of excitement. The region boasts to two national parks, namely Parco del Pollino (which has been a Unesco Geopark since 2015, with Bosnian pines as its emblem) and Parco dell’Appennino Lucano Val d’Agri Lagonegrese, and to three regional parks, namely Parco di Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane, Parco Archeologico Storico Naturale delle Chiese Rupestri

del Materano and Parco del Vulture, which also includes the volcanic lakes of Monticchio. The region is also home to several nature reserves such as Calanchi di Montalbano, Abetina di Laurenzana or Bosco Pantano di Policoro. Washed by the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the coasts of the region are respectively low-lying and sandy along the Ionian side, and higher and rugged around Maratea. A multi-faceted location, fulfilling the needs of all kinds of travellers, in recent years Basilicata has become a vast open-air “sports hall”, offering a wide range of activities to suit all tastes and cater to all ages, including adrenaline-fuelled outdoor experiences such as Volo dell’angelo, Ponte alla luna, Volo dell’aquila or Parco delle stelle. The region boasts thousands years of history, from the Stone Age (with legacy surviving in the Monte Croccia megalithic complex, in Oliveto Lucano), through the Magna Graecia (with the imposing remains of the Tavole Palatine in Metaponto), to the Roman era (with the archaeological park in Grumentum, a local, smaller-scale Pompeii). In the Norman age, the majestic castles of Melfi and Lagopesole were a favoured residence of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. The region was home and host to poets and intellectuals such as Pythagoras, Horace, Isabella di Morra, Albino Pierro, Leonardo Sinisgalli, Carlo Levi and Rocco Scotellaro. Matera, European capital of culture in 2019, deserves a special mention. Its iconic “Sassi”, a Unesco World Heritage Site, are an outstanding and world-unique example of rupestrian settlement. The regional capital, Potenza, will be a European City of Sport in 2021. It is the highest-rising regional capital in Italy, and is also referred to as “the vertical city”, owing to its complex structure. Life in the towns and villages follows the flow of time and the popular customs. Major events include the Carnival celebrations around Matera, the Good Friday rituals in the Vulture area, and the “tree marriage” rites in the Pollino and Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane parks. The beautiful scenery is surely delightful and intriguing, but it’s the warm and generous hospitality that truly wins the heart. Visiting the region is also a culinary adventure among the unique tastes and flavours of the local delicacies that have won significant recognition. From cold cuts, through cheese, to fruit, there is enough to treat your taste buds. Traditional local specialties include the iconic crescent-shaped bread from Matera, sweet peppers from Senise, beans from Sarconi, the exotic Ethiopian eggplant from Rotonda, the tang of pecorino and canestrato cheese from Filiano and Moliterno, the sweet taste of “Candonga” strawberries from Policoro, the traditional marroncino (chestnut variety) from Melfi and the lucanica (sausage) from Picerno. Basilicata is also a land of fine wines and spirits, such as Aglianico Doc and Docg, Grottino di Roccanova and Amaro Lucano. As Horace said, “nunc est bibendum”: now is the time for drinking!

Napoli > Napoli

(Procida Capitale Italiana della Cultura) 153 km

14 may 2022 SATU RDAY

08 01 02 NAPOLI - NAPOLI (Procida Capitale Italiana della Cultura)

A short and intense stage between the capital city of Campania and the Phlegrean peninsula. From Naples the race heads to Bacoli and a demanding circuit starts between Bacoli and Mount of Procida that shall be covered five times. At the end of the last lap, the race returns to Naples where a smaller group is likely to appear on the seafront in Via Caracciolo for the final sprint.

08 02 10 START

NAPLES > NAPLES > CAMPANIA The city of Naples is the protagonist of this low but scenic eighth stage. The history of the capital city of Campania began with the arrival of the Greeks who settled in the area that today hosts Castel dell’Ovo. Under their will a new city was founded, a nea-polis in Greek, hence the name Naples. The city retained its Greek character for a long time, even after the coming of the Romans, who transformed it into a cultural center. Subsequently, different dominations succeeded over the years transforming the city, testifying to the greatness of the conquerors and expanding it to the surrounding hills. The ancient centre, with its narrow alleys, displays the urban layout of a Greek city. As a matter of fact, here there are many medieval and baroque churches: among the countless religious buildings (the churches in Naples number around a thousand) the Carthusian monastery of San Martino, built on imposing Gothic foundations is worth a special mention, indeed one of the most successful examples of Baroque. The Archaeological Museum is an important point of reference for the study of ancient arts; here are also preserved the finds from Herculaneum and Pompeii. The Capodimonte Museum, on

the other hand, houses a great variety of works, from the Middle Ages to contemporary art. Don’t miss the Sansevero Chapel, a small 18 th -century jewel shrouded in esoterism, which houses the Veiled Christ, a masterpiece by sculptor Giuseppe Sammartino. Naples also boasts a varied and very tasty gastronomic tradition: specialities include meat sauce prepared with tomato sauce and various types of meat, pasta alla Genovese (dressed with a sauce made from muscle and beef stew), pasta with provola cheese and potatoes, and macaroni omelette. But the most famous dish is certainly pizza: tradition has it that it was made at the end of the 19 th century to be offered to Queen Margherita of Savoy in the classic version with tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. In Naples, street food is common tradition, starting with pizza: today, the so-called

Sansevero Chapel, Naples.

‘pizza a portafoglio’ is very popular, in a reduced format that is folded and eaten in the street, as is the ‘pizza fritta’, which is the variant cooked in boiling oil, but also the ‘cuoppi’ (cartocci filled with various types of fried food), the ‘pastecresciute’ (savoury zeppole), the ‘crocché’ (potato panzerotti filled with ham and cheese). As for pastries, it is impossible not to men-

tion pastiera, with its wheat, ricotta, sugar and egg filling, as well as babà and sfogliatelle, fried or baked. From the Neapolitan coast, the race continues westwards with little change in altitude, passing through Coroglio, near Capo Posillipo, and past Piazzale Tecchio, in the Fuorigrotta district.

KM 19

POZZUOLI > NAPLES > CAMPANIA Just outside the municipality of Naples is Pozzuoli, on the homonymous gulf, within the Campi Flegrei volcanic area. Pozzuoli is home to several archaeological sites and its centre is rich in evidence from different eras. The fulcrum of the city is a small hill surrounded by the sea on three sides, hardly accessible but full of charm, at the foot of the Rione Terra promontory: this is the acropolis of Pozzuoli, recognisable from various points in the Phlegraean Fields due to its particular geographical position close to the sea. Here it is possible to visit an underground archaeological route that allows you to discover

Pozzuoli temple of Serapis.

the remains of the ancient Roman colony of Puteoli, founded in 194 BC and soon to become a commercial port of Rome. The route is located under the tuff rock and runs along the main axes of the Roman city. Pozzuoli’s main place of worship also bears witness to the city’s long history: the basilica di San Proculo Martire was probably built in Greek or Samnite times as the city’s capitolium, and today the cathedral looks like a combination of two apparently opposite realities, a classical temple and a late Baroque church. Nearby is the famous Lago Avernus, of vol-

canic origin, linked to numerous legends, mainly derived from some Homeric tales, which in the common imagination were set in these places. After Pozzuoli, the route continues into the territory of the adjacent municipality of Quarto, an area of discrete archaeological interest like the entire Campi Flegrei area. Here you can discover various ancient remains such as the Necropolis of Via Brindisi, the Montagna spaccata (a cut made by the ancient Romans in the wall of a hill to create a carriage road) and the Mansione Romana (or Phlegraean), a rest and refreshment station from the 1 st century AD.

KM 37

LAGO PATRIA > NAPLES > CAMPANIA The first intermediate sprint of the stage, Lago Patria is a small district of the municipality of Giugliano in Campania, the first

Italian municipality in terms of population among the non-capital cities of the province with almost 123.000 inhabitants. Lago Patria overlooks the homonymous Lake, which is part of the Foce Volturno - Costa di Licola natural reserve, established in 1993. The Lake, the southernmost of the Pontine Lakes, is the largest coastal Lake in Campania and is home to a rich fauna of marsh birds; the fish fauna is also very diverse. Near the town of Lago Patria are the remains of the ancient Roman city of Liternum. Leaving the vicinity of the Lake, the route continues to Lido di Licola, a district of the municipality of Pozzuoli, a seaside resort with low coastline and fine sand, on the Litorale Domitio. The area has undergone considerable tourist development and its accommodation facilities offer around 2500 beds. There are numerous tourist attractions such as restaurants, swimming pools, water parks, discos: an offer that makes Licola a privileged destination from the provinces of Naples and Caserta, both during the period and in spring. Just before reaching the start of the circuit, which will see participants racing for five repetitions, we pass by Cuma, one of the most important places in the Phlegraean Fields: it was in fact the first settlement in the area, chosen for its favourable and well-defended territorial position. Since the Greek colonisation, Mount of Cuma became the fulcrum of the new settlement, which on one side faced the sea and to the north dominated Lake Licola. In the archaeological park of Cuma you can visit the ancient acropolis with its temples and enjoy a beautiful view from the

Patria Lake.

terraces of Mount Cuma. The name of the city has always been linked to the legend of the Sibyl, the mythical prophetess of whom Virgil also wrote in the Aeneid, and to whom some places are traditionally attributed. The city included the hill with the acropolis, located on a tuffaceous promontory, and the so-called lower city, situated between the acropolis itself and Monte Grillo. At the end of the first century A.D. the Via Domitiana was built, which also reached Puteoli and entered Cuma from the north. Once past Cuma, the route crosses the little village of Arco Felice in the municipality of Pozzuoli to reach the entrance to the circuit.

KM 51

LAGO LUCRINO (CIRCUIT ENTRY) > NAPLES > CAMPANIA The arrival at Lake Lucrino is the start of the circuit, which will take the riders for just over 70 kilometres around the promontory overlooking the island of Procida.

Lucrino is now a town of the municipality of

Pozzuoli near the homonymous lake, a natural basin formed in ancient times and historically used for fish farming, especially oysters. From here, the route continues south along the Gulf of Pozzuoli for the five laps of the circuit.

KM 115

BACOLI > NAPLES > CAMPANIA On the last lap of the circuit is the intermediate sprint line at Bacoli, a town of Roman origin that retains many traces of its past. Among the testimonies of the Roman era are the Stufe di Nerone baths, towards Pozzuoli; the Cento Camerelle, an ancient water system with two cisterns, one on the upper floor and

Bacoli, Aragonese Castle.

the other on the lower floor, built in different eras; the Piscina mirabilis, built in the Augustan age, the largest known cistern ever built by the Romans; the archaeological complex of Baia, where only the past hilly part of the city remains, being the other portion below sea level due to bradyseismic phenomena. However, the history of Bacoli does not stop at the Roman era: among the places of interest from later periods we should mention the Aragonese Castle (now seat of the Museo archeologico dei Campi Flegrei), built in 1495 by the Aragonese on a promontory (51 metres above sea level) in an area of considerable strategic importance, and the Casina Vanvitelliana, a charming hunting lodge built in 1782 by Luigi Vanvitelli on a small island of Lake Fusaro and used as a residence for illustrious guests, considered one of the most refined 18th -century productions.

KM 118

MOUNT OF PROCIDA > NAPLES > CAMPANIA The Giro then climbs up to the 128 metres of the Mount of Procida promontory for a 4th category KOM. A culinary curiosity about the town: some entrepreneurs in the catering sector who

had emigrated to the United States returned to the Mount of Procida, importing the concept of fast food but adapting it to the tastes and cuisine of the Phlegraean. This is how the sand-

wich known as the cheese-steak, synonymous with Philadelphia street-food, became “la cistecca” in the Mount of Procida: a sandwich stuffed with roast meat and scamorza cheese, with the addition of lettuce or vegetables. Opposite to Mount of Procida, across the homonymous canal, lies the island of Procida, Italian Capital of Culture 2022. Procida is the smallest of the islands in the Gulf of Naples and also the one least affected by mass tourism. The island has a coastline of around 19 kilometres, almost all of which can be bathed, and is located within the Kingdom of Neptune marine protected area. Procida is the setting for the novel L’isola di Arturo (1957) by Elsa Morante, to whom the island has also dedicated a literary prize since 1986.

Veduta panoramica di Procida.

FINISH

NAPLES > NAPLES > CAMPANIA Once the circuit is over, the route continues through Torregaveta, a town of the district of Bacoli, and then on to Lake Lucrino and Pozzuoli in the direction of Naples, where the stage finish line is located in Via Caracciolo, part of the seafront that stretches from Mergellina to Santa Lucia, known to Neapolitans simply as ‘a’ caracciolo’, a traditional Sunday stroll before a big family lunch.

Naples Torregaveta.

Naples hosts a stage fiish for the 43rd time in history. The Giro is back to Naples after nine years, when the course also ran in a circuit with both start and finish in the Neapolitan city like this year. In 2013, it was the inaugural stage. The Manx Mark Cavendish won it and wore his last Pink jersey on that occasion.

NOTE

CAMPANIA

Campania is a region in southern Italy with more than 6 million inhabitants (more than half of whom are concentrated in the province of Naples). The region overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, and borders the regions of Lazio, Molise, Puglia and Basilicata. The territory of Campania has, by area, 50% hills, 35% mountains and 15% plains, divided into four clear

sub-regions. On the plains, the fertile Terra di Lavoro. The Sannio, made up of mountains and hills along the Apennines, with the Matese mountains. Then, there is Irpinia, in the central and eastern part of the region, landlocked and mostly mountainous. Finally, Cilento, a large, mountainous headland, marking Campania’s southern border, separating the Bays of Salerno and Policastro. Campania’s main river is the Volturno, the longest in southern Italy. Its second river is the Sele. The Campania coast faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. The best-known stretches of coast are those of the Sorrento peninsula, with the Lattari Mountains running along the entire headland, which belongs partly to the province of Naples, with the Sorrento Coast, and partly to Salerno, with the Amalfi Coast. The Cilento coast lies entirely within the province of Salerno. Major natural landmarks include Mount Vesuvius and the volcanic area of the Phlegraean Fields, also known as Campi Flegrei. Outstanding sights also include the Solfatara, a shallow volcanic crater at Pozzuoli, which emits sulphurous fumes; Lake Avernus, a volcanic crater lake thought of in ancient times as one of the entrances to the underworld; and the wide variety of thermal springs, which include the springs at Ischia, Agnano, Pozzuoli and Castellamare di Stabia. For their natural beauty, the islands of Ischia, Capri and Procida are world famous. Two more, smaller, but equally beautiful islands are Vivara and Nisida. The region boasts a long and complex history that has left a rich cultural legacy, illustrated, for example by the ancient architecture still visible at Cuma, Naples (first known as Parthenope, then as Neapolis) and Paestum, where Cilento begins, an ancient city of Magna Graecia, with its impressive Temple of Athena, a site of great value, as are those in the valley of temples at Agrigento in Sicily. Major migrations from Greece – whence the name Magna Graecia – shaped the history of Campania, as archaeological and architectural traces show. The Roman amphitheatre at Capua, second only to the Coliseum in size, in unmissable. So too is the early Christian art of the Catacombs and Basilicas in Naples. Other highlights include the Flavian Amphitheatre in Pozzuoli, the archaeological site at Cuma and the Piscina Mirabilis, a freshwater cistern dug out of the cliff face at Bacoli, to provide the fleet at the harbour in Misenum with drinking water. Near Vesuvius lie Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption in 79 AD. Also outstanding are the excavations at Oplonti. From the Roman period, the Arch of Trajan at Benevento, built to honour the Emperor Trajan, is virtually intact even today. The culture reflects the influence of the Lombards, the Angevins, and the House of Aragon, in the Bourbon period, when Naples and its Kingdom were one of the cultural, artistic and economic centres of Europe, leading the continent in many sectors. On 3 October 1839 the Napoli-Portici railway, the first one in Italy, but already equipped with a double track line, was inaugurated. In 1861, Campania joined the Kingdom of Italy. The industrial revolution that followed was at the expense of Naples, Campania and the entire south of Italy, which suffered problems that prevented their full development.

As regards the architectural heritage, the cathedrals of Casartavecchia, Amalfi, Benevento and Salerno are all outstanding, as are the Rocca dei Rettori and the church and monastery complex of Santa Sofia, both at Benevento. The Certosa di Padula (Padula Charterhouse), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the world’s largest cloister, surrounded by 84 columns. The Reggia di Caserta (Royal Palace of Caserta), built for Charles III of Spain by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is, by definition, the last great work of Italian Baroque and, with 1,790 windows, and 1,200 rooms covering more than 2 million square metres, the largest royal residence in the world. The Bourbons wanted to emulate the Palace of Versailles in Campania. It is surrounded by an immense park divided into two sectors characterised by an Italian garden with many fountains, waterfalls and water features, and an English garden with dense woodland. Close to Caserta, in the village of San Leucio, Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies opened his silk factory, the “Regia Manifattura delle Sete”, included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list. The Miglio d’Oro (named after an ancient unit of measurement used in Naples) is a short stretch of road running along the coast of the southern neighbourhood of Naples. Its remarkable historical and artistic legacy includes wonderful rococo and neoclassic villas with large, verdant gardens. The view over the Gulf of Naples and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida is breath-taking. Giuseppe “Joe” Petrosino was born in Padula in 1860. He immigrated to New York at a very young age, and became a legendary detective fighting against organized crime. He was shot to death in Palermo in 1909, where he was investigating international criminal connections. His life inspired a number of films and novels.

NOTE

MOLISE

Molise is the most recently created Italian region, since it used to be part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise, alongside the region of Abruzzo, until 1963. It is a region with ordinary statute located in Southern Italy; Campobasso is the regional capital. It borders Abruzzo to the north, Lazio to the west, Campania to the south-west and Puglia to the south-east. It is washed by the Adriatic Sea to the east. It is the second smallest Italian region after the Aosta Valley. Its territory is almost equally divided between mountains and hills. The Passo di Rionero, also known as Bocca di Forlì (891 m), between the towns of Rionero Sannitico (Isernia, Molise) and Castel di Sangro (L’Aquila, Abruzzo), is regarded, conventionally, as the geographical boundary between Central and Southern Italy. Molise stretches some 35 km along the Adriatic Sea. The shore is mostly sandy, with long, wide beaches, with the sole exception of the promontory of Termoli. Here, in a sheltered position,

stands the port - with ferry lines that run to Croatia and to the Isole Tremiti. Further seaside towns are Campomarino and Petacciato. Historically, the region was part of the ancient Samnite – thus, Roman – territory. Heritage of that time includes the Roman theatre in Sepino. Further historical events have marked the territory and its people throughout the centuries. The region is split into two provinces, Campobasso (the regional capital) and Isernia, and it has a total population of about 315,000. The economy of the region thrives on major industrial activities in Termoli, Campobasso, Bojano and Venafro, along with seaside and summer tourism (main destinations have been mentioned above), as well as winter tourism, with popular resorts such as Campitello Matese and Capracotta. The region boasts a number of valuable monuments, as well as plenty of architectural, cultural and traditional landmarks. Major attractions include the two provincial capitals, along with Termoli, Venafro, Larino, Agnone (home to Marinelli, a bell manufacturing plant with over a thousand years’ worth of history), Montenero di Bisaccia and many more. Celestine V, the 192nd Pontiff of the Catholic Church, was Pope for as little as four months, and then resigned. He was born in Molise, approximately between 1209 and 1215; his name was Pietro Angelerio or Angeleri, which he changed to Pietro da Morrone (the name under which he was known), and was venerated by the Church as Pietro Celestino. Isernia and Sant’Angelo Limosano both claim to have been his birthplace. He died as hermit in Fiumone in 1926. The region boasts a number of nature reserves and has a prominent agricultural production, above all olive oil, along with cheese and dairy, traditional cold cuts, wine and pasta. Fishing is another major activity. Typical delicacies include “brodetto”, a popular fish stew of many locations on the Adriatic coast. Notable citizens of the region include popular singer Fred Bongusto (Campobasso, 1935) and Aldo Biscardi (Larino, 1930), journalist and TV host. Speaking of literature, mention must be made of Francesco Jovine (1902Rome 1950) who narrated the events and customs of his homeland in his novel titled “Le terre del Sacramento”. Native to Termoli (1923Rome 1997) was Benito Jacovitti, one of the greatest Italian comic artists. He created a number of characters, including “Cocco Bill” who has been a favourite for generations of youngsters.

Isernia > Blockhaus 191 km

15 may 2022 SU N DAY

09 01 02 ISERNIA - BLOCKHAUS

High mountain stage of the Apennines. An uphill route from the very first kilometres. After Guardiagrele there is the only fairly quiet stretch; then begins the double climb to Blockhaus. From Pretoro we reach Passo Lanciano to then descend to Lettomanoppello and climb to the finish from Roccamorice as in 2017, with the final series of hairpin bends featuring double-digit gradients.

09 02 10 START

ISERNIA > ISERNIA > MOLISE The ninth mountain stage starts from Isernia, capital of the homonymous province. Isernia boasts ancient origins dating back to prehistoric times. The town hosts one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe, ‘La Pineta’. The excavation has allowed the recovery of fundamental evidence relating to groups of Homo heidelbergensis who lived 600.000 years ago. Then, in the first half of the 3rd century BC. Rome decided to found a city by the name of Aesernia to begin a slow process of Romanisation of the Sannio Pentro, at that time inhabited by the Samnite people. Notable monuments include St. Peter’s Cathedral, built on the site of an Italic pagan temple of the 3rd century BC, the hermitage

of Saints Cosma and Damiano, also built on the site of an ancient pagan temple on a hill not far from the town, and the Fontana Fraterna, one of the most beautiful monumental fountains in Italy, in the construction of which decorative elements from different eras were reused. Isernia’s cuisine is linked to the area’s rural tradition, especially the preparation of homemade pasta. A typical second course of the town is “turcinelli”, lamb entrails wrapped in guts and roasted. Then there are ‘ru macche’ (polenta with beans), ‘frattaruoli’ (chunks of polenta with sausage) and ‘ru sciarone’ (pasta mezzelune stuffed with eggs and cheese). From Isernia the race heads immediately uphill for the first KOM of this stage.

Isernia Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.

Isernia is a start city for the fourth time in history, after 1977, 1984 and 1989. On the latter year, in the Isernia-Rome stage, Urs Freuler won and Silvano Contini wore the Pink jersey for the last time. Isernia Fontana Fraterna.

KM 4

VALICO DEL MACERONE > ISERNIA > MOLISE The route then climbs up to the 684 metre-high Valico del Macerone, a third category KOM, an important crossing point since ancient times. During the Piedmontese campaign in central Italy in 1860, the homonymous battle was fought here. The pass is extremely popular with cyclists and motorbike enthusiasts due to its steep-

ness and winding nature. Legend has it that here, during a stage of the 1921 Giro d’Italia, Costante Girardengo, facing the slopes of the pass, dismounted from his bicycle and drew a cross on the side of the road, saying, exhausted: “Girardengo stops here!”. A short downhill section continues towards Ponte Vandra and then the climb begins again towards the second KOM of the stage.

KM 18

RIONERO SANNITICO > ISERNIA > MOLISE An intense climb leads to Rionero Sannitico, a second category KOM at 1032 metres. The small town was founded as a feudal centre in the late Middle Ages and bears the signs of its history in the castle (now in ruins) and the adjacent church of San Bartolomeo, built in 1717. Church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo, Rionero Sannitico.

KM 29

CASTEL DI SANGRO > L’AQUILA > ABRUZZO The route descends slightly to enter Abruzzo, in the province of L’Aquila, passing Ponte Zittola and arriving at 797 metres above sea level at Castel di Sangro. The municipal capital rises at the confluence of the Sangro and Zittola rivers and was an important road centre as the ‘Gateway to Abruzzo’. On Colle San Giovanni, which overlooks the town, stand the Cyclopean-Samnite walls, incorporated by the Roman fortifications and the ruins of the Di Sangro Castle.

View of Castel di Sangro.

KM 38

ROCCARASO > L’AQUILA > ABRUZZO Roccaraso is the highest point of the stage, if we exclude the finish line: the second category KOM is 1254 metres above sea level.

Roccaraso is one of the major mountain tourist resorts in the entire Apennines: it is part of the Consorzio SkiPass Alto Sangro, the largest ski area in the Apennines with four cable cars and more than 30 chairlifts, ski lifts and trade mills for almost 110 kilometres of downhill runs and 60 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. From Roccaraso we descend into the province of Chieti and pass first through Palena, seat of the union of mountain municipalities Majella orientale-Verde Aventino, and then through Lama dei Peligni, known as the village of chamois, in the Majella National Park area.

Winter view of Roccaraso.

KM 95

GUARDIAGRELE > CHIETI > ABRUZZO Passing through Fara San Martino, home since 1886 to the De Cecco company, world famous for its pasta production, a few lighter kilometres heading North accompany the racers. The route then reaches Guardiagrele, inland from Chieti, on a long promontory lying on the eastern slopes of Majella and bordered on three sides by steep ridges, part of the Majelletta mountain community.

Guardiagrele historic center entrance.

103 KM

FILETTO > CHIETI > ABRUZZO From Guardiagrele, a handful of kilometres separate us from the intermediate sprint in the small adjacent town of Filetto. Immersed

in nature, the town centre is surrounded by a viewpoint on to the Majella massif and a glimpse of the sea. At the entrance to the town is the sanctuary of the Madonna della Libera, which foundation dates back to the 14th century. A gentle descent leads to Ari, which in the early 20th century was the site of the so-called “English boarding house” of the Nolli barons, a sort of literary coterie where artists of the calibre of D’Annunzio and Pirandello were hosted.

Majella massif.

KM 147

PASSO LANCIANO > CHIETI > ABRUZZO The village of Longobard origin Fara Filiorum Petri welcomes the route as it climbs and heads southwards. Fara Filiorum Petri is known for its characteristic Festa delle farchie, held every 16th January in honour of St Anthony Abbot. The farchie are huge bundles of reeds, about one metre in diameter and 10 metres

high, made by the various districts and set alight at dusk. We pass through La Forca and then the village of Pretoro to reach the first category KOM of Passo Lanciano, with its 1310 metres, between the provinces of Chieti and Pescara, on the northern side of the Majella massif.

KM 177

ROCCA MORICE > PESCARA > ABRUZZO We then enter the province of Pescara and descend to 349 metres above sea level at Lettomanoppello, a village known for stone-working. At Scafa begins the last, intense climb through San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, a municipality that holds the curious record for Hermitage of Santo Spirito, Roccamorice.

the longest name among Italian municipalities, located in a particularly scenic spot overviewing the entire Pescara river valley. At this point the race arrives with an intermediate sprint at Roccamorice, with its historic centre characterised by medieval and 18th-century houses built in stone, surrounded by hermitages, caves and the remains of Neolithic huts and medieval towers, before continuing the climb up in the final hairpin bends towards the finish line, with a peak gradient of 14%.

Hermitage of San Bartolomeo in Legio, Roccamorice.

FINISH

BLOCKHAUS > CHIETI > ABRUZZO The climb ends with the longed-for arrival at the Blockhaus peak, in the territory of the municipality of Pretoro, which centre still retains its medieval urban layout. Al-

though many of the dwellings have been transformed in a later period, several of them still have at their lower levels, where they are anchored to the rock, basements entirely dug into the stone of the slope, with floors that are not completely levelled because they were obtained by shaping the rocky bank directly. The summit was given the name “blockhaus” (“house of stones” in German) in the 19 th century, during fights against banditry: it was so named by a military commander of Austrian origin who was stationed at a stone fort built on the summit around 1863 and remained in operation until 1867.

Top Blockhaus.

ABRUZZO

The region of Abruzzo, sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountain chain, has as its regional capital L’Aquila, which shares the regional institutions of government with Pescara. It is divided into four provinces: L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara and Teramo. It borders the region of Le Marche (Eng. The Marches) to the north, the Adriatic Sea to the east, Lazio to the west and Molise to the south. The landscapes of Abruzzo are mostly mountains and hills, with a narrow band of plain along the coast. The highest peaks of the Apennines are in Abruzzo, with the tip of Corno

Grande (2912 m) in the Gran Sasso massif, the Maiella (2793 m) on Mount Amaro, the Laga peaks on the border with Lazio and Le Marche and those of the Abruzzo National Park. The region has 130 km of coastline, with sandy beaches from Le Marche to the south of Pescara, and then high cliffs with beaches below, and finally coves surrounded by Mediterranean flora as far as the border with Molise. A number of towns in the region offer a wide range of choice for mountain tourism and skiing. The regional economy, originally based on fishing, agriculture and pasture, has diversified, although it maintains its reputation for high quality, natural products. Saffron is typical of the L’Aquila area. Two typical pasta dishes are ‘pasta alla chitarra’ and ‘sagne’, as well as dairy products, olive oil and cured meats, with mutton and lamb in particular. ‘Arrosticini’ are another Abruzzo speciality. The region produces fine wines and liquors. Typical sweets from the region include sugared almonds from the town of Sulmona and cakes such as ‘parrozzo’ and ‘bocconotto’. In the past, the region saw massive emigration to Europe or overseas, but migrants mostly remained tied to their land of origin. The catastrophic 2009 earthquake hit L’Aquila and its architectural jewels, causing untold damage to the cultural heritage of the regional capital and of outlying areas. But the people of Abruzzo, with characteristic tenacity, are rebuilding the region. Illustrious natives of Abruzzo include the writer Ignazio Silone (Pescina 1900-Ginevra 1978) - the pen name of Silvano Tranquilli – an intellectual and author who described the hard life conditions in the Marsica in his novel ‘Fontamara’, Benedetto Croce (Pescasseroli 1866-Napoli 1952) philosopher, historian, politician and man of letters, the engineer Corradino D’Ascanio, who designed the ‘Vespa’ scooter and helicopters (Popoli 1891-Pisa 1981), and the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti (Tocco di Casauria 1851-Francavilla al Mare 1929). In cycling, among many fine riders, Abruzzo means Franco Franchi, the “chamois (or mountain goat) of Abruzzo” Vito Taccone, Vincenzo Meco, Palmiro Masciarelli, Stefano Giuliani, the tracky Gianluca Capitano, and Danilo Di Luca, winner of the 2007 Giro d’Italia and other classics.

NOTE

Pescara > Jesi 196 km

17 may 2022 TU ESDAY

10 01 02 PESCARA - JESI

Mixed stage with the first part flat and coastal and the second undulating along the Walls of the Jesi area. After Civitanova Marche there are no obvious stretches of rest. We climb Civitanova Alta, Sant’Ignazio di Montelupone, Recanati, Filottrano, Santa Maria Nova and Monsano. These are all tough climbs that will bring a select group to Jesi for the final sprint.

02 10 START

PESCARA > PESCARA > ABRUZZO A coastal start for this tenth stage starting in Pescara, the provincial capital and most populous municipality in the Abruzzo region. Pescara has a largely modern appearance, partly due to the heavy bombing suffered during the Second World War. There are many twentieth-century buildings, such as the Cathedral of San Cetteo, the Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, the Palazzo del Governo and the Palazzo di Città. Some places of worship remain from Pescara’s past, including the basilica of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori, the sanctuary of the Madonna del Fuoco and the church of San Silvestro Papa. Notable personalities of Pescara origin include the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio (the city is home to the Museo Casa natale

Gabriele D’Annunzio, a national monument since 1927) and the writer and filmmaker Ennio Flaiano, screenwriter, among others, of the films I Vitelloni, La dolce vita and 8 1/2, born from his collaboration with the director Federico Fellini. Pescara’s cuisine is based on the traditions of Abruzzo (mutton, arrosticini, maccheroni alla chitarra) and the seafood of the Adriatic (monkfish alla cacciatora, fish stew, fried fish). A typical first course from the Pescarese area is anellini alla pecorara, a pasta served with tomato sauce and various vegetables with the addition of sheep’s milk ricotta. As far as wines are concerned, the Colline Pescaresi IGT denomination, created in 1995, represents one of the most important wine-growing areas in the Abruzzo region.

View of Pescara.

Pescara hosts a stage start for the 18 th time. The last start here was in 1999, on the 8 th stage, Pescara-Gran Sasso d’Italia: Marco Pantani hit the line ahead of José Jimenez and Alex Zulle.

KM 6

SILVI MARINA > TERAMO > ABRUZZO Leaving the city looking North, we immediately move into the province of Teramo to reach Silvi Marina the main village in the

scattered municipality of Silvi, a popular seaside resort.

KM 21

ROSETO DEGLI ABRUZZI > TERAMO > ABRUZZO From here there is a passage to Roseto degli Abruzzi, which territory hosts part of the Borsacchio Nature Reserve, one of the

last stretches of the Abruzzo coastline to preserve its environmental and landscape integrity.

KM 29

GIULIANOVA > TERAMO > ABRUZZO It is the thirtieth kilometre of the stage and we enter Giulianova, founded in the late fifteenth century by the Duke of Atri Giulio Antonio I Acquaviva d’Aragona (hence the name), who converted the town into an ideal Renaissance city. Today Giulianova is a prestigious tourist destination, thanks to its Blue Flag beach, tourist port and cycle path that crosses the entire seafront, part of the Adriatic Cycle Route. Places of interest include the octagonal San Flaviano cathedral, dating from the end of the 15 th century. Palazzo Ducale, the summer residence of the Acquaviva family, overlooks

Panorama of Giulianova.

the main square of the historic centre. Only a few towers remain of the 15 th -century fortification of the town. Every year in spring Giulianova hosts the International Band Festival, the most prestigious of its kind in Italy.

KM 38

TORTORETO > TERAMO > ABRUZZO Leaving Giulianova, the route continues along the plain towards Tortoreto Lido, one of Abruzzo’s most popular lidos with over three kilometres of wide fine sandy beach-

es, a town of the municipality of Tortoreto, from which Alba Adriatica, the next stop on the race, was detached only in 1956.

KM 41

ALBA ADRIATICA > TERAMO > ABRUZZO Alba Adriatica is known as the ‘Silver Beach’ due to the particularity of its sandy

coastline with its stunning silvery hues.

KM 48

MARTINSICURO > TERAMO > ABRUZZO The most northerly municipality in Abruzzo, and therefore called the ‘First Beach of Abruzzo’, Martinsicuro is located at the mouth of the River Tronto. On its territory there is an imposing coastal tower erected in the sixteenth century, the Martinsicuro tower (or tower of Charles V), which today houses the Antiquarium di Castrum Truentinum archaeological museum, which collects the archaeological findings discovered in the Colle Marzio area during several years of excavations.

KM 56

Carlo V Tower, Martinsicuro.

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO > ASCOLI PICENO > MARCHE From here we enter Marche territory to reach, on the other side of the Tronto river, the Riviera delle Palme and San Benedetto del Tronto, another prestigious tourist destina-

tion that thanks to this stage we can cross. Here, in fact, you will find a first-class tourist reception, combined with the Blue-Flag sea and a characteristic promenade.

The fishing port is one of the most important in Italy in terms of both the fleet and the quantity of fish caught, and it also has a large tourist dock. The city’s emblem is the Guatieri Tower, more popularly known as the Torrione, built between the 12th and 13th centuries.

Along the South Pier promenade there is a distinctive sculpture dedicated to Jonathan Livingston the seagull, the protagonist of Richard Bach’s successful homonymous novel. The typical dish of San Benedetto del Tronto is brodetto alla sambenedettese, a fish soup with peppers and vinegar.

KM 65

CUPRA MARITTIMA > ASCOLI PICENO > MARCHE We remain in the province of Ascoli Piceno and on the Riviera delle Palme for a visit to the small town of Cupra Marittima, which beaches have been awarded with the Blue Flag several times (the last in 2021). From here we cross into the province of Fermo in the municipalities of Pedaso, at the mouth of the River Aso, home to the famous Festival of Mussels and Spaghetti alla marinara; then Porto San Gior-

gio, home to Rocca Tiepolo, a 13 th -century fortification that now hosts cultural events, and Villa Bonaparte, built by order of Napoleon’s brother, Girolamo Bonaparte, who lived here from 1829 to 1832; and finally Porto Sant’Elpidio, the second most populous municipality in the province and the youngest (autonomous since 1952), with the only stony stretch of beach on a mostly sandy coastline.

KM 99

CIVITANOVA MARCHE > MACERATA > MARCHE Leaving the province of Fermo, the route reaches the first intermediate sprint at Civitanova Marche in the province of Macerata. The city is divided into Civitanova Alta, on a hill overlooking the Valle del Chienti, and Civitanova Bassa, with its port and coastline on the Adriatic sea. The route then climbs slightly to arrive at Civitanova Alta. Here is the Palazzo Ducale, built in the 16th century on the ruins of a previous building dating back to the 13 th century; inside frescoes by the 16 th -century painter Pellegrino Tibaldi embellish the building. From here the route turns inland and begins to climb towards the first KOM of this stage.

Coast of Civitanova Marche.

KM 110

CROCETTE DI MONTECOSARO > MACERATA > MARCHE Crocette di Montecosaro is a fourth category mountain pass at 226 metres above sea level and is located in the municipality of Montecosaro, which historic centre, situated on a hill, retains the typical appearance of a

medieval castle. Downstream, in the district of Montecosaro Scalo, is the remarkable basilica of Santissima Annunziata, one of the masterpieces of Romanesque architecture in the Marche region.

KM 116

MONTELUPONE > MACERATA > MARCHE We then move on to the slightly lower Montelupone, a hilltop village that retains its castle walls with four entrance gates and ancient

stone flooring. In the historic centre stands the 14th-century Palazzetto del Podestà, with its civic tower.

KM 126

RECANATI > MACERATA > MARCHE After a brief passage through the town of Romitelli, there is another fourth category KOM (284 metres above sea level) in the town of Recanati, famous for being the birthplace of the

Recanati, Leopardi square.

poet Giacomo Leopardi. Leopardi’s places dot the town, such as the small square of the “Sabato del villaggio” (Saturday in the village), overlooked by the “Casa di Silvia” (Silvia’s house) and the Palazzo Leopardi, with its vast library (over 20.000 volumes), or the summit of Mount Tabor, the “Colle dell’infinito” (Hill of Infinity), with the World Centre for Poetry and Culture and the National Centre for Leopardi Studies. The typical wines of the area, Rosso Piceno DOC and Colli Maceratesi DOC, accompany the mainly meat-based cuisine. A typical dish is the traditional peasant piccicasanti, which look similar to polenta but are prepared with wheat flour. The altitude does not change as we reach Montefano, built on the ruins of Veragra, a Picenum town and Roman military station, and then the town of Osteria Nuova, the last stretch in the province of Macerata.

KM 153

FILOTTRANO > ANCONA > MARCHE We enter the province of Ancona for the second intermediate sprint line at Filottrano, a hillside village still surrounded by the walls of its 14th century castle. Then follows a slight al-

timetric “saddle”, passing through the district of Ponte Musone, to climb up towards the nearby village of Santa Maria Nuova.

KM 187

MONSANO > ANCONA > MARCHE A quick passage at Mazzangrugno, a town in the district of Jesi, and then through the Sant’Ubaldo industrial zone, leads to the 205 metres above sea level of Monsano, a 4 th category KOM. Located in the valley of the Esino river, on a low hillock, Monsano

became a castle in the 14 th century, and the ancient village still retains the perimeter of the 15 th-century walls. Not far away is the sanctuary of Santa Maria fuori Monsano, a lovely place of worship built in the 15 th century and decorated in Baroque style.

ARRIVO

JESI > ANCONA > MARCHE Finally, we reach Jesi, the stage destination, along the middle course of the Esino river. Jesi preserves the traces of a millenary history in the Roman plan of the historic centre, in the medieval walls, in the splendid buildings scattered along its streets. The Urban Museum Network MJ (Musei Jesi) collects and bears witness to the history of the city through a route to discover the city’s treasures, such as the collection of works by the Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto and the splendid Galleria degli Stucchi in the Musei Civici of Palazzo Pianetti or the Museo Federico II, located in the square where the Swabian emperor was born. On the Jesi table there is vincisgrassi, a stuffed pasta cooked in the oven, similar to lasagne and porchetta, as well as roast goose, a typical dish of the harvest, and rabbit in potacchio, prepared with sage,

garlic and rosemary. Everything served with a good glass of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, a white wine that has brought the name of the area around the world.

The Walls of Jesi.

MARCHE

Marche (Eng. the Marches) is a region in central Italy that borders Emilia-Romagna and the Republic of San Marino to the north, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to the west and Abruzzo to the south. It is washed by the Adriatic Sea to the east. Its northern border is marked by the River Foglia, and its southern border by the Tronto. The regional capital is Ancona. The other provinces are Pesaro-Urbino, Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno. The territory is mostly hilly (69%), rising to mountains (for the remaining 31%) with the Apennine chain. The very limited flatlands, statistically irrelevant, cover the narrow strip of land beside the sea. The highest mountain is Mount Vettore (2478 m) in the Sibillini mountain range, followed by Mount Nerone (1526 m) and Mount Catria (1702 m), the

latter two also featured on the Giro d’Italia route. Near Ancona is the iconic Conero promontory. The major natural beauty spots of the region include the Frasassi Caves and the Furlo Pass. The gentle hills and the brick colour of the beautiful old towns, whose buildings and charm have been carefully preserved, give the region its unmistakable character. The region was created in the 14 th century, with borders not far different from the current ones, and it was named ‘Marca’. Ancona, with its port and its relations with the East, experienced times of great prosperity. Urbino, too, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a great international artistic, cultural and architectural centre in the Renaissance. It was the birthplace of the painter Raphael and the architect Donato Bramante. The region joined the Papal State until 1860, when it was annexed by Italy after the Battle of Castelfidardo, near Ancona, after which it became known as Marche. The economy of the region is based on a flourishing network of small and medium enterprises achieving excellence and international renown in several sectors. These include agriculture, winemaking and fishing, along with tourism along the seaside, in art towns and for winter sports. The regional cuisine is delicious, with local specialities everywhere, including a wide range of DOC wines. The most distinctive towns, alongside Urbino, include Ancona; Ascoli Piceno with its old town built mostly of travertine; the university town of Camerino; Fabriano, renowned for its high-quality paper production; Fermo; Jesi, birthplace of the composer Giovan Battista Pergolesi and a capital of fencing; Macerata; Recanati, the birthplace of the great poet Giacomo Leopardi (1798- 1837) and the famous tenor Beniamino Gigli (1890- 1957); Loreto and its majestic Basilica; Castelfidardo, the international capital of accordion builders; San Benedetto del Tronto, with its promenade, the traditional finish-line of the Tirreno-Adriatico.

NOTE

Santarcangelo di Romagna > Reggio Emilia (Parmigiano Reggiano Food Stage)

2 03 km

18 may 2022 WED N ESDAY

11 01 02 Santarcangelo di Romagna - Reggio Emilia (Parmiggiano Reggiano Food Stage)

A flat stage which, with the third one, is the longest of the Giro. From the start to Bologna the route follows the Via Emilia through the plains. After Bologna the stage touches some of the towns in the crater of the 2012 earthquake: San Giovanni in Persiceto, Crevalcore, Camposanto, Carpi and Correggio. The route then reaches Reggio Emilia where the stage is bound to end with a bunch sprint.

02 10 11 START

SANTARCANGELO DI ROMAGNA > RIMINI > EMILIA-ROMAGNA This long, Emilia-Romagna stage begins in the beautiful town of Santarcangelo di Romagna. The town grew up around a mediaeval castle, the Rocca Malatestiana, and boasts several other important monuments, such as the Ganganelli Arch, erected in honour of Pope Clement XIV, who was born here, and the 18th-century collegiate church of the Beata Vergine del Rosario. Colle Giove, around which the town is built, is criss-crossed by a dense network of tufa caves, some of which are now open to visitors. Colle Giove is said to have given its name to Sangiovese, a typical local wine. Another typical local product is the ‘water’ onion, excellent if eaten raw with radicchio, olive oil, coarse salt and Sangiovese wine vinegar inside a hot piadina with grill cooked sausage. Santarcangelo was the birthplace of Tonino Guerra, poet and screenwriter for great directors (Fellini, Monicelli, Petri, Antonioni), and comedian and television presenter Daniele Luttazzi. A few kilometres and soon the race enters the

Santarcangelo di Romagna, Ganganelli arch.

province of Forlì-Cesena in Savignano sul Rubicone, halfway between the coast and the hills of the Romagna hinterland. The symbol of the town is the Roman bridge over the Rubicone river, famous for the historic passage of Julius Caesar on his way to Rome, when he pronounced the famous phrase “Alea iacta est!” (“The die is cast!”).

Santarcangelo di Romagna is a start city for the second time after the Santarcangelo di Romagna - San Marino uphill time trial in 1997, when the winner was Pavel Tonkov ahead of Evgueni Berzin and Roberto Petito. It was the 1500th stage in the history of the Giro. Panorama of Santarcangelo di Romagna.

101

KM 16

CESENA > FORLÌ-CESENA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA A straight line takes racers to Cesena, a city rich in history, which became a seignory at the end of the 14 th century with the Malatesta family, capital of the brief duchy of Cesare Borgia and birthplace of two popes. Cesena is home to Italy’s first civic library, founded in 1452: the Biblioteca Malatestiana. The Malatesta family left an indelible mark on the city, leaving not only the library but also the Rocca Malatestiana, which dominates the town. Not far away, the thousand-year-old abbey

Masini Fountain, Cesena.

of Santa Maria del Monte stands on the Spaziano hill, offering visitors a splendid panorama. A dish not to be missed in Cesena is passatelli, a sort of large vermicelli made from a mixture of Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, lemon zest and nutmeg and cooked in meat stock. Leaving Cesena behind, the route continues to Forlimpopoli, at the foot of the last hills of the Apennines, known today above all for being the birthplace of the famous scholar and gastronome Pellegrino Artusi, and finally reaches the end of the province and its capital, Forlì. The city retains important traces of its Roman and Renaissance past, starting with the two main Roman roads that converge on Piazza Saffi. The Romanesque basilica of San Mercuriale, with its imposing 75-metre bell tower, the 14 th -century Palazzo Comunale, the Renaissance Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Albertini and the Palazzo delle Poste, an example of Fascist architecture, all face this square. In the heart of the historic centre is the San Domenico Museum Complex, which houses the ancient section of the Civic Art Gallery.

KM 52

FAENZA > RAVENNA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA The race soon enters the province of Ra-

venna to reach Faenza, famous for the production of artistic ceramics, so much so that it is home to the International Museum of Ceramics.

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For centuries the city has been embel-

lished with monuments, as evidenced by its splendid squares: the imposing Piazza del Popolo is bordered by two porticoed wings overlooked by the Palazzo del Po-

destà and the Palazzo Municipale, while Piazza della Libertà houses the Duomo and the monumental fountain. The historic socialist leader Pietro Nenni and the singer Laura Pausini (winner of a Grammy and a Golden Globe) were born in Faenza. A quick passage through Castel Bo-

Monumental fountain, Faenza.

lognese, birthplace of the sculptor Angelo Biancini and home to an open-air museum dedicated to him, takes us into the province of Bologna.

KM 76

TOSCANELLA DI DOZZA > BOLOGNA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA Between the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines comes Ozzano nell’Emilia, between the Via and the Po Valley lies Imola, on the Santerno Emilia and the hills of the Parco Regionale dei River. Imola is world-famous for its well-known Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa racetrack, dedicated to Enzo and Dino Ferrari, (Regional Park of Bolognese Gypsums and opened in 1953 and home to Formula 1 races. Calanchi dell’Abbadessa), where the Gaibola A symbol of the town is the monumental Gypsum Cycle Route runs, and San Lazzaro clock on the town hall tower. The historic di Savena: here every year, at the beginning centre is built around the Rocca Sforzesca, of August, the famous San Lazzaro Fair is held, an excellent example of defensive architecsung in a traditional Bolognese song made ture at the turn of the Middle Ages and the famous by Francesco Guccini. Renaissance. Typical first courses include strozzapreti, garganelli and tortelloni stuffed with ricotta and herbs. Leaving Imola, the route continues to the intermediate sprint of Toscanella di Dozza, a town of the municipality of Dozza. Dozza is a medieval village peculiar for hosting an open-air museum with over a hundred works of art created by important names in contemporary art. Continuing in a straight line, we pass through Castel San Pietro Terme, renowned for its spa center, over which towers the massive Cassero, a medieval bulwark. Next Panorama of Dozza.

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KM 103

BOLOGNA > BOLOGNA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA This is how we get to Bologna, known as la Grassa (the Fat) but also la Dotta (the Learned), the capital of the Emilia-Romag-

na region and very recently included (2021) in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its characteristic porticos. Bologna has an ancient history: it is the seat of the oldest university in the western world, it was a free municipality in the Middle Ages, the northern capital of the Papal States from the 16 th century and played a major role in the Risorgimento and the Resistance.

Bologna’s symbols include the central Piazza Maggiore, Palazzo Accursio, the seat of the city council, Giambologna’s Neptune Fountain and the Two Towers. Bologna’s gastronomic offerings are endless: mortadella, ragù alla Bolognese, tortellini, lasagne, tagliatelle, boiled meat, Carthusian dessert... as well as DOC wines from Colli Bolognesi, including the typical Pignoletto. Bologna also has a long tradition of artists and musicians, including the great Lucio Dalla.

Piazza Maggiore, Bologna.

KM 126

S. GIOVANNI IN PERSICETO > BOLOGNA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA The route veers slightly northwards to reach the intermediate sprint in San Giovanni in Persiceto, characterized by a medieval town centre with an original concentric structure. The central Piazza del Popolo is overlooked by the collegiate church of San Giovanni

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Battista, which houses works by Guercino, Albani, Gandolfi and Guardassoni, the intact 18 th-century Municipal Theatre and the 15 th-century Palazzo Comunale. A typical sweet of the area are the socalled africanetti, bright yellow sugar and egg biscuits.

KM 136

CREVALCORE > BOLOGNA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA The next stop is Crevalcore, with its characteristic grid-like urban layout. The 17 th -century scientist Marcello Malpighi, considered the father of microscopic observation, was born here and is honoured

in the central square with a bronze sculpture dated 1897. After passing Crevalcore, about two-thirds of the way through the stage, we reach the province of Modena.

KM 171

CARPI > MODENA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA One after the other we pass the towns of Camposanto, a typical Lower Modena locality on the left bank of the Panaro, Cavezzo, hard hit by the 2012 earthquake, and the town of San Martino di Carpi, on the river Secchia, to reach Carpi, the second most populous city in the province of Modena. Carpi was founded as a village in the Middle Ages and preserves from this period the Piazzale Re Astolfo, still the heart of the medieval city, and the church of Santa Maria in Castello, known as La Sagra, a Romanesque parish church consecrated in the 12th century and built on an earlier Longobard foundation dating back to the 8th century. In the district of Fossoli, site of a prison camp during the Second World War, there is the Museo Monumento al Deportato Politico e Razziale.

Carpi was the birthplace of director and screenwriter Liliana Cavani, Stefano “Cisco” Bellotti, singer-songwriter and for many years voice of the Modena City Ramblers, and swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri, gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 1500 metre freestyle.

Church of Santa Maria in Castello, Carpi.

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KM 183

CORREGGIO > MODENA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA After Carpi we leave the province of Modena for Reggio Emilia, passing through Correggio, the most important town in the prov-

ince after the provincial capital, historically a fiefdom of the Da Correggio family, which

court was a destination for poets and men of letters such as Ludovico Ariosto, Pietro Bembo and Pietro Aretino. The writer Pier Vittorio Tondelli and the singer-songwriter Luciano Ligabue were born in Correggio.

FINISH

REGGIO EMILIA > REGGIO EMILIA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA After passing the La Villa stage, the riders tackle the final kilometres to Reggio Emilia, the stage finish and capital of the province. Reggio Emilia is the ‘City of the Tricolour’: here, in fact, the tricolour, which later became the national flag, was adopted in 1797. Piazza Prampolini, better known as Piazza Grande, is home to several buildings of great value, such as the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Town Hall. Via del Broletto, an arcaded street, leads from Piazza Grande to Piazza San Prospero, where the market takes place, overlooked by the basilica of San Prospero, a precious Renaissance building. Reggio, together with Parma and Modena, is the place of origin of the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It is also where the PDO Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia is produced, made from the cooked must, aged for at least 12 years, of grapes grown in the area. Reggio Emilia was the birthplace of Nilde Jotti, the first female president of the Chamber of Deputies, the singer Zucchero Fornaciari, the writer Ermanno Cavazzoni and the musician Massimo Zamboni, guitarist for the groups CCCP and CSI. Shapes of Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Piazza Prampolini, Reggio Emilia.

EMILIA ROMAGNA

Emilia Romagna: a thousand different holiday opportunities in one. From the rarefied and charming atmosphere of the 10 art cities, a treasure chest of history and culture, with Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia designated as Italian Culture Capitals for 2020+21, to the unspoilt nature of the Apennines – a dreamlike location for ski enthusiasts in the wintertime, and a perfect spot for trekking and outdoor activities in the summertime – you will be spoilt for choice. Not to mention the timeless charm of the Motor Valley and its historical brands (Ducati, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Pagani), the Adriatic Riviera of Emilia Romagna (with beaches stretching for 110 kilometres), Europe’s largest amusement park district, the Wellness Valley, along with top-rated dance clubs and restaurants where you can experience the taste of traditional seafood cuisine. Spa lovers may choose between 24 centres in 19 different locations, either charming seaside towns or cosy traditional villages nestled in the Apennines, offering wellness treatments, fitness programs, cleansing treatments and much more. Cuisine is king in this region, boasting no less than 44 traditional products registered as Protected designations of origin (PDO) or Protected geographical indications (PGI), such as Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano, Lambrusco and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena e Reggio Emilia. Culinary highlights also include several Michelin starred restaurants (one 3-star, two 2-star and 18 one-star restaurants from Piacenza to Cattolica), Parma as UNESCO’s City of Gastronomy, and the new FICO agri-food park in Bologna. Moreover, Emilia Romagna hosts countless international events every year, such as the Festival Verdi in Parma, celebrating the famous opera composer, and the Ravenna Festival, held in the mosaic-capital. Motorsports enthusiasts will have their pick as well, with the “Octo Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera of Rimini”, held on the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” in Misano Adriatico near Rimini, and the “Gran Premio dell’Emilia-Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini” (introduced in September 2020). From two to four wheels, on 1 November (after 14 years), Formula 1 will be back at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola for the Formula 1 Emirates Gran Premio dell’Emilia-Romagna. Major events also include Arte Fiera in Bologna, one of the leading contemporary art fairs, the IRONMAN in Cervia, one of the world’s most popular triathlon events, and the Notte Rosa, the grandest summer festival in Italy. Visit Romagna, a new holiday destination. Tourism has taken a more experience-driven route, and people are increasingly interested in exploring different areas of local life – from food to nature, from sports and wellness to art and culture. As a result, the strategies to promote tourism are evolving as well, and Emilia Romagna is changing gear to adapt its governance tools to the requirements of these novel travellers. The new tourism act (4/2016) changes focus from “products” (coastline, Spa centres, art cities and Apennines) to “destinations”. Individual territories are engaged in coordinating their tourist services, with a diverse holiday offer comprising the major regional assets in an all-inclusive travel experience, from the Motor Valley to art and culture, through food, wellness, nature, sports and much more. Three tourist destinations (“Destinazioni Turistiche”) have been identified to date: Visit Romagna (comprising the provincial territories of Rimini, Ravenna, Forli-Ce-

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sena and Ferrara), the Metropolitan City of Bologna (which also includes Modena) and lastly, Emilia (including Reggio Emilia, Parma and Piacenza). Different ways to vacation in a single, yet diverse, tourist offer. With the Via Emilia and its 2,200 years of history serving as a link – a symbolic “satellite navigator” to explore a thousand different facets of the territory, from the most popular ones to the most innovative experiences of slow tourism. The four provinces and the 97 municipalities (including 12 coastal ones) of Destinazione Romagna account for approximately 30 million staying tourists and 6.5 million visiting tourists every year. Its accommodation capacity, including hotels and other facilities, yearly and seasonally, includes 6,031 facilities, approximately 60% of the overall regional figures (10,088 facilities, totalling 464,953 bed-places), including 4,318 (accounting for 331,184 bed-places overall) in seaside towns and 1,713 (33,660 bed-places) in the inland areas and in the Apennines, increasing by 582 facilities both along the coast and inland over the past year alone. Increasing the region’s potential of tourist attraction are 12 Spa centres, 2 ski areas, 1,500 km of cycle tracks, one international racetrack, 9 golf clubs, 181 museums and collections, 4 exhibition halls (with I.E.G. SPA, formerly Rimini Fiera, ranking second nationwide by revenue, and first by number of events), one authority of the port system of the Northern-Central Adriatic Sea, 4 regional ports and 4 municipal ports, one international airport, 2,250 restaurants, pizza parlours and trattorias, 3,700 retail and catering businesses, including bars, cafeterias, pubs and brewpubs, wine bars, 145 hangouts (including discos, dance clubs and dance bars), 135 cinemas and theatres. A unique natural tourist district, merging art and culture (from the UNESCO-listed mosaics in Ravenna, to the art city of Ferrara, from the Biblioteca Malatestiana in Cesena to Faenza and its ceramic art, not to mention Rimini, with Federico Fellini and its Roman and Renaissance heritage), nature and activity holidays (along the 110 km of the Riviera Romagnola, with 1,400 fully equipped beach resorts, the Apennines offering countless opportunities for trekking and hiking, and the picturesque landscape of the Po delta), and a uniquely wide variety of wines and foods (from piadina romagnola, through premium seafood, to PDO and PGI produce), 26 theme and water parks (the highest concentration in Europe, employing over 2,500 staff members at full capacity, with over 3.6 million visitors), and an innovative Wellness Valley, with a diverse offering for action-packed holidays, while enjoying nature, good food and genuine hospitality. All of this is complemented by a rich events calendar all year long, from music festivals to art exhibitions, from food festivals to international sporting events such as MotoGP races at the Misano Adriatico circuit, or the IRONMAN event in Cervia, as well as the Notte Rosa, the grandest summer festival in Italy.

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Parma > Genova 2 04 km

19 may 2022 TH U RSDAY

12 01 02 PARMA - GENOVA

A medium-mountain stage suitable for some breakaways. The first half of the course is constantly climbing. A fast-running descent leads to Carasco, then the route takes in a slight ascent up to Ferriere where the Colletta di Boasi climb starts. The descent leads to Bargagli and Cavassolo. The course climbs a short but steep section up to Trensasco Pass and then runs on a motorway stretch. A slight ascent leads to the finish line in via XX settembre.

02 10 2 START

PARMA > PARMA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA The flag is dropped in Parma, the second most densely populated city in Emilia-Romagna and the capital city of the province. Named as “Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy”, Parma and its surroundings offer quite a range of gastronomic products, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Ham, Culatello di Zibello, Salame Felino, Coppa di Parma. The Colli di Parma DOP designation is given to several wines – Colli di Parma DOP Malvasia, Colli di Parma DOP Sauvignon, Colli di Parma DOP Barbera, and Colli di Parma DOP Bonarda. Notable landmarks include Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral and Benedetto Antelami’s Baptistery, Palazzo della Pilotta with the National Gallery and Teatro Farnese, Palazzo Ducale nestled in the Parco Ducale.

Parma also boasts a great musical tradition. Giuseppe Verdi was born in Busseto, not far from town, and Arturo Toscanini was born in the city’s heart; Niccolò Paganini lived and worked in Parma and rests in the Villetta Cemetery. From Parma the course heads south-west and climbs up the Apennines, past Collecchio, along the Romea road, with the 11 th-century Church of San Prospero and the 17th-century Villa Paveri Fontana. Then, it passes through Fornovo Val di Taro, the point of junction between the Po valley and Lunigiana, with one of the most important Romanesque churches in the Parma area, the Pieve of Santa Maria Assunta, and through Solignano, a small, modern town dominated by the remains of a medieval fortress.

Parma hosts a stage start for the 13th time. The last start here was in 1988, with finish in Colle don Bosco. That stage was neutralised because of a protest. Further back in time, in 1983, Savona was the stage finish city: Gregor Braun claimed his only win at the Giro.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Parma.

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KM 57

BORGO VAL DI TARO > PARMA > EMILIA-ROMAGNA Past a few tunnels, the riders will compete for the first intermediate sprint set in Borgo Val di Taro. The town is considered the capital city of the upper Taro valley in the Apennines close to Parma. It lies in a strategic position straddling three regions (Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, and Tuscany). In its surroundings people collect the mushroom di Borgotaro IGP, a special ingredient in the local gastronomy. Still along the climb the course passes through Bertorella – a hamlet of Albareto lying on the Val Taro and Val Ceno sector of the the horse trail – Compiano, a walled village where the 11th-century castle houses the peculiar International Massonic Museum, and Bedonia, a small town with the church of Sant’Antonino Martire, built in Baroque and Neo-classic style on a place of worship in the 4th-5th enturies B.C.

The course continues toward the Ligurian border passing through two hamlets of Tornolo, Pontestrambo and Santa Maria del Taro, the Emilian inhabited village closest to the Ligurian Sea.

Sant’Antonino Church, Borgo Val di Taro.

KM 97

PASSO DEL BOCCO > GENOVA > LIGURIA The first half of the course is crowned by the 3 rd-category climb leading to the 957-metre Bocco Pass. The pass lies almost on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Liguria, though it still belongs to the municipality of Mezzanego, in Genoa’s territory. Not far from the Bocco Pass, the Monument for the Balilla celebrates Giovan Battista Perasso, the boy who, on 5 December 1746, sparked the insurrection against the Austrian troops that fled Genoa consequently. The F. Delpino Botanic Garden, managed

Borzone Abbey, Borzonasca.

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by the Aveto’s Regional Natural Park, is also worth a visit. Close by, on the mountain slope in the municipality of Borzonasca, lies the medieval Abbey of Borzone: a national monument from 1910. Then, the course runs downhill through San Siro Foce and Borgonovo Ligure, two hamlets of Mezzanego, and Carasco, in the

lower Fontanabuona Valley, where ardesia stone is extracted and worked with craftsmanship. The village is the lowest place along the race route before it climbs again and, past Calvari - a hamlet of the largest municipality of the valley, San Colombano Certenoli – runs through Cicagna, a village crossed by the Lavagna River.

KM 134

FERRADA > GENOA > LIGURIA The course, parallel to the coastline, leads to the intermediate sprint in Ferrada, a hamlet of Moconesi with the Museum of Columbus and the sculpture of Coloumbus’ Caravel by the recently deceased Adriano Leverone, in Terrarossa Colombo. This village is named after the great navigator, Cristopher Columbus, as it was home to his family. The course climbs again through Gattorna, another hamlet of Moconesi, and Ferriere, in the municipality of Lumarzo where the church of San Martino del Vento stands in a small clearing surrounded by the woods, and the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Bosco, built where the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared to a farmer, Felice Olcese, in 1555. Natalina Garavento (aka Dolly), the mother of the crooner

Frank Sinatra, was born in In Rossi, another hamlet of Lumarzo.

Colombo Museum in Terrarossa di Moconesi.

KM 151

LA COLLETTA > GENOA > LIGURIA The riders will fight on the second categorised climb (3 rd category, 615 metre above sea level) up to La Colletta, still in Lumarzo’s territory, and will descend to Bargagli, in the upper Bisagno Valley, with the church of Santa Maria Assunta, one of the oldest churches in Liguria where

Genoa’s ancient aqueduct was built. One can still walk on it in part across Cavassolo, a hamlet of Davagna. Past a tunnel, the course reaches San Gottardo, a populous district in Genoa, and climbs up again.

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KM 173

TRENSASCO PASS > GENOA > LIGURIA Once the 392-metre Trensasco Pass – the final 3 rd category summit, in the territory of Sant’Olcese – is cleared, the peloton passes through Piccarello. The Diamante Fort – built between Polcevera valley and Bisagno valley from 1756 to 1758 as a defence of

Genoa – is the symbol of Sant’Olcese. Past a tunnel, the course runs through San Biagio, belonging to the district of San Quirico in Genoa, and Rivarolo, another district of the Ligurian capital, and finally turns to the city centre heading to the finish.

FINISH

GENOA > GENOA > LIGURIA The riders hit the finish in Genoa, at the end of the gentle slope of via XX settembre, in piazza De Ferrari. Genoa, a very old city (the first settlements date to the pre-Roman era, around the 4 th5 th centuries B.C.), is rich in art, craftsmanship, and culture. The magnificent Palazzi dei Rolli, included the Unesco Heritage List, welcome you for a stroll in the narrow alleys of the old town, the so-called caruggi. 43 historical shops line the central streets and house artisanal activities that entail a wisdom of old times. Genoa is, however, a seaside city mostly, with its Lanterna – the city’s iconic symbol – and the old marine villages in which time seems

View of the port of Genoa.

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to have stopped. The Old Port district, re-designed by Renzo Piano, houses the Acquario di Genova, the most important aquariums in Europe, and the Bigo, a fascinating panoramic elevator. In Genoa a culinary excellence is undoubtedly pesto, the traditional basil sauce. Here, other food delicatessens are focaccia, farinata, frisceu and panissa, along with seafood dishes. Genoa also boasts a long musical history. Among other artists, Michele Novaro – the composer of the Canto degli italiani –, Natalino Otto – the initiator of swing music in Italy – and the singer-songwriters Fabrizio de André and Ivano Fossati were born in Genoa.

NOTE

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LIGURIA

Liguria is a region of northern Italy, a narrow strip of land that lies on the Tyrrhenian Sea (or Ligurian Sea, call it as you may). Its territory is mainly hilly and mountainous, with the Apennines to the east and the Alps to the west. It is bordered by France to the west, by Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna to the

north and by Tuscany to the south-east. The capital, Genoa, is the center of the region, as well as its center of gravity. The Levante coast sits to the east and the Ponente coast to the west. Most of the population, both residents and holiday crowds, concentrate on both coasts, attracted by the mild year-round climate and by the charming venues. The region is home to some of the most renowned worldwide locations such as the Riviera dei Fiori and Sanremo (a major name in cycling as well) to the west, and Portofino, the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere to the east. The region is divided into four provinces: Genoa, Imperia, Savona and La Spezia. Harbor activities are a major contributor to the economy of the region, with the historic port of Genoa (with its lighthouse, called “Lanterna”, which has become the symbol of the city), the ever-growing port of Savona and the port of La Spezia, which is also a major military base. A number of factories in the steel, petrochemical, chemical and metalworking industries developed around the region’s ports. Major poles and centers for cutting-edge technology are located especially in the Genoa area. Agriculture is focused on specific, selected produce and activities, such as olive growing, floriculture and horticulture (especially in the Albenga plain). Fishing is quite developed, too. Tourism is another major pillar of the regional economy. Handicraft is diversified and well developed in several areas of the region. The iconic pesto sauce, prepared with basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano and/or Pecorino cheese and extra-virgin olive oil, is the symbol of Ligurian cuisine. Other specialties include trofie, pansotti and cima. Other landmarks of local cuisine include different kinds of focaccia, such as “focaccia di Recco”, as well as a number of seafood and fish-based courses. The major wines of the region include Pigato, Vermentino and Rossese. The sports heritage of the region includes football (Genoa football team was the glorious and victorious “forefather” of all Italian clubs), water polo (with the legendary Pro Recco club) and swimming, with several big names. Cycling has a longstanding, glorious tradition: just think of the Giro dell’Appennino (organized by U.S. Pontedecimo), of the Trofeo Laigueglia (an early season bike race) and of the “monument race”, Milano-Sanremo. Liguria has been home and cradle to a number of big names in cycling over time, and it has always been a premium destination for riders of all categories thanks to its mild climate and its many and varied routes. The SS 1 Aurelia road is extremely busy; nevertheless, it still offers wonderful landscapes and views.

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NOTE

119

Sanremo > Cuneo 150 km

20 may 2022 FRI DAY

Ba TAP rt PA al i

13 01 02 SANREMO - CUNEO

A relatively short stage with medium difficulty. It runs in the opposite direction to what was the summer edition of Sanremo 2020. From Sanremo the race takes in through Imperia to climb the Colle di Nava and once in Ceva it turns towards Cuneo. Some of the Giro’s symbolic locations are touched such as the Sanctuary of Vicoforte and Mondovì. Fast arrival along the Cuneo plain to reach the final sprint.

02 10 3 START

SANREMO > IMPERIA > LIGURIA The first part of the stage is coastal and starts in Sanremo, the ‘city of flowers’. The original nucleus winds around the old town, known as “La Pigna” for its compact shape. The Forte di Santa Tecla, one of the few remaining examples of 18th-century Ligurian military architecture, dates back to the mid-18th century. Among the city’s most famous and iconic sites are the Casino, opened in 1905, and the Ariston Theatre, home of the Italian Song Festival since 1977. Sanremo cuisine is the mirror of its territory embraced between land and sea. It is impossible to resist the Sanremo prawn, with its bright red colour, considered among the best in the world. Among the dishes that best represent the local flavours, special mention goes to the sardenaira (leavened dough seasoned with tomatoes, olives, anchovies and a few cloves of garlic) and focaccia. The conformation and size of the province do not allow for large-scale wine production, but local labels stand out for their prestige

and quality, such as the Rossese di Dolceacqua, apparently Napoleon’s favourite wine. From Sanremo the race continues along the coast to Arma di Taggia, a town of the municipality of Taggia, with the remains of the castle, dating back to the mid-sixteenth century, dominating the homonymous medieval village and the agricultural plain of the Argentina torrent. Taggia gives its name to the Taggiasca olive, typical of western Liguria. The route then crosses several coastal municipalities: Riva Ligure, where the sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio is located in a small green oasis close to the town centre, with its 11 th-century bell tower; Santo Stefano al Mare, with its curious 16th-century Ennagonal Tower, the only one in Italy with nine sides, now housing the town hall; and finally, San Lorenzo al Mare, the smallest municipality in the province of Imperia and in the entire region. All these municipalities have been awarded with the Blue Flag in 2021.

Sanremo, the city of flowers.

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KM 20

IMPERIA > IMPERIA > LIGURIA The race takes in through Imperia before turning north and entering the Ligurian hinterland. Imperia, capital city of the homonymous province owes its name to the Impero torrent that separates the two once rival towns of Oneglia and Porto Maurizio. Porto Maurizio, perched on the Parasio promontory, was already an important economic and commercial centre in the Middle Ages. Oneglia, on the plain at the mouth of the Impero torrent, was founded after the year 1000. The two centres were historical enemies both economically and politically: Porto Maurizio was loyal to Genoa while Oneglia was linked to the Savoy family. The rivalry was only overcome in 1923 with the construction of the town hall located halfway between the two centres. One of Imperia’s symbolic monuments is the Prarola Tower, an ancient defensive building close to the coast. Dating back to the 16 th century, it was part of a defensive complex that served to defend Porto Maurizio from Saracen attacks. It was built in two years, from 1562 to 1564. In this coastal area the water is particularly clear and the natural environment is suitable for relaxing boat trips and snorkelling. The new Imperia bicycle and pedestrian path runs alongside the tower. Imperia’s cuisine offers variations on typical Ligurian dishes, such as pizza all’Andrea (focaccia with tomato sauce, olives and salted anchovies) and stroscia di Pietrabruna (dry sweet focaccia made of flour, sugar, olive oil and vermouth or marsala). The avant-garde composer and pioneer of electronic music, Luciano Berio, was born in Imperia.

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After Imperia, the climb begins, passing through Pontedassio, the birthplace of the Agnesi family, pasta producers since the early 19 th century, and Chiusavecchia, where the 13 th-century sanctuary of Nostra Signora dell’Oliveto is located.

Tower of Prarola, Imperia.

KM 43

PIEVE DI TECO > IMPERIA > LIGURIA The route goes through a series of tunnels, always uphill, until the first intermediate sprint in Pieve di Teco, in the middle valley of

the Arroscia stream, at the confluence with the Rio dei Fanghi and on the first slopes of Mount Frascinello. Its historic centre, with its characteristic 15 th-century arcades, hosts

artistic and architectural treasures, including one of the smallest theatres in Europe, the Salvini Theatre, restored in 2004.

The Arroscia valley produces the prized Vessalico garlic, which is used to make aiè, a cream made from egg yolk, fresh garlic cloves, olive oil and salt.

View of Pieve di Teco.

KM 54

COLLE DI NAVA > IMPERIA > LIGURIA Soon after, the route climbs to Pornassio, a small town at the crossroads between the Alpine and Mediterranean environments, and then reaches the Colle di Nava, a third category KOM at 936 metres above sea level, a pass that connects the Arroscia and Tanaro valleys. On Colle di Nava there is the Sacrario degli Alpini dedicated to the Cuneense Alpine Division, which houses the remains of General Emilio Battisti, with the idea to give tribute to countless Alpine soldiers who never returned from Russia during the Second World War. A system of fortifications, erected in the 19 th century, guarded the pass: these are the Forts of Nava, which are still well preserved. From the pass we descend into the province of Cuneo towards Ponte Nava, a town of Ormea district, which takes its name from

Forti di Nava, entrance to Fort Pozzanghi.

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the bridge over the Tanaro river, the ancient border between the Republic of Genoa and the Duchy of Savoy, then between the Republic of Genoa and the Kingdom of Sardinia. Next is the main town, Ormea, located at the confluence of the Armella stream and the Tanaro river. The town has a curious heartshaped perimeter, and the historic centre is characterised by an intricate labyrinth of alleyways (called ‘trevi’ in the local dialect). The parish church of San Martino has medieval origins (11 th century), although the Romanesque structure has undergone several modifications over time. The descent continues to Garessio, with the

historic centre divided into three towns (Ponte, Poggiolo and Maggiore). Beyond Colle di Casotto is the Royal Castle of Casotto, used in the mid-19th century by the Savoy family and built on the site of a 12th -century Carthusian monastery, one of the first in Italy, founded by Saint Brunone. The north wing of the castle is fully furnished and open to visitors.

Next comes Ceva, with the Torre di Porta Tanaro (or Guelph Tower), built between mid-14th and early 15th centuries, and the remains of the Fort of Ceva, destroyed by the French after the Battle of Marengo in 1800, Lesegno follows with the ruins of its three ancient castles.

KM 112

SAN MICHELE DI MONDOVÌ > CUNEO > PIEDMONT Slightly less than 40 kilometres from the pastry cakes filled with apricot jam. finish line there is an intermediate sprint Giovanni Giolitti, five-time Prime Minister of at San Michele di Mondovì, a small town the Kingdom of Italy, was born in Mondovì. belonging to the Monte Regale mountain The passage to the town of Sant’Anna union. Only the ruins of an ancient casAvagnina precedes that to Pianfei Stazitle are visible these days while numerous one in the municipality of Pianfei. Then votive chapels are scattered around the the race reaches Beinette, on the Cuneo municipal area: the oldest date back to plateau, with its now abandoned castle, the 14 th century. which shows traces of its medieval origins From here, after a tunnel, the road doesn’t on the outside, and the church of Santa show much difference in altitude towards Maria della Pieve. the end of the stage. The race takes in by the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, one of the most important monumental churches in Piedmont, which enormous dome, the largest elliptical in the world, was built in 1731. Then the gaze opens on Mondovì, a town with a long history on several levels, as evidenced by the Gothic Piazza Maggiore, the 13 th -century Torre Civica del Belvedere, the 15 th-century convent of Nostra Donna and the 18 th-century synagogue. Typical of Mondovi are the risole, puff San Michele di Mondovì.

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FINISH

CUNEO > CUNEO > PIEDMONT With a final effort through the town of Tetto Garetto racers reach the finish line in Cuneo, on Corso Nizza. The town of Cuneo was founded in medieval times (1198), when some local inhabitants took refuge on Pizzo di Cuneo and founded there an independent municipality. Piazza Galimberti is the heart of Cuneo and unites the two souls of the city, the ancient Contrada Maestra (today’s Via Roma, recently redeveloped to bring the beautiful medieval buildings back to their original splendour) and the 19th-century continuation of Corso Nizza. Cuneo is completely surrounded by the Parco Fluviale Gesso e Stura (Gesso and Stura River Park), a protected area of over 5.500 hectares that embraces the entire plateau and extends to 14 other municipalities. In addition to the River Park, Cuneo has numerous avenues and gardens, the most famous of which are the Viale degli Angeli, built in 1720 to link the city with the sanctuary of the Madonna degli Angeli, and the Parco della Re-

sistenza, home to the Monument to the Italian Resistance. Cuneo’s menus are mainly filled with vegetables, first and foremost the Cervere leek, followed by a number of first courses closely linked to local production (potatoes and wheat flour), game meat (from wild boar to chamois), porcini mushrooms, cheeses, chestnuts and, finally, the queen of meats, the Piedmontese beef breed. Famous desserts are rum Cuneese, a chocolate made of two meringue wafers enclosing a dark chocolate and rum custard. Cuneo is also a land of great wines, ranking first in terms of the number of DOC (Registered designation of origin) and DOCG (Registered and guaranteed designation of origin) wines and the area under vines with designations of origin. This is where the world’s most famous Italian wine, Barolo, comes from. The actor Duilio Del Prete and the mathematician and populariser Piergiorgio Odifreddi were born in Cuneo.

Galimberti Square, Cuneo.

Cuneo is a stage finish city for the 12 th time. The last time was for a team time trial in 2010: the Savigliano-Cuneo (stage No. 4), when Liquigas won. Then, Vincenzo Nibali wore his first Pink jersey.

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PIEDMONT

Piedmont is a region in northwest Italy with Turin as its capital. It shares borders with France, the Aosta Valley, Switzerland, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna (for a little under 8 km) and Liguria. Its territory can be divided into three concentric bands, the largest of which is the outer,

mountainous circle of the Alps and the Apennines (43%). Inside it is a hilly band (30%), and inside that, the flatlands (27%). The Alps surround the region to the west and north, and the Apennines form a natural frontier with Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. Piedmont comes from the Latin pedemontium, meaning ‘at the foot of the mountains’, and is so named because it is surrounded by the mountains on three sides. The mountains in Piedmont are impressive and rugged: from over 3,000 metres, the land descends rapidly to the plain. In the western part of the region, there are no foothills. The region’s highest peaks, all over 4,000 m, are in the west: the Monte Rosa massif and the Gran Paradiso. The main hilly areas are the Canavese (to the northwest), the Langhe and the Roero (to the south), the Monferrato (in the centre) and the Tortonesi hills (to the southeast), all of which are renowned wine producing areas. The Po Valley, which begins between these hills and the Alps, is covered in rice fields, especially in the provinces of Vercelli and Novara, owing to the abundant available water. Large numbers of rivers and streams flow through the region, and into the Po River that has its source on the Pian del Re at the foot of the Monviso, and crosses the region from west to east. Other rivers include the Tanaro, the Dora Riparia, the Dora Baltea, the Ticino and the Toce. There are also many Alpine lakes, with glacial and moraine origins: Lake Maggiore (at the border with Lombardy), Lake Orta and Lake Viverone. 193,000 hectares of the region, nearly 8% of its total surface, are protected areas. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Piedmont was occupied by Celtic and Ligurian peoples (the Taurini and Salassi) in the 1 st millennium BC, then conquered by the Romans, who founded colonies like Augusta Taurinorum (the present-day Turin) and Eporedia (Ivrea). After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the region was raided and conquered by the Burgundians (Flavius Odoacer), the Goths, the Byzantines, the Lombards, Franks , Magyars and Saracens. Divided into counties and marches, the region was partly unified (into the marches of Torino and Ivrea) in the 11 th century by Manfred I, who left it to Otto, Count of Savoy. The reunification of Piedmont under the House of Savoy took many centuries. Only after the 1559 Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis, did Emmanuel Philibert and his successors begin the reunification process, which was completed in 1748 with the Treaty of Aachen. After the Napoleonic occupation, Piedmont shared the fortunes of the Kingdom of Sardinia and played a central role in the Italian Risorgimento and in the construction of the new, unified state, which adopted Piedmont’s juridical and political structure (Statuto Albertino, or Albertine Statute, 1948). Piedmont was the crucial political and social “laboratory”, with workers’ strikes during the World Wars, the experiences of Antonio Gramsci and Piero Gobetti, mass participation in the Resistance, and Adriano Olivetti’s industrial innovations (typewriters and personal computers).

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The process of industrialisation was extraordinary: from the agricultural structures of the Savoy reign, starting in the 1850s, the region modernised rapidly to the point of becoming, at the beginning of the 20 th century, one corner of the industrial triangle where Italy’s economic take-off took place. The economic fabric, in which FIAT played the preponderant role, attracted huge migration in the 1950s and 1960s, causing social and cultural transformations. Another mainstay of Piedmont’s economy is the confectionery industry (from chocolate to the invention of Nutella by Ferrero). Local signature produce also includes the renowned white truffles of Alba. The Slow Food movement, founded by Carlo “Carlin” Petrini, is based in Bra. Piedmont has an extraordinarily varied historical, cultural and artistic heritage, with legends and traditions that are still alive. Its endless architectural legacy covers the Roman, Romanesque, Baroque, Art Nouveau and modern periods. Moreover, the region boasts a network of over 150 museums of international renown, such as the National Museum of Cinema, the Egyptian Museum in Turin, the GAM-Galleria d’Arte Moderna (Gallery of Modern Art), the Filatoio Rosso in Caraglio, and the Museo dei Campionissimi. Equally noteworthy are the itineraries covering the fifteen Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, or the thirteen historical towns (Borghi Storici) of Piedmont. There are also places of great spiritual significance, such as the Via Francigena, or the seven Sacred Mountains of Piedmont, which are inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

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Piemonte storia, cultura e sport

Le montagne del Piemonte sono uno scrigno di tesori artistici tutti da scoprire. Non solo chilometri di piste da sci, strutture turistiche all’avanguardia, possibilità di divertimento e di relax, ma anche un territorio che riesce a unire meraviglie naturali a capolavori dell’architettura e dell’arte.

C’è una grande Storia che inizia in Piemonte, contiuiamo a scriverla insieme.

©MSGM

Santena > Torino 147 km

21 may 2022 SATU RDAY

14 01 02 SANTENA - TORINO

A short and very intense stage, with an altitude difference worthy of an Alpine stage. The same circuit is repeated two and a half times climbing up to Colle della Maddalena and Superga, passing through Corso Moncalieri in Turin, along the banks of the Po River, where also the finish line stands. A tribute to Fausto Coppi Monument represents the intermediate sprint.

02 10 4 START

SANTENA > TORINO > PIEDMONT The fourteenth stage starts in Sàntena, a Santena is also famous for its asparagus municipality of the metropolitan city of Turin, production: in recent years its importance located in the plain approximately 25 kiloin the food and wine industry has increased metres from the capital city, at a crossroads thanks to the international companies based that favoured civilisation from ancient times: there which are helping to pave the way for remains have been found dating back to leading positions in the future Food District. the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius, 2nd century AD. Santena’s history, starting in the late Middle Ages, is linked to that of the Savoy family. The greatest of the Savoy politicians, architect of the Unification of Italy, Camillo Benso Count of Cavour, is buried here, once his family’s beloved residence. Today, the Cavour Centre, which includes the Cavour Castle, one of the most important in Piedmont (now a memorial), the tomb and a large park, preserves and celebrates Aerial view of Santena. his memory.

KM 43

IL PILONETTO > TORINO > PIEDMONT The race leaves Santena to cover the only short flat stretch of this stage. It then follows the undulating hills of the small but historically rich municipalities of Riva presso Chieri, birthplace of San Domenico Savio, favourite pupil of San Giovanni Bosco, Arignano, surmounted by its Rocca, and Andezeno, with some fine churches. The climb gets steeper towards Sciolze, pleasantly perched on a hill, and on the subsequent descent towards Gassino To-

rinese, famous for its marble. At this point, the race crosses Sambuy, a town in the district of San Mauro Torinese, a municipality that is now on the outskirts of the provincial capital city, on the opposite bank of the Po, where the church of Santa Maria di Pulcherada stands out, high in the old town. It is not yet time to head towards Turin, but rather to climb towards the first KOM of the day, situated at 567 m (just under 350 metres in height difference) in Il Pilonetto.

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KM 76

MON. FAUSTO COPPI > TORINO > PIEDMONT Once past the KOM, the route descends towards Valle Ceppi, a town in the district of Pino Torinese. This town is nicknamed “the town of the stars” because of the presence of the Astrophysical Observatory of Turin, perched on a hill 620 metres above sea level. The group, however, runs further down, entering Chieri, the reference town of the district to the east of Turin, with its approximately 35.000 inhabitants. It harbours a remarkable historical centre of medieval origin, rich in palaces and arches from the Baroque and 18 th century. The 15 th-century cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria della Scala, and the churches of San Domenico and San Giorgio stand out. Chieri is also home to the oenology history Martini Museum. We leave Chieri cycling westwards, heading towards the provincial capital city: we first cross Pecetto Torinese (where we will return later), then climb towards the hilly offshoot of Turin, entering its municipal boundaries at the Parco della Rimembranza. Also known as Parco della Maddalena, it is a vast public garden in the hills of Turin, located at the foot of the summit of Colle della Maddalena. It covers over 90 hectares and is dotted with more than 21.000 trees. It was commissioned by Vit-

Monument to Fausto Coppi.

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torio Emanuele III to commemorate Turin’s First World War victims. This is where the heart of this stage beats more. Its route begins by descending towards the villages of Quadrivio Raby and Valsalice, then ascends again to reach the Parco del Nobile, a large green area with woods, meadows and an educational farm, which can be easily reached from the town centre. The group will then descend towards Corso Moncalieri, the wide artery that runs along the eastern bank of the Po. We are now in the middle of the town of Turin. The runners will head towards the intermediate sprint located at the Fausto Coppi Monument, not far from the Motovelodromo named after the “Campionissimo”. The monument was inaugurated in 2002 and is the largest in Italy among the many dedicated to Coppi. It consists of an 11-metre high bronze spiral that rises to the sky around a mountain, culminating in a silhouette of the five-time Giro winner.

KM 83

SUPERGA > TORINO > PIEDMONT After the intermediate sprint, the route heads back towards the hills. From Stazione Sassi the ascent towards Superga begins, up to an altitude of 655 m: this is the second KOM of the day. An ancient strategic observation point over Turin, with an extraordinary view over the city and the surrounding Alps, which over the centuries has bewitched great artists and writers, Superga is known for its basilica, built at the beginning of the 18 th century to a design by Filippo Juvarra to celebrate a military victory of the Savoy family over the French. Superga is also a place dear, albeit for tragic reasons, to Italian sportsmen, because in May 1949 the plane carrying Grande Torino, one

of the greatest football teams of all time, crashed there. A memorial near the basilica is dedicated to the victims of the disaster.

The Basilica of Superga.

KM 98

COLLE DELLA MADDALENA > TORINO > PIEDMONT After Superga, the circuit momentarily leaves the borders of Turin, descending to Pino Torinese and then Pecetto Torinese. The climb towards the Colle della Maddalena begins. On the road, in the territory of Pecetto, the race takes in near the Eremo dei Camaldolesi, a former convent built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Savoy family as a votive offering for the end of a plague epidemic (today little remains of the original building). The Colle (or Bric) della Maddalena, at 715 metres, is the highest peak in the Turin hills. Archaeological finds attest to the presence of Celtic tribes in this area since the 5th century BC. The Romans made it a strategic outpost overlooking Turin. With the arrival of the Dominican friars (13 th century), the hill was dedicated to the cult of Mary Magdalene. The whole area remained almost wild until, in 1925,

Vittorio Emanuele III wanted the creation of the Parco della Rimembranza. The peloton climbs to an altitude of 698 metres, where the third KOM of the day is expected. Then begins the second lap of the circuit, climbing again to Superga and La Maddalena (fourth and fifth KOM).

Maddalena Pass.

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FINISH

TORINO > TORINO > PIEDMONT After the second climb to La Maddalena, the race takes the circuit in again: Parco della Rimembranza, Quadrivio Raby, Valsalice, crossing the second intermediate sprint of the day at Parco del Nobile. The finish line is now clearly visible: the stage finish line is in Corso Moncalieri. Turin, the capital of Piedmont, is one of Italy’s most important cities. Its characteristic chessboard urban structure, which reveals its Roman origin (Augusta Taurinorum was its name), has wide avenues that intersect, adorned with fine buildings both civil and religious, in the city centre and in the more peripheral districts, up to the surrounding hills. Turin’s long history, from the late Middle Ages onwards, is closely linked to that of the Savoy dynasty, which made it the capital of its own state, first a duchy, then a kingdom. It thus played a role of primary importance in the formation of the Kingdom of Italy. Turin was in fact the first capital of the newborn Kingdom, proclaimed on 17 March 1861, until 1865, when the capital was transferred to Florence (and then, in 1870, to Rome). Since the beginning of the 20 th century, Turin has experienced an intense process of industrialisation around the FIAT automotive hub. Evidence of this period can be found in the Automobile Museum and in the area of the old FIAT plants in Lingotto, now converted into exhibition and commercial spaces. The 16th-century cathedral houses the Holy Shroud, a linen sheet on which is visible the image of a man, identified by Christian tradition as Jesus of Nazareth. The Mole Antonelliana towers over the city, an imposing 167-metre-high masonry building, inaugurated in 1888 and now housing the National Cinema Museum.

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Turin is known as ‘the city of four rivers’: it is crossed by the Po (the most important), the Dora Riparia, the Sangone and the Stura di Lanzo. Along the courses of these rivers there are several ‘river parks’, i.e. municipal green areas that surround the banks of the waterways. Among the parks crossed by the Po River there is also the Parco del Valentino, home to Castello del Valentino, built in the middle of the 17th century on the model of French manors. Piazza Castello, designed in 1584, is the heart of the city, overlooked by Palazzo Madama, one of the symbols of Turin architecture. It was the first seat of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy. Piazza Castello is also home to the seat of the Piedmont Region, the characteristic church of San Lorenzo

The Mole Antonelliana, Turin.

and the large Royal Palace, which was the royal palace of the Savoy family in the early years of united Italy, with its adjoining gardens.

Piazza San Carlo, another well-known and valuable square in Turin, is connected to Piazza Castello by the elegant Via Roma, with its characteristic arcades. Not far away is

the Egyptian Museum, considered, for the value and quantity of its exhibits, the most important in the world after Cairo. A few kilometres from the city centre are the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, the Reggia di Venaria Reale and the Castello di Rivoli, home to the prestigious Museum of Contemporary Art. Turin cuisine boasts a long and refined tradition. It makes great use of vegetables, meats and cheeses, irreplaceable ingredients for refined and tasty recipes. Starters are Turin cuisine trump card: from veal in tuna sauce to anchovies in green sauce, from meat and fish in carpione to more delicate dishes such as vegetable flans and tomini, small fresh cheeses. First courses include ‘bagna caôda’, an old peasant recipe based on a sauce made with oil, anchovies and garlic in which raw and boiled vegetables are dipped, agnolotti, gnocchi and risotto, and second courses include mixed boiled meats, braised meats and mixed fried meats. The table is never short of breadsticks and cheeses, the list of which is endless and delicious: from robiola to tome, from tomini to straw cheeses of firm or pasty consistency. Turin’s confectionery industry boasts the invention of zabaglione (egg yolks beaten with sugar and Marsala), bignole, delicate

and irresistible little bundles covered in icing, chocolate with the iconic giandujotto, made by mixing chocolate with toasted hazelnut flour, cremini, alpini with liqueur, pralines and other delights. It is well known that Piedmont is a land of great wines: among the most famous reds are Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Nebbiolo

and Dolcetto, and among the whites, Arneis, Gavi and Malvasia. But it is less well known that the province of Turin is the guardian of many great wines. The area around Turin is home to an important and ancient winemaking tradition, producing no less than 25 DOC wines. Among these special mention goes to Freisa, a ruby red, slightly sparkling wine produced in the Chieri area and in the urban vineyard next to Villa della Regina. Turin boasts another record: the aperitif. Known throughout the world, Vermouth was born in Turin in 1786. Its recipe uses Moscato from Piedmont and full-bodied wines from the south, with extracts and infusions of approximately 30 aromatic herbs.

Piazza San Carlo, Turin.

Turin has hosted a stage finish on 40 occasions and a stage start 45 times, so far. It was the Big Start city in 1961 and 2021, when it hosted both the start and the finish. In the Giro 2021 inaugural individual time trial Filippo Ganna won and wore the Pink jersey.

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Rivarolo Canavese > Cogne 17 7 km

22 may 2022 SU N DAY

15 01 02 RIVAROLO CANAVESE - COGNE

Typical stage of the Western Alps with very long climbs without excessive gradients. The race starts from Rivarolo Canavese and approaches along the Dora Baltea to enter the Vallée and reach the capital. The route then climbs Pila to Les Fleurs, Verrogne and Cogne to finish in the Gran Paradiso National Park.

02 15 0 START

RIVAROLO CANAVESE > TORINO > PIEDMONT On the plain at the mouth of the Piedmont valleys of the Gran Paradiso National Park, on the right bank of the Orco torrent, Rivarolo, where the 15th stage begins, is the most important and populous town in western Canavese with approximately 12.500 inhabitants. The symbol of the town is the Malgrà Castle, built by the Counts of San Martino in the 14th century and renovated in the late 19 th century. The inner courtyard features a crenellated tower and a small portico with 15th-century frescoes. The Castle Park is a precious green lung always open to the public. The Castellazzo is all that remains of Rivarolo’s oldest castrum, around which the first nucleus of the village developed. Rivarolo is also rich in religious buildings, from the convent of San Francesco (13 th15 th century) to the Baroque churches, including the one dedicated to San Michele (18th century). Since 2020, the Piedmont Region has recognised the city as an Urban Trade District, underlining its commercial, artisan and entrepreneurial soul, which strongly interacts with its agricultural roots. Rivarolo has excellent restaurants and popular pastry and ice cream shops. The town boasts the presence of the best pastry chefs, chocolatiers and ice cream makers, who have won national and international awards. One of the gastronomic events that stands out is the festival dedicated to the tomino

(both fresh and mature cheese), produced in the Rivarolo area at the end of June.

Excellent quality meat and dairy products are the result of cattle breeding in the area. The focus on organic farming and livestock breeding has also led to the establishment of farmhouses which footprint revolves around environmental sustainability and zero-km production. Part of the gastronomic history of the Canavese is the famous salampatata, a salami mixed with potatoes, which is not cured and must be eaten fresh, raw, baked or grilled. Pan douss ‘d Malgrà’ is a typical cake with simple ingredients, sometimes enriched with chestnuts. Among the leavened products of the Rivarolo bakeries, after the delicious Christmas panettone, the Befana focaccia stands out.

Church of San Michele Arcangelo, Rivarolo.

Rivarolo Canavese is an unprecedented start city. It hosted the finish of the 13 th stage in 2014, when Marco Canola took the victory (his first one at the Giro).

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KM 90

POLLEIN > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY The route, with some undulations, touches the towns of Agliè, Bairo, Banchette, Quassolo and Quincinetto, thus completing the Piedmontese section. The stage enters Valle d’Aosta, slowly but steadily climbing among castles and splendid alpine views. Pont-Saint-Martin is the first city that the race encounters, a strategic place since Roman times for transit between the Po Valley and Gaul. A little further on is the Fortress of Bard, an impregnable nineteenth-century fortress, now a cultural centre housing various museums, including the Museum of the Alps, and internationally renowned exhibitions. After Arnad the attention goes to two castles located on opposite banks of the Dora Baltea. Issogne Castle (12 th century), in which medieval Gothic blends with successive Renaissance inserts, contains surprising art treasures, such as the pomegranate fountain and a portico with frescoed lunettes. Verrès Castle (14 th century) had a primary function as a military garrison, yet exhibiting elements of great elegance, such as the staircase with rampant arches and mullioned windows with carved stonework.

After Montjovet, the road climbs to Saint-Vincent, one of the main towns in the eastern Aosta Valley. It is nicknamed ‘the Riviera of the Alps’ due to its centuries-old vocation for tourism. It has interesting Roman remains, but is best known for its thermal springs and the Casino de la Vallée. Châtillon, the next town on the stage, is also one of the most densely populated in the region. There are numerous remains of fortifications. What makes the Chambave area famous is the cultivation of Muscat. Fénis Castle (14 th -15 th century) is characterised by its scenic architecture, with its double crenellated walls enclosing the central building and numerous towers. It is one of the best-known attractions in Valle d’Aosta. After passing the small town of Quart, surmounted by a castle, the racereaches Pollein, where the first intermediate sprint line of the day is located. We are now close to the main town: Pollein is in fact home to part of Aosta’s industrial area, the Aosta Valley car park and heliport.

Pollein, view overview.

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KM 104

PILA-LES FLEURS > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY After passing Pollein and the nearby Pont Suaz, the Carovana Rosa tackles the first steep climb towards Pila, in the municipality of Gressan, which, just 18 minutes by cable car from the city of Aosta, is a favourite des-

tination not only for hiking and skiing but also for two-wheeled adrenalin-pumping disciplines such as downhill and freeride. The first KOM of the stage is located in the Les Fleurs section, at an altitude of 1421 m.

KM 120

AOSTA > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY The route rolls down to Gressan and crosses Pont Suaz to take in again the road for Aosta. The main town is located roughly in the middle of the plain where the region’s main river, Dora Baltea, flows. A population of megalithic culture was already present in the territory in prehistoric times. It was then the Roman colonisation that gave imprint to the city (called Augusta Praetoria), with a strategic function of connection between the Padana Plain and Gaul. In the Middle Ages, Aosta was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and was then linked to the fate of the State of Savoy, until the Unification of Italy. Aosta, of course, after Rome, is the city with

the largest number of Roman remains still visible, so much so that it has been nicknamed “the Rome of the Alps”: the Arch of Augustus, the Porta Prætoria and other Roman gates, the Theatre and Amphitheatre, the Bridge, the city walls and towers; the Cryptoporticus Forense, an underground connection between two temples, is particularly fascinating. Among the religious buildings, the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, dating from medieval times, stands out. The secular heart of the town is the elegant Piazza Chanoux, overlooked by the Town Hall. The traditional cuisine of the Aosta Valley features high-calorie recipes based on game and DOP fontina cheese.

In comparison with the rest of Italy, wheat is absent, replaced by maize and rye. Typical dishes include fondue (made with fontina cheese), polenta concia, “seupa à la Vapelenentse” (Valpelline soup), Aosta Valley-style chops, chamois civet, and “seupa à la Vapelenentse” (Valpelline soup). Valle d’Aosta sweet tiles and coffee alla valdostana, with sugar, orange peel and lemon, drunk in a special container. The particular climatic conditions of the Valle d’Aosta, together with the characteristics of the terrain and its slope, have certainly not made life easy for wine-growers.

Nevertheless, here the ‘heroic viticulture’ gives rise to a wide and qualified range of

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Aosta.

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prestigious mountain wines, united under a single Denominazione di Origine Controllata ‘Valle d’Aosta - Vallée d’Aoste’. As soon as you enter the region, your eye is caught by the vineyards climbing up the mountain. The characteristic vine of the area is Picotendro, a local variety of Nebbiolo grown together with other vines author-

ised for Donnas wine such as Freisa, Neyret and Fumin while Pinot Gris and Erbaluce are used for the production of white wines. Picotendro is also the basis for the production of Arnad-Montjovet, an area where Pinot Noir is also grown and is sometimes blended with Nebbiolo and other indigenous varieties such as Vien de Nus, Ner d’Ala and Roussin.

KM 136

VERROGNE > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY After Aosta, the route climbs towards Caillod, a hamlet of Sarre, the second most populated municipality in the region after the capital. The Castle of Sarre, an ancient hunting and holiday residence of the Savoys, tells of the presence of the royal family in Valle d’Aosta. Of particular interest are the rooms with trophies from hunting matches.

The climb continues to the second KOM of the day, located in Verrogne, also in the municipality of Sarre, along the scenic “Strada dei Salassi”, the ancient route of pre-Roman origin that connected the area of the Gran San Bernardo to the upper Valle d’Aosta. We are at an altitude of 1582 m.

KM 173

COGNE-CENTRE > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY After the KOM, the descent passes through Persod, a town in the district of Saint-Nicolas, and then, after a steep climb of almost 700 metres, through Saint-Pierre, that hosts Sarriod de la Tour Castle: situated in a flat area overhanging the Dora Baltea, it is remembered for the “Hall of Heads” which takes its name from the ceiling decoration with curious characters. Torrette red wine takes its name from the homonymous promontory straddling the municipalities of Sarre and Saint-Pierre, which, due to its southern exposure, is an ideal habitat for viticulture. It continues through Villeneuve and then Aymavilles, which recently restored castle reveals a dual medieval and baroque soul.

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Typical of the Aymavilles area is favò, a delicious dish made with broad beans,

Fontina DOP, black bread toasted in butter, sausage, bacon and pasta, ideally matched with a fragrant red wine such as Torrette DOC. After Aymavilles the race climbs towards Cogne, the final highlight of the stage. The second intermediate sprint of the day is located in the town centre. Once an important mining centre for iron extraction, Cogne is now one of the “Pearls of the Alps”, a tourist resort famous for the quality hospitality it has developed while respecting and safeguarding its natural heritage.

The local gastronomy is particularly rich. In addition to Fontina DOP, which is produced throughout the Aosta Valley, you can also taste other cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses and other dairy products such as butter and yoghurt produced locally. Among the typical dishes of Cogne are mécoulin, a kind of typical local ‘panettone’ sweetened with sultanas and flavoured with lemon peel and rum, Cogne cream, a delicious dessert made with cream, sugar, dark chocolate and a dash of rum, and the tasty ‘seupetta di Cogne’, a soup made with rice and Fontina DOP.

FINISH

COGNE-LILLAZ > AOSTA > AOSTA VALLEY The arrival (and third KOM of the stage) in the beautiful village of Lillaz, a town in the Cogne district known for its spectacular waterfalls, will be the best way to celebrate the centenary of the Gran Paradiso National Park. In 2022, the protected area will celebrate its 100 th anniversary as Italy’s oldest national park. The ibex has always been its symbol. The “TutelAttiva Laboratorio Parco”

centre welcomes visitors with multimedia systems, interactive games and an original “sensory space”, as well as two thematic displays dedicated to the wolf and the ibex. To get to know the variety of Alpine flora, in Valnontey, in the Cogne district in the heart of the Park, there is the Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden. The Lillaz waterfalls are formed by rocky jumps through which the abundant waters of the Urtier torrent flow, having carved out deep ravines between the sheer walls. The first waterfall is within everyone’s reach, while a complete visit takes less than 2 km over a circular route, with a 100-metre difference in height, and offers unforgettable views.

On this and on the previous page, two evocative views of Cogne.

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AOSTA VALLEY

The Aosta Valley is the smallest and – with a population of about 130,000 – least populous region of Italy, lying in the north-western part of the country. Its territory is almost entirely mountainous. It is bordered by Switzerland to the north, France to the west and Piedmont to the south and east. From an administrative point of view, it is an autonomous region with special statute.

The regional capital is Aosta (after which the region is named). Aosta was founded by the Romans, and this is evidenced by heritage such the Arch of Augustus, the Porta Praetoria (one of the gates of the city), the forum, the enceinte and the towers. Its territory includes the slopes of Mont Blanc (4,810 m), the highest peak in Europe, Matterhorn (4,478 m), Monte Rosa (4,637 m) and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m). The Gran Paradiso National Park was Italy’s first national park, established in 1922 to protect the flora and fauna of the Alps. Major border crossing points include the Mont Blanc Tunnel – 11.6 km in length – linking Courmayeur with Chamonix (France), the Little St. Bernard Pass and the Great St. Bernard Pass, with the tunnel of the same name. The regional language is a dialect of Franco-Provençal called Valdôtain (locally, “patois”), though Italian is much more widely spoken in everyday life. French is a co-official language. “Walser” is an officially recognised variant of a German dialect, which is spoken in specific villages. Summer and (above all) winter tourism are the main drivers of the economy of the Aosta Valley, with the Monterosa, Matterhorn (including Zermatt, Switzerland), Courmayeur and Champoluc ski resorts. The many castles of the Aosta Valley are a major historical and tourist landmark. The region is also home to plenty of museums and sanctuaries. Regional specialties include fontina cheese (that is labelled “protected designation of origin”), made from unheated curd, with whole milk from Valdostana cows. Notable citizens of the region include Anselm of Aosta, also known as Anselm of Canterbury (1033/4 - Canterbury 1109), theologian, philosopher and archbishop, one of the greatest representatives of Christian philosophy, Natalino Sapegno (Aosta 1901-Rome 1990), literary critic and historian, and Pietro Chiambretti (1956), TV host. Going back to a remote, yet glorious past, mention must be made of Maurice Garin (Arvier 1871-Lens 1957). Born in the Aosta Valley, and later a migrant to France with his family at the age of fourteen, he is best remembered as the winner of the first Tour de France in 1903. Before that, the “Little Chimney Sweeper” had achieved two Paris-Roubaix wins, in 1897 and in 1898. He took French nationality as soon as he reached the age of majority, although other sources say that this happened at a later stage. Another big name in cycling is that of Franco Vagneur (Aosta, 1944), professor and cyclo-cross champion. Mention must also be made of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, a tough amateur stage race across the harsh mountains of the valley, with over 50 years’ worth of history. The riders who prevail there most certainly will have a great Professional career. Mountain biking is very popular in the valley, which offers a wide range of trails for all specialities, and to suit all tastes.

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LOMBARDY

Lombardy is a region of north-western Italy, the fourth largest and the second most densely populated Italian region, with 12 provinces. The regional capital is Milan. Lombardy shares borders with Switzerland, Piedmont, Veneto, Trentino-South Tyrol and Emilia Romagna. The region is named after the Lombard (or Langobard) people. Its territory is divided between flatlands (47%) and mountains (41%). The highest point is in the Bernina Massif; the rest of the region (12%) is hilly. Some of the largest lakes in Italy (Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Iseo) are found in the Alpine foothills. Many rivers, such as the Po, the Adda, the Oglio, the Mincio and the Ticino, flow through deep and narrow valleys. The Lombard plain is part of the Po Valley, which stretches from Piedmont to Romagna, from the Alps to the Apennines. The economy of Lombardy is wide and varied: agriculture and livestock, heavy and light industry, the service sector. The region is also a thriving and diverse industrial centre: mechanics, electronics, metallurgy, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceutics and publishing. In the service sector, commerce and finance are central. Milan is the home of the Italian Stock Exchange and the Fiera di Milano. In 2015, Milan was the venue of the EXPO. Art and culture Milan and 11 art capitals, featuring castles, villas and gardens. An outstanding heritage that comes to life every year, with a rich events calendar. Palaces, castles and museums, art galleries, archaeological parks, theatres and villas are the many facets of the artistic and cultural scene of Lombardy. The heritage of the region ranges from the historic lakeside villas and citadels to the Certosa di Pavia, from Leonardo’s Last Supper and Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà to the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) in Milan, from Palazzo Te in Mantua to the Royal Villa (Villa Reale) in Monza. Take a journey through unexpected fairy-tale places, and be amazed by the beauty of the magnificent castles and palaces, splendid mansions and villas surrounded by wonderful gardens and parks. Although Lombardy is often portrayed as a strictly economic centre, it has an invaluable artistic legacy and it is the Italian region with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (10 out of 55 overall nationwide). The region also boasts an outstanding intangible cultural heritage, such as the traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona, the art of dry stone walling, and the art of transhumance in the Alps. Nature, outdoor activities and mountain sports Lombardy is synonymous with mountain sports, both in summer and in winter – including trekking along the ridgeways (Alte Vie) in the Alps, or cycling along the spiritual routes (such as the Via Francigena, which runs 120 kilometres across the Lomellina), rafting along the Ticino river or water sports on the main lakes of the region, where the wind is constantly blowing. From Madesimo to Foppolo, from Bormio to Livigno, from Santa Caterina Valfurva to Ponte di Legno, and including smaller resorts such as Piani di Bobbio and Valtorta, snow lovers will find options aplenty – including 27 ski areas, 467 downhill runs, 324 kilometres for

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cross-country skiing and 14 snow parks, which will cater to the taste of all skiers and snow enthusiasts. Valtellina, which will host the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is a true paradise for ski enthusiasts. The area is home to many large ski resorts, including Bormio, which offers 110 kilometres of groomed runs within the Stelvio National Park, after which the most challenging piste of the ski area (the traditional venue of the Alpine Ski World Cup) is named. Food and wine Food, wine, culture, history and nature are a bold combination to promote the excellent culinary and winemaking tradition of the territory. Fine DOC wines are produced in nearly all provinces. Special mention must be made of Oltrepo Pavese and Valtellina, of the sparkling wines of Franciacorta, and of the exquisite Lugana and Chiaretto from Lake Garda. Local cuisine offers a wealth of traditional specialties. A typical menu with a contemporary spin may kick off with a glass of Franciacorta Brut, shredded Grana Padano, bresaola from Valtellina and cold cuts from San Colombano. Then a hearty squash risotto and “cotoletta alla Milanese” (breaded veal cutlet), paired with a great glass of Sassella Valtellina Superiore. To top it off, a bite of the crumbly “torta sbrisolona” from Mantua, or a slice of the iconic panettone. Bicycle touring Cycling enthusiasts will find plenty of options, with easier or more demanding itineraries along the main tourist routes of the region. From the iconic Passo del Ghisallo, a historical and spiritual climb (a symbol of the Giro in Lombardy and of the so-called Triangolo Lariano), through the beautiful Passo del Vivione, amidst the pristine nature of the Val di Scalve, up to the legendary Passo dello Stelvio, an actual cycling Mecca.

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NOTE

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Salò > Aprica

(Sforzato Wine Stage) 2 02 km

24 may 2022 TU ESDAY

SALÒ - APRICA

PaMON nt TAG a n NA i

16 01 02 (Sforzato Wine Stage)

The classic Valtellina stage characterised by a succession of climbs. The flag is dropped in Salò. Then the course enters Val Sabbia and climbs up Goletto di Cadino. Once in Val Camonica, the route ascends the Mortirolo from Monno and runs on the roads of the Sforzato wine, celebrated in the stage, including the Teglio climb. It finally reaches Aprica through the Santa Cristina Pass.

02 16 0 START

SALÒ > BRESCIA > LOMBARDY Salò lies on the gulf at the bottom of Mount San Bartolomeo, on the shore of the Upper Lake Garda closer to Brescia. Salò is the first municipality of the Riviera dei Limoni and the start city of stage No. sixteen. Surrounded by the gentle slopes of the morenic amphitheatre of Lake Garda, it enjoys a Mediterranean micro-climate. Since the Roman times, Salò has played a crucial role in the history of Lake Garda. The traces of a rich past are still evident: while strolling in the historic centre, one can admire ancient mansions and 16 th century elegant palaces. The Duomo of Santa Maria Annunziata (1453), in late Gothic style, is an architectural jewel. Palazzo della Magnifica Patria, now the Town Hall, built in 1542, stands on the lakefront, with its frescoed loggia, commemorative plaques and an abraded bas-relief of the Lion of St Mark, testifying to the Venetian rule over Salò from the 15 th century onwards. The main streets, alleyways and small squares are lined with quality shops, restaurants, cafés and hotels. During the summer there are music events, in particular the Gasparo da Salò International Violin Festival, which has been held for over 60 years. In Salò you can taste wine and delicatessens from the Upper Garda Park and Val Sabbia. The fish from Lake Garda include trout, trinch, carp and many other species. Lake fish are not bred but are still caught

in traditional nets. Lake Garda low-acidic oil is of excellent quality due to its organoleptic characteristics and health benefits. The citrus fruits of Lake Garda in the Bres-

cia area are lemons, bergamots, citrons and oranges. The favourable climate and the use of special greenhouses allow to produce lemons. The local Cedral Tassoni company, which has been in business since 1793, produces the famous citron juice. Other typical products from this area are capers in olive oil or pickled, Grada’s truffle, cheeses ranging from Tremosine formaggella to Tombea, honey and grappa. The best known wines include Garda Bresciano or Riviera del Garda Bresciano Bianco, Chiaretto and Rosso and Garda Bresciano Groppello. Wines produced from the traditional vinification of Groppello, Barbera, Marzemino and Sangiovese grapes give rise to the bright red Garda Classico DOC with its delicate typical aroma due to Groppello.

The Cathedral of Salò.

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KM 59

GOLETTO DI CADINO > BRESCIA > LOMBARDY Past Salò and Lake Garda, the stage course climbs slightly in the surrounding hills. It runs along the mountainous Val Sabbia, through Sabbio Chiese, Nozza and Idro. The latter has a wide municipal territory in the southern extremity of the lake of the same name. Lake Idro, of glacial origin at around 370 metres above sea level, is on the border between the province of Brescia and Trentino. The Chiese River feeds it and is also its emissary. After a section along the western shore of the lake, the route turns to Bagolino in the Caffaro valley and climbs up for over 1200 metres of elevation gain on the categorised climb. Past Val Dorizzo (a hamlet at 1183 metres), it reaches Goletto di Gaver (1795 m), a tourist resort in a wide scenic esplanade at the foot of the mountains (we have entered the Adamello Park), called Piana del Gaver.

The ascent continues up to Goletto di Cadino, the KOM summit at 1938 metres of altitude. It is a favourite destination for the amateur cyclists because of the satisfying toughness of the MTB tracks and the outstanding view from the top that rewards the effort.

Lake D’idro.

KM 103

MALONNO > BRESCIA > LOMBARDY Past the KOM summit, the course runs through Crocedomini Pass that separates the southerns Raethian Alps from Brescia and the Pre-Alps overlooking Lake garda. It has always been a border area, for example between the Duchy of Milan and the

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Republic of Venice. From here, the route runs down to Breno, more than 1500 metres below. We have now entered Val Camonica, in prehistoric times the cradle of the Camuni civilisation, whose famous rock engravings (1 st millennium B.C.) were found

on about 2000 rocks in over 180 places. Past Breno, the riders climb slightly through Capo di Ponte (one of the areas featuring most Camuni engravings where one can visit the National Museum of prehistory of Camonica Valley), Cedegolo and Forno Allione. Then, the route leads to the the first intermediate sprint in Malonno. A town of about 3000 inhabitants, with centuries of history testified by its tower-houses and its parish church of Saints Faustino and Giovita – one of the largest in Val Camonica.

Church of SS. Faustino and Giovita - Malonno.

KM 129

MORTIROLO PASS > BRESCIA > LOMBARDY Past Malonno, the course climb to Edolo, the starting point for hikes and bike rides. It features a pretty old town with medieval cobble- and flagstone-paved streets lined with stately homes, rich in rusticated granite portals. In history, Edolo is remembered for the burning of alleged witches at the beginning of the 16th century.

Then the riders take the direction toward Monno, at the bottom of the climb leading to Mortirolo, one of the iconic ascents of the Giro. Because of its strategic position between Val Camonica and Valtellina, the Mortirolo Pass has been a place of battles since long before 3rd June 1990, when it was included in the Giro d’Italia course. Legend has it that the name derives from a bloody battle that took place up there in 773 A.D., when Charlemagne caught up with the Lombard troops and routed them, leaving hundreds of dead on the ground. Hence “Mortarolo”, which then became “Mortirolo” over the centuries. In fact, the place name probably comes from

the words ‘mortèra’ or ‘mortarium’, which would describe the presence of a pond or the concave shape at the top of the pass. From February until May 1945, it was the scene of battles between partisans and Nazi-fascists, considered by various historians to be the greatest pitched battles fought by the Italian Resistance. From Monno up to the summit the elevation gain is 800 metres along a 10km road: the second KOM summit is at 1854 metres above sea level.

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KM 172

TEGLIO > SONDRIO > LOMBARDY Past Mortirolo, the race enters the province of Sondrio. In Valtellina the course runs on the roads of the Sforzato wine,

to which the stage is dedicated. It is a well-deserved tribute to the “heroic viticulture” of Valtellina with its flagship wine, Sforzato, a great red wine produced from Nebbiolo grapes that are dried in fruit lofts after the harvest. Sforzato is the first dry red raisin wine in Italy to be awarded DOCG status (in 2003). The name derives from the local tradition of ‘straining’ the grapes, i.e., concentrating them to create a base of greater structure and power. Tirano, just a few-minute ride from Switzerland, is known for the Sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna of Tirano and for being the end station of the charming Tirano-St. Moritz railway, the so-called Bernina Express. Past Bianzone, the course climbs up to the second intermediate sprint in Teglio, the municipality from which Valtellina takes its name. Given its privileged position, at around 850 metres above sea level, Teglio is the ideal place for traditional crops such as vines, rye and buckwheat, the latter being the main ingredient of pizzoccheri, the most famous dish of Valtellina cuisine. In Teglio itself, it is possible to ad-

mire and walk through the splendid fields of buckwheat in bloom and visit the Menaglio mill, where the wheat is threshed. Teglio is also the home of the pizzoccheri,

whose original recipe is preserved and protected by the Accademia del Pizzocchero.

Vineyards, Valgella di Teglio.

KM 195

SANTA CRISTINA PASS > SONDRIO > LOMBARDY From Teglio, the course runs down to Tresenda, a hamlet at the bottom of the valley, and then up again to the grand finale in Aprica. An intermediate ‘station’ is the Santa Cristina Pass, at the top of a gru-

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elling climb of more than 1000 metres of elevation gain over less than 14 kilometres. After an initial slight slope upon leaving Tresenda, two short tunnels mark the beginning of the last categorised climb

winding up with many hairpins through the woods. Past some hamlets, including Santa Cristina with the church of the same name,

the final short steep climb leads to the pass, at 1448 metres above sea level.

FINISH

APRICA > SONDRIO > LOMBARDY The stretch from the Santa Cristina Pass to the finish line is under 7 kilometres. After a short section in the province of Brescia, through San Pietro, the course is back in the province of Sondrio, and leads to the finish in Aprica. We are at the heart of the Alps, between Valtellina and Val Camonica. Aprica is an ideal mountain destination for families, with a wide range of activities in nature both in summer (hiking, cycling, various outdoor sports) and in winter (over 50 kilometres of ski slopes). In Aprica excellent foodstuffs have obtained recognition as DOP and IGP products over the years. The cheeses, wines, bresaola, apples and pizzoccheri are the products of an environment that, from the bottom of the valley to the peaks and glaciers, includes a succession of terraced vineyards, cultivated fields, apple orchards, woods and mountain pastures. The ‘sciatt’ is the playful side of Valtellina cuisine because of the shape that gives the dish its name: buckwheat pancakes filled with cheese are served on a bed of salad and are shaped like toads, hence the name sciatt (‘toad’ in Valtellina dialect). The traditional Aprica dessert is called panvì: slices of rye bread toasted in butter and sprinkled with red wine and sugar. Speaking of wines, in addition to Sforzato, which we have already mentioned, Rosso di Valtellina DOC and Valtellina Superiore DOCG should be mentioned. Rosso di Valtellina is an ideal wine for both first and second courses. Valtellina Superiore DOCG has 5 sub-zones that give the wines different characters. Pro-

duced in the sunniest areas and aged for at least 12 months in oak barrels, it is ideal to accompany important traditional Valtellina dishes such as pizzoccheri. The Environment and Wildlife Observatory in Aprica is a wide area of over 25 hectares, where an educational and naturalistic itinerary winds its way. It offers an opportunity to get to know nature and observe some of the animal and plant species present in the Orobie Valtellinesi Park.

View of Aprica.

Aprica hosts a stage finish for the 10th time. The first finish here was 60 years ago (1962): Vittorio Adorni won his very first stage at the Giro. The last finish in Aprica dates to 2015: Mikel Landa claimed the victory.

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NOTE

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Ponte di Legno > Lavarone 168 km

25 may 2022 WED N ESDAY

17 01 02 PONTE DI LEGNO - LAVARONE

A two-part mountain stage. At first, it starts uphill to the Tonale Pass and then runs downhill toward the Adige River. Then, the course climbs up Palù di Giovo, reaches Pergine Valsugana and features a tough final section that includes the Vetriolo Pass, the Menador ascent, the Mounte Vetere categorised climb. Finally, a few undulating kilometres lead to the finish.

02 10 7 START

PONTE DI LEGNO > BRESCIA > LOMBARDY The seventeenth stage starts in Ponte di Legno, a jewel set among imposing mountains. In 1912, the Italian Touring Club described Ponte di Legno as the «first Italian winter sports and tourism resort». Its name is now linked to that of the Tonale Pass, which connects it to Trentino. The 100 kilometres of slopes in the Pontedilegno-Tonale ski area stretch from 1121 metres in Temù to the 3000 metres of the Presena glacier and attract skiers from all over Europe. In summer Ponte di Legno is popular for sports activities such as trekking and biking. Here, we are in the Stelvio National Park and the Adamello Park, with their inestimable wealth of flora and fauna. Ponte di Legno has managed to retain the charm of a mountain village. The silence and magic of the place are an irresistible attraction for those seeking true contact with nature. But there is also a pedestrian district lined with shops and nice restaurants. Among the historic buildings, the 17th-century church of the Holy Trinity stands out. The encounter between Lombardy and Trentino gives rise to a gastronomic richness that well expresses the strong character of this territory. Authentic and genuine flavours, which come from locally available products, characterise the menus of the many restaurants, mountain huts, and holiday farms. The “gnoc de la cua” (De.Co.) is the typical dish

Oglio River.

of the Alta Valle Camonica – gnocchi made with wild spinach, eggs, flour and bread softened in milk. They are boiled and then seasoned with “sfrisida”, a mixture of onion, sage and butter. “Calsù” is the name of the local

variant of casoncelli (large stuffed ravioli) from Valle Camonica. Silter is a locally produced hard, cooked, semi-fat cheese, with DOP designation and made from the milk of cows of the Bruna breed. Case di Viso (De.Co. label) is a cheese produced during the summer from the milk of cows in the mountain pastures. Elixir Noreas became the iconic liqueur of the Upper Valle Camonica a century ago. The recipe includes fifteen rare herbs, selected from the mountain pastures and woods of the Adamello Park.

Ponte di Legno hosts a stage start for the 4th time. Last time the flag was dropped here was in 2014. That stage finished in Val Martello, and Nairo Quintana won his first stage, grabbed his first Pink jersey and retained it up to Trieste, the final stage of that edition.

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KM 20

VERMIGLIO > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The race route heads up up to the Tonale Pass, at 1883 metres. On the border between Lombardy and Trentino and surrounded by the Adamello-Presanella, Ortles-Cevedale and Brenta mountain groups, the Tonale Pass is an open, panoramic natural amphitheatre stretching from 1883 to 3100 metres above sea level. In winter it is distinguished by its lively nightlife. The descent leads into the province of Trento. Vermiglio is the the westernmost municipality of the Val di Sole: a typical alpine village in a panoramic and sunny position facing the highest peaks of the Adamello-Presanella range. The historical importance of this small village is testified by numerous remains, including the Strino Fort. Continuing into Val di Sole, the course passes through Fucine (forges, in Italian) a hamlet of Ossana at the entrance to Val di Pejo: the name derives from the historical presence of numerous iron workshops. The next village is Dìmaro, an ancient transit point in a strategic position, now a tourist centre (Folgarida is a popular ski resort), not far from the even more famous Madonna di Campiglio. The next town is Malè, capital of the Valle di Sole Community, at the centre of the triangle

formed by the Brenta Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio and the Stelvio National Park. In the shepherd’s huts and small dairies the typical dairy products of the Val di Sole come to light: yoghurt, butter and above all cheeses such as Casolét, a soft mountain cheese, and Trentingrana. In the artisan butchers’ shops, tasty cold meats and sausages are prepared according to ancient recipes, including luganega, speck and bacon. In the Lower Val di Sole, like in the neighbouring Val di Non, the world-famous apples with the Melinda PDO label are grown. In addition to apples, berries such as currants, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are also cultivated. By the way, the mountain honey is worth tasting.

View of Vermiglio.

KM 54

CLES > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The Mostizzolo bridge connects Val di Sole and Val di Non. There, the race course leads to Cles, the main town in the valley. Since Roman times, Cles has been an important commercial hub, a crossroads between the

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valleys. The late Gothic Palazzo Assessorile stands out in the old town; further up, on a rocky promontory, Cles Castle overlooks Lake Santa Giustina. Val di Non has an important gastronomic

tradition. Its geographical conformation favours the cultivation of potatoes (famous are the ‘potato cakes’). It is also, par excellence, the land of apples, protected with the already mentioned Melinda apples PDO mark. The “mortandela” is a meatball-shaped sausage. Groppello is a vine with an ancient

history, which is grown on the shores of Lake Santa Giustina. Continuing south towards Trento, the course reaches the flat area known as the Piana Rotaliana, where it passes through two important towns, Mezzolombardo and San Michele all’Adige.

KM 86

GIOVO > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE From here, the riders tackle the first categorized climb, up to 615 metres above sea level in the spread municipality of Giovo that include several hamlets on the mountain slope. The course runs through Palù, famous for being the birthplace of the great Francesco Moser, and Verla, the seat of the municipality and the church of Santa Maria Assunta. Built around 1770 in late Baroque style, it has a solemn façade with pilasters and stucco cornices.

Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

KM 121

PERGINE VALSUGANA > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE Past Giovo, the route reaches Cembra, the major town of the valley bearing the same name, site of ancient human settlements (documented since the Mesolithic period). The medieval church of San Pietro, in late Gothic style, stands out. The route then passes Segonzano, known for the 18th-century sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Aiuto; Lases and Madrano, both overlooking a lake of the same name. The first intermediate sprint of the stage is set in Pergine Valsugana, that is the third biggest municipality of the province with more than 21,000 inhabitants, following Trento and Rovereto. The town occupies the vast basin at the foot of the Tegazzo hill and the valley floor of the Fersina stream, overlooking the northern off-

shoot of Lake Caldonazzo. On the Tegazzo hill, at about 650 metres above sea level, stands Pergine Castle, that has been attested since the 9th century. Pergine is also home to a lively cultural activity, with theatres and museums. It hosts linguistic minorities: the Mòcheno, Cimbro (both of Germanic origin) and Ladin.

Pergine Castle.

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KM 134

PASSO DEL VETRIOLO > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The 13-km-long climb with 900 metres of elevation gain winds up to Vetriolo Pass across the woods. The second KOM summit is set in Compet, at 1383 metres. The adjacent Vetriolo Terme

owes its tourist vocation to the arsenical-ferruginous water that makes it “the highest spa resort in Europe” at 1500 metres above sea level. It is a hamlet of Levico Terme, reached by the peloton after quite a descent. We are at the furthest extremity of the Valsugana valley floor. Levico overlooks the lake of the same name, one of

the two (together with Caldonazzo) from which the river Brenta springs. The

church of Santissimo Redentore (19 th century) is the second largest in the province Vetriolo Terme. of Trento after the Cathedral of San Vigilio in the provincial capital.

KM 149

CALDONAZZO > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The second intermediate sprint is set in Caldonazzo, a town at the entrance to Valsugana, around 20 kilometres south-east of Trento. It gives its name to Lake Caldonazzo (divided between several municipalities), the largest lake in Trentino among those entirely within the province’s borders. Water

skiing, canoeing and other water sports are practiced there. As already mentioned, it is one of the two lakes (together with Levico) from which the river Brenta springs. The church of San Valentino is worth a visit: it probably dates to the 13 th century; the apse was built on the rock outcropping.

KM 160

MONTEROVERE > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE Past Caldonazzo, the course takes in the Menador climb. It was a military route during the 1915-1918 war and was originally named Kaiserjägerweg by the Austro-Hungarians who built the road. Today it is an unmissable scenic route for all cycling enthusiasts, with its hairpin bends and tunnels typical of rockcut roads. Much of the ascent is in the shade of the forest, although there are initially some sunny stretches. After about 8 kilometres and an almost 800-metre elevation gain, the riders clear the third and last KOM summit of the day,

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in Monterovere, at an altitude of 1261 metres above sea level.

Galleries carved into the rock, ascent of the Menador.

FINISH

LAVARONE > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE Past the categorised summit, a final short 8-kmlong stretch leads to the finish line in Lavarone. What immediately strikes you about Lavarone and the entire Alpe Cimbra is the landscape, which is pleasantly unusual compared to the stereotype of Trentino mountains: large openings and boundless horizons, amidst woodland, mountain pastures immersed in an almost Scandinavian landscape, with the Becco di Filadonna, the emblematic mountain of the area, as a constant backdrop. There are three symbols of Lavarone: its lake – one of the oldest in the Alps, at an altitude of 1079 metres, and labeled as ‘Blue Flag’ indicating clean waters; the Great War Fort Belvedere/ Gschwent – one of the seven mighty fortresses that the Austro-Hungarians built between 1908 and 1914 in these territories, in preparation for the conflict with Italy; and the Vaia Dragon – an internationally famous artwork created by Marco Martalar. The small villages scattered throughout the Alpe Cimbra (Folgaria, Lavarone, Luserna and

Vigolana) have managed to preserve the secret of the ancient arts, crafts, and flavours of the Cimbrian tradition. There is a wide range of activities on offer for tourists: skiing and snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking, climbing and horse riding, golf and relaxation, as well as art and culture. On the Alpe Cimbra table you will find genuine, local products. In the land of alpine pastures and freshly milked milk, meat processed according to ancient methods, honey and honeydew, vegetables grown as they were a thousand years ago, traditional sweets and organic fruit, the secrets of the mountain storerooms come alive. The excellent products range from Vézzena cheese to fragrant speck, from goat’s cheese to strudel, from small fruits to Vigolana pears and chestnuts, from honey to Nosellari leeks, all the way to the magic of “rainbow eggs”. The authentic aroma of the Alpe Cimbra can also be enjoyed in a glass: from grappa to beers, from juices to fruit infusions, without forgetting wine and rum. Lavarone lake, suitable for swimming and awarded with the Blue Flag in 2021.

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AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO

The Autonomous Province of Trento covers the southern part of the Alps. It is mountainous in its entirety, and formed by Alpine valleys like the Val di Sole, the Val di Fiemme and the Valle di Primiero, which lie at the foot of high massifs with glaciers and abun-

dant water, and by sub-Alpine valleys, plateaus and small plains with a sub-Mediterranean climate that allows olive tree cultivation (for example, the north side of Lake Garda). In geological terms, it includes mountain massifs with a variety of origins. To the west, the landscape is dominated by the massifs of Mount Adamello, the Presanella and the Ortles-Cevedale (Eng. Ortler Alps), whose permanent snow cap is among the most extensive in Italy. In addition, the Autonomous Province of Trento can boast many Dolomite massifs: the Brenta Group or Brenta Dolomites (the only Dolomite massif to the west of the Adige River), the Marmolada, known as the Queen of the Dolomites, the Pala group (in Italian, the Pale di San Martino), which it shares with the province of Belluno), the Sella Group (shared with the provinces of Belluno and Bolzano), the Latemàr, the Sassolungo and the Catinaccio (at the border with South Tyrol). In the eastern part stand the Lagorai Mountains and the granite massif of the Cima d’Asta. These are the wildest, most unpolluted part of the province. Not so high but no less imposing are the Paganella and Mount Bondone, not far from the regional capital, not to mention the section of the Venetian Pre-Alps or Alpine foothills in the Province, which include Mount Baldo, Mounts Lessini, Piccole Dolomiti (Eng. Little Dolomites) and the Pasubio. The mountains and valleys of the Autonomous Province of Trento offer many natural monuments, like the pyramids at Segonzano, created by erosion. The territory contains the Stelvio National Park, the Adamello-Brenta National Park and the Paneveggio-Pala Group National Park. The most commonly spoken language is Italian, although Trentino dialect is also common. There is a German-speaking minority, with three lesser known languages officially recognised: Mòcheno, spoken in the Mocheni Valley; Cimbrian, spoken in Luserna in the Cimbrian highlands; and Ladino, spoken in Val di Fassa. The 2011 language census estimated that around 7000 inhabitants of the Val di Non and the Val di Sole also speak ladino, although without official recognition. Local economy centres on agriculture and livestock, industry (textiles, construction, mechanics, timber and paper), food with many wine producers and traditional distilleries, and fruit, especially apples. The abundance of mountains and water has led to the construction of hydroelectric plants. One of the region’s most important economic sectors is tourism, summer and, especially, winter. The jet set goes to Madonna di Campiglio, for the 3-Tre ski slope, a frequent venue of World Cup slalom events. In the eastern part of the Province lies the winter resort of San Martino di Castrozza, surrounded by meadowland once tended by the old monastery of San Martino e Giuliano, and by the peaks of the Pala group. San Martino, in the Primiero Valley, is considered by many to be the most beautiful part of the Dolo-

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mites. The Primiero Valley is the setting for another beautiful and historical village, Fiera di Primiero, right at the foot of the Pala massif. Across the Passo Rolle from San Martino lies the Val di Fiemme, with the towns of Cavalese, Predazzo and Tesero. This richly forested valley is known as a major winter sports centre, especially for cross-country skiing: two cross-country skiing World Championships have been held here (1991 and 2003). To the north of the Val di Fiemme lies the land of the Ladino people, the Val di Fassa, with many small towns and villages, the largest and best known of them probably Moena and Canazei, overlooked by some of the most impressive massifs in the Dolomites: Marmolada, Sella, and Catinaccio. The Autonomous Province of Trento boasts many museums, including the following: the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento e Rovereto (MART), The Civic Museum of Rovereto, The Buonconsiglio Museum in the castle of the same name, The Tridentine Museum of Natural Science at Trento, The Museum of the Customs and Traditions of the People of the Trentino in San Michele all’Adige, the Italian War Museum at Rovereto and the Geological Museum of the Dolomites at Predazzo.

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Borgo Valsugana > Treviso 152 km

26 may 2022 TH U RSDAY

18 01 02 BORGO VALSUGANA - TREVISO

The last bunch sprint of the Giro. The first half of the course is slightly undulating, with the iconic Scale di Primolano to access the valley of the Piave river and winds through the area of the Prosecco between Valdobbiadene and Refrontolo. The final climb is the short steep Muro di Ca’ del Poggio that enables the peloton to reach Treviso plain and to enter the final circuit that leads to the sprint.

02 18 0 START

BORGO VALSUGANA > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The eighteenth stage sets off in Borgo Valsugana, at the centre of the valley of the same name. It is crossed by the River Brenta and the beautiful 80-kilometre cycle path that links Lake Caldonazzo to Bassano del Grappa. The mediaeval character of Borgo has remained almost intact: narrow streets, hallways and small courtyards characterise it together with Renaissance and Baroque palaces. The houses are perched on the slopes of Mount Ciolino, where Telvana Castle stands with its towers and, further down, the Poor Clare convent. The settlement stretches along the sides of the old imperial road, while new buildings expand towards the hamlet of Olle. Both Borgo and Valsugana offer many opportunities to bikers. From the great Trentino climbs, including those chosen for the Giro, to the 300 kilometres of MTB routes of varying difficulty along the Lagorai mountain range. But summer in Valsugana is also beach time on the lakes of Levico and Caldonazzo or thermal wellness at the thermal baths of Levico and Vetriolo. From the encounter between uncontaminated nature and the culture of healthy eating, the best mountain flavours are brought to the table. Polenta made with the famous Valsugana flour, the genuineness of the Sant’Orsola berries, the excellent sausages, the local dairy products, such as the typical Vezzena and Lagorai malga cheeses, just to name a few delicatessens. But also honey, La Trentina apples, Bieno radicchio, Valsugana medici-

River landscape crossed by the Brenta.

nal herbs and Roncegno chestnuts are transformed into special dishes. Acqua Levico springs from a centuries-old source in Alta Valsugana, at an altitude of over 1600 metres. Thanks to its organoleptic properties, it is one of the lightest drinking waters in Europe. The high quality of the grapes and the complex and delicate method of re-fermentation in the bottle make Trentodoc a jewel in the crown of Trentino wine production. Borgo Valsugana is also home to the Trentino craft beer of Birrificio degli Arimanni. Now famous for its original taste, Parampampoli is a drink that warms up cold winter evenings; the secret blend, invented by the host of Rifugio Crucolo, has a strong flavour of coffee, grappa, wine, and caramelised sugar. A drink of ancient tradition from the distillation of marc, grappa is never missing to top up a meal in Valsugana.

Treviso is a stage finish for the 13th time in history. The last finish here dates to 2013 when Mark Cavendish outsprinted Nacer Bouhanni and Luka Mezgec.

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KM 24

LE SCALE DI PRIMOLANO > VICENZA > VENETO Past Borgo Valsugana, the course heads toward Veneto. The first municipality upon entering the province of Vicenza is Primolano, at the bottom of the so-called “Scale di Primolano” climb that lead to the first KOM summit, at 350 metres above sea level with an elevation gain of around 130 metres. At the bottom of the climb there is a complex of fortifications built at the end of the 19th century to control the Scale di Primolano. The Tagliata della Scala was a masonry barrier flanked by an artillery platform at about halfway up the slope, while the Tagliata delle Fontanelle, near Cima Scala, was

Forte Tagliata Scala and Fontanelle.

a compact battery sunk in topsoil. The two structures were connected by a covered walkway. The fortifications were never actually used, not even during the Great War.

KM 73

VALDOBBIADENE > TREVISO > VENETO Past the summit, the route enters the province of Belluno. Arsiè lies in a plain surrounded by mountains north of Lake Corlo, an artificial lake built to produce electric power from the Cismon stream. Then, the course runs through Fonzaso, located in an area historically at the centre of communication routes; the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates to the 17th century. Seren del Grappa was the scene of fierce fighting between the Italian and Austrian armies during the First World War. The front was on Mount Grappa, the last bastion in defense of the Veneto plain. From there the peloton reaches Feltre, the most The Prosecco Hills.

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important town in this area of the Belluno region, with around 20,000 inhabitants. Accord-

ing to the Latin author Pliny the Elder, Feltre was founded by the Reti people together with Trento and Verona. In the Roman imperial age, it experienced a remarkable economic and urban development. Subordinated to the Republic of Venice for centuries, it still preserves splendid palaces and villas and, among the religious buildings, the Co-cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle (16th century). The route continues through Quero Vas and then crosses the Piave River (the fifth longest

river in Italy, inextricably linked to the memory of the First World War) at Ponte di Fener, in the territory of Alano di Piave. The course then enters the province of Treviso and takes in the first intermediate sprint, in Valdobbiadene, a municipality of about 10,000 inhabitants with numerous interesting religious and civic buildings. Within the municipal boundaries there are now no less than 6 “monumental trees” (the term indicates a plant subject of landscape, naturalistic, monumental, historical and cultural value) of the 16 located in the province of Treviso. Valdobbiadene, nearby Conegliano and

their hills are considered the cities of Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene wine and, in particular, of the Superiore di Cartizze type. Light and delicate, Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG is an easy-to-drink wine, characterised by a straw-yellow colour and a fine but persistent perlage. The bouquet has a distinct floral aroma of wisteria, acacia and rose, together with notes of whitefleshed fruits such as apple, pear and peach. Prosecco is the “king” of the aperitif, but in its various types, depending on the residual sugar, from the drier “Brut” to the delicately sweet “Dry”, it can become a bubble of great versatility.

KM 103

MURO DI CA’ DEL POGGIO > TREVISO > VENETO The itinerary on the road of Prosecco continues through Guia (a hamlet of Valdobbiadene), Col San Martino and Soligo (hamlets of Farra di Soligo), Pieve di Soligo. The latter is a populous town of about 12,000 inhabitants, with a modern Duomo dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. Another town with a great wine tradition is Refrontolo, known for the production of Marzemino wine, here called Refrontolo Pas-

sito DOCG. A little further east, in the municipality of San Pietro di Feletto, the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, the second categorised climb, is the iconic climb of the Prosecco Hills, which in 2019 have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The climb, entirely asphalted, winds through the vine-lined Prosecco hills for 1150 metres, with an average gradient of 12.7% and 140 metres of elevation gain.

KM 117

SUSEGANA > TREVISO > VENETO Past the summit the course runs down to the plain, through Santa Maria di Feletto and Parè. The second intermediate sprint is set in Susegana, a municipality of around 12,000 inhabitants with a partly hilly and partly flat territory, bordered to the west by the Piave River. In the hamlet of Collalto stand the ancient tower and part of the walls of the castle of the same name.

Hills of Susegana.

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FINISH

TREVISO > TREVISO > VENETO The riders cross the Piave again at Ponte della Priula, a hamlet of Susegana, an ancient place of transit, which houses the Votive Temple to European Fraternity dedicated to the fallen of all wars. The course then reaches Spresiano, at the centre of the Treviso plain, now at the northern gates of the provincial capital city, which the riders enter through Viale della Repubblica and race the two laps of the final circuit. Treviso is the historical capital of the Marca Trevigiana. Named “city of waters” because of the confluence of the Sile and the Botteniga, it is home to a dense network of streams and canals that penetrate and surround the city, drawing its topography. The ancient centre, of Roman origin, is located on the left bank of the Sile and finds its beating heart in Piazza dei Signori, the meeting place for all Trevisans: a real ‘lounge’ surrounded by the historic institutional seats, including Palazzo del Podestà with the Torre Civica and

University Bridge.

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Palazzo dei Trecento. Not far away is the Loggia dei Cavalieri, a covered and frescoed square. Treviso is rectangular in shape, with narrow, winding streets lined with houses with frescoed façades, porticoes and barbicans. One of the best-loved and most characteristic places, a perfect location for the photos of thousands of visitors, is the Canale dei Buranelli, named after a palace that belonged to a family of merchants from the Venetian island of Burano. Spared by the Huns, Treviso became an important trading centre in Roman times, before being devastated by the Hungarians. It then became a sought-after and flourishing centre. It underwent various dominations before returning under the rule of the Serenissima. The link with Venice is evidenced by the city walls and gates. Treviso suffered bombings in both World War I and II. In particular, 7 April 1944, the day on

which Allied bombers razed 80% of the buildings to the ground, causing at least 1600 civilian casualties, is remembered every year with a public ceremony. Treviso therefore combines history and elegance, tradi-

tion and passion. A city to visit for its frescoed palaces and the artistic wonders housed in the Civic Museums, but also to experience for its taverns and places where Prosecco, cicchetti and traditional dishes reign supreme. Treviso is home to one of the most beautiful theatres in northern Italy: on the stage of the ‘Mario Del Monaco’ – named after one of Italy’s most famous tenors – some of the world’s greatest opera singers have performed. Even today, it is still a venue for festivals and concert seasons of international standing. Treviso is also a city of bicycles: from Restera, a cycle-pedestrian path runs along the River Sile and allows you to immerse yourself in nature along the Greenway that reaches the sea. Treviso cuisine follows the tradition of excellence from the Veneto. “Sopa coada” is a pie made of bread, broth and pigeon meat. “Pasta e fasioi” (pasta and beans) is served as a thick soup of borlotti or Lamon beans

Treviso, city of canals.

pureed in a creamy base and mixed with ditalini pasta. One of the most typical dishes is also risotto with rosoline, which are the leaves of the poppy harvested in spring before the plants bloom. Among the vegetables of Treviso are radicchio and asparagus; among the cheeses, Casatella Trevigiana DOP, with its soft, creamy texture and sweet flavour. Among the desserts, the tiramisù stands out. Its original recipe (coffee, ladyfingers, sugar, mascarpone cheese and eggs) dates to 1962. The custodian of this famous preparation is the restaurant Le Beccherie. The name derives from the Venetian dialect expression “tirame su” (“lift me up”), referring to the high calorie content of its ingredients.

177

NOTE

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VENETO

Veneto is a region in northeast Italy sharing borders with Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Austria, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and washed by the Adriatic Sea. The regional capital is Venice; the other provinces are Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Verona and Vicenza. Its many landscapes go from the beaches of the coastal strip, to broad plains in the centre and south, to the gentle Berici and Euganean hills, and the mountains that reach their peak on the Marmolada, in the splendid Dolomites, at 3,343 m. Veneto attracts more tourists than any other Italian region. The amazing, unique beauty of Venice is world-renowned. Verona has its Roman Arena and the fascinating story of Romeo and Juliet. Vicenza and Padua have their wonderful artistic, monumental and religious heritage (especially Sant’Antonio in Padua). Treviso has its canals, Belluno has its mountains and the stunning Cortina d’Ampezzo. All these towns, together with Rovigo, are major destinations for national and international tourism. The main beach resorts are Jesolo, Caorle, Bibione, Sottomarina and Rosolina. In the mountains, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Arabba, Falcade, and Val Zoldana are the most popular destinations. There are numerous cities and towns with stunning architectural and artistic treasures: the famous Venetian villas designed by Andrea Palladio, the walled towns – Cittadella, Este, Castelfranco Veneto, Conegliano, Bassano del Grappa, Marostica – that preserve and protect their history and traditions. On the Venetian shore of Lake Garda, international tourism is highly developed. The region’s universities and academies have a long and prestigious tradition. To give just one name, the playwright Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793) made a major contribution to the development of modern theatre. Until the period after World War II, Veneto experienced major outmigration. In the 1960s and 1970s, it went through years of rapid industrial growth in many sectors, which raised the standard of living for all. Local signature produce, along with the famous red radish, includes asparagus from Bassano, beans from Lamon, near Belluno, Marostica cherries, Asiago cheese, soppressa (traditional salami) and other sausages, eel from the Po delta, clams from Polesine. Traditional local specialties include ‘sarde in saor’ (Venetian-style sweet and sour sardines), baccalà alla vicentina (Vicenza-style dried cod), fegato alla veneziana (Venetian-style liver), ‘risi e bisi’ (risotto with peas), risotto ‘al nero di seppia’ (with squid ink), fish from the Adriatic, ‘pinza’ (a traditional sweet), and any form of polenta. Valpolicella, Lugana, Recioto, Amarone, Bardolino, Raboso, Soave and Cabernet are the finest examples of the revered local winemaking tradition. Special mention must be made of the exquisite Prosecco, with its Cartizze grand cru. The region has produced great champions of past and present cycling, in all its specialties and disciplines.

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NOTE

180

Marano Lagunare > Santuario di Castelmonte 178 km

27 may 2022 FRI DAY

19 01 02 MARANO LAGUNARE - SANTUARIO DI CASTELMONTE

Medium mountain stage with some pitfalls, a section abroad and summit finish. The course starts in Marano Lagunare and runs on Udine’s morainic hills. Past Buja, the peloton must deal with the Julian Pre-Alps, clear the Tanamea Pass, then enter Slovenia toward Kobarid and climb the Kolovrat on an unprecedented side. Back to Italy, the finish – uphill – is reached at the Sanctuary of Castelmonte.

02 19 0 START

MARANO LAGUNARE > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA The stage sets off in Marano Lagunare, ancient village that was part of the Venetian Republic for almost 400 years. According to scholars, the birth of Marano is linked to the origins of Aquileia: the first documented historical information dates back to 590, when it was chosen by the then patriarch of Aquileia as the seat of a synod. The old town is built in a characteristic ‘herringbone’ pattern, with a central street from

Millennial tower.

which calli and small squares branch off. The central square, known as the ‘Granda’, is named after Vittorio Emanuele II and is the hub of the historic centre. Here some notable landmarks include the so-called “Millenaria” Tower –symbol of Marano – which dominates the centre with its 32 metres of height; next to it the Loggia, dating back to the 15th century and, on the other side of the square, stands the Palazzo dei Provveditori, the seat of the ancient rulers. Adjacent to the historic centre is the Valle Canal Novo Nature Reserve. Visiting the lagoon environment, one finds another naturalistic treasure: the 1377-hectare protected area of the Regional Nature Reserve “Foci dello Stella”. The undisputed king of traditional Marano cuisine is bisato in speo, eel cooked on a wooden spit over a direct fire for hours and seasoned with bay leaves and salt. Another traditional dish is boreto alla maranese, made from various species of fish that could not be traded because they were ruined during fishing. Also famous are the fried molecche, which is nothing more than a moulting crab covered in soft, velvety skin, raw fish caught locally or sold at the local fish market (the largest fresh fish market in Friuli-Venezia Giulia) and various types of bivalve molluscs: fasolari (sea squid), vongole veraci (clams), peverasse (lupine clams) and scallops. The Marano area is part of the “Friuli Annia” DOC zone, where the lagoon comes close to the vines, which sink their roots into the clayey soil with high salinity, giving the grapes an original flavour and giving life to great white

185

wines such as Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana, Pinot Bianco and Grigio, Sauvignon and the typical Friulano (formerly Tocai), to finish with aromatic Traminer and Verduzzo Friu-

lano. The panorama of red wines is also very important and includes Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Refosco dal peduncolo rosso..

The climb up Castelmonte, on the San Leonardo side, was included in the Giro for the first time in the 16th stage in 2020. The first to reach the summit was Giovanni Visconti.

KM 3

MUZZANA DEL TURGNANO > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA The course continues in low Friulian plain, albeit slightly uphill, and runs through Muzzana del Turgnano – home to some lowland woods, the remains of a very ancient forest – in an area where a prized variety of white truffle appreciated by chefs all over the world is grown, and then Castions di Strada – with the 13th-century church of San Martino, later rebuilt in the 16th century, and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, founded at the time of Patriarch Paolino di Aquileia and then destroyed and rebuilt several times until it reached its current form in the 16th century. Then the riders enter immediately Mortegliano, a farming town with the highest bel-

The parish church fry in Italy (113.2 of Muzzana del Turgnano. metres high, in exposed reinforced concrete, inaugurated in 1959), and race past Lestizza, where heart-shaped centre houses courtyards are enclosed by tradition al arches, and San Marco, a hamlet of Mereto di Tomba.

KM 40

CICONICCO > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA Over 100 metres above sea level the route runs through Ciconicco and Fagagna – dominated by a castle that already existed in the 10th century and where the Fagagna PAT cheese (typical food product) is produced. The declaration of war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire was signed in Fagagna on 24th May 1915.

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The northward course begins to steer eastwards around Udine, passing through Majano. Here, in San Tomaso, there is a place rich in historical memories. It is the Romanesque church of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, seemingly built in the early years of the hospital (founded in 1199) to which it was attached.

KM 55

BUJA > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA Then, it is time for the riders to fight for the sprint points in Buja. Buja is an old town lying in Friuli hills with several hamlets, including Monte with the church of San Lorenzo Martire, built in the site of a 6th-century church. Past Buja, the course runs through Artegna – with the hill of San Martino, which includes the parish church and castle, the small church of San Martino and the small church of Santo Stefano in Clama that stands at the foot of Mount Faet – and Magnano in Riviera, which owes its name “in riviera” to the distribution of the settlement on the slope of a hill. From Tarcento, lying on the slopes of Mount Chiampeon, Mount Stella and Mount Bernadia, the hinge between the upper Torre Valley and the foothills of the Julian Pre-Alps, begins a more testing climb. In Tarcento,

Buja Castle.

every year on the 5 th and 6 th January, the Friulian Epiphany is celebrated amidst fiery cart races and large propitiatory bonfires, the pignarûi.

KM 74

VILLANOVA GROTTE > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA The course takes in the 3rd category climb up to Villanova Grotte, 641 metres above sea level. Villanova delle Grotte is a hamlet in the territory of Lusevera and owes its name to three caves stretching over more than

Villanova Caves.

7 kilometres that attract both speleologists and tourists. One of them, the Grotta Nuova, is the largest in Italy and can be visited with a guide between March and November. The area of Lusevera spreads over the entire upper valley of the Torre River. It seems that the name derives from a statement made by Julius Caesar, who stayed in a village (still called Cesariis) and who, seeing some houses in the village particularly well lit by the sun, christened them “Lux vera” (true light). Nevertheless, Musi – a hamlet of Lusevera – is the rainiest place in Italy (with peaks of more than 3,500 millimetres per year). Past Vedronza – another hamlet with the municipal seat – and a tunnel, the race approaches the Slovenian border.

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KM 94

PASSO DI TANAMEA > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA Second 3rd-category climb up to the Tanamea Pass (870 metres above sea level) in the Julian Pre-Alps. The pass marks the divide between the

Mea stream, a tributary of the Torre River, and the Bianco stream, which descends towards the Isonzo valley. Soon after, the route crosses the Italian-Slovenian border and reaches Žaga, in the upper valley of the River Isonzo – a hamlet in the municipality of Bovec (Plezzo, in Italian), and then Trnovo ob Soči (Ternova d’Isonzo) – a hamlet in the municipality of Kobarid (Caporetto, in Italian). Kobarid is famous for being the scene of the Bat-

tle of Caporetto in the First World War (24 October-27 November 1917) between the Italians and the Austrians. The battle ended with the defeat of the Italian army that retreated as far as the Piave River. The shrine of St Anthony houses the remains of more than 7,000 Italian soldiers who died during the war and is the only one that is not on Italian soil (the remains of Italian soldiers who died on Slovenian soil were mostly transferred to the Redipuglia and Oslavia ossuaries). From Kobarid the course starts climbing again through Livek (Luico), not far from the crest between Mount Kolovrat and Mount Matajur.

Pass of Tanamea.

KM 134

KOLOVRAT > SLOVENIA It is time to take in the 1 st-category climb leading to the 1145-metre high Kolovrat, an unprecedented ascent in the Giro d’Italia. During the Great War, the area was the responsibility of the 2nd Army of the Italian army, which had set up an elaborate defence system there. In the Battle of Caporetto the Italian defence line was broken by German troops led by the then Lieutenant Erwin Rommel, who would later be known as the “Desert Fox”. In this area the Kolovrat Open-Air Museum “the third Italian defence line” is worth a visit.

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Kolovrat museum trench.

From Kolovrat the course runs down toward the Italian border.

KM 168

CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA Past Tribil Superiore, the peloton reaches Stregna, a municipality that includes 21 hamlets and villages all featuring the ar-

chitectural style typical of the slavic culture, such as the houses with wooden balconies. Near Stregna is the 15th-century parish church of San Paolo Apostolo, in Cernetig. A passage through Merso di Sopra – a hamlet of San Leonardo – and Ponte San Quirino leads to Cividale del Friuli, where the intermediate sprint is set. Cividale del Friuli was founded by Julius Cesar with the name Forum Iulii (hence the toponym ‘Friuli’). Later, Cividale became the capital of the first Lombard duchy in Italy and then the seat of the patriarchs of Aquileia. This art city preserves assets included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with the serial site “The Lombards in Italy. The places of power (568-774 A.D.)”. In the historical centre notable

landmarks include the monastery of Santa Maria in Valle with the extraordinary Lombard Temple, the Cristian Museum and the

Treasure of the Cathedral (with the altar built by Duke Ratchis and the baptistery of the patriarch Callisto) and, last but not least, the National Archeological Museum. Characteristic of Cividale is the famous Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge), built in stone starting in 1442 and divided into two 22.5-metre-high arches. The Cividale cuisine is rich in traditional food products (Colli Orientali olive oil, latteria cheese, grappa) and typical old recipes, such as the famous gubana, an oven-baked cake made of sweet leavened dough with a filling of walnuts, sultanas, pine nuts, sugar, grappa and lemon peel. Cividale is the territory of DOC “Friuli Colli Orientali” and DOCG “Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit” wines.

Panorama of Cividale del Friuli.

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FINISH

SANTUARIO DI CASTELMONTE > UDINE > FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA Past Carraria the route leads up the 2 nd -category climb to the finish line at the Sanctuary of Castelmonte (612 metres above sea level) in the territory of Prepotto. The sanctuary of the Beata Vergine di Castelmonte arose from a castelliere, a sort of fortified protohistoric village. Its transformation into a Christian shrine and then a fortified church dates to the 13 th century. Today it is a very popular place attracting worshippers from the Triveneto region as well as Austria and Slovenia. Prepotto is a municipality where wine-tasting and slow tourism are a mainstay of the economy. The typical cuisine has been strongly influenced by history and exchange with neighbouring populations. One of its iconic dishes is undoubtedly frico, which is prepared using the scraps and remains of Friulian cheeses mixed with potatoes and onions. Also very important is white or yellow cornmeal polenta, which in the toc’ in braide dish is accompanied by a cream of Friulian cheese or a sausage ragout. Among the wines, Schioppettino stands out as the indigenous red grape variety that competes with the region’s white varieties, especially in the Prepotto area

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Campanile Sanctuary of Castelmonte.

and the Judrio Valley, as recognised by the ‘Schioppettino di Prepotto’ sub-zone of the ‘Friuli Colli Orientali’ DOC label.

NOTE

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FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a special-status region, historically comprising two areas: Friuli (accounting for about 96% of the territory) and Venezia Giulia (making up the rest, as a result of territorial changes made after World War II). The regional capital, Trieste, is one of four administrative provinces: the others are Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine. The region shares borders with Austria, Slovenia, Veneto and the Adriatic Sea. The history of the region includes Aquileia, a Roman colony founded in 181 BC, of which

stunning archaeological survivals remain, and, for more than a thousand years, a major religious and administrative centre with its own patriarchate. Then there is Cividale del Friuli, founded by Julius Caesar with the name of “Forum Iulii”, which gave its name to the entire region, and later became the capital of the Lombard Kingdom. And finally there is Udine that became the most important centre in Friuli, and the seat of the patriarchate of Aquileia, starting in the 13 th century. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a borderland and a meeting point of cultures, which live in harmony there. The very active associations of Fogolars Furlans (which translates as “The hearths of the Friulans”) connect Friulans throughout the world by past migration, and perpetuate its deeply felt tradition, starting with the Friulan language. In the Friulan Mountains, Sauris, in the Val Lumiei, is the region’s highest town at 1212 m. Its prosciutto crudo and speck are delicious. The prosciutto crudo of San Daniele, a pretty town on the plain, is internationally renowned. The Piancavallo district, in the province of Pordenone, is a popular ski station and a centre of winter and summer tourism. Piancavallo has welcomed many editions of the Giro del Friuli organised by the passionate Ugo Caon, and a stage of the 1998 Giro d’Italia won by Marco Pantani The hilly Collio, above all along the Slovenian border, produces fine wines, especially white, as well as grappa of the highest quality. The central plain is an area of agriculture and livestock farming, while along the coastline, long, sandy beaches (like the well-known beaches of Lignano, and Grado, with its lagoon) alternate with the magnificent rocky coast around Trieste. The Altopiano del Carso or Karst Plateau, with its distinctive set of phenomena comprising sinkholes, caves, and underground rivers, covers much of the provinces of Gorizia and Trieste. The regional economy developed rapidly in the second half of the 20 th century, with the spread of a dense manufacturing infrastructure, and tourism, followed by shopping centres and service-sector businesses. Among the major tourist attractions are Cividale del Friuli, the old town in Gorizia, Gemona, Palmanova, Villa Manin and Cormons, known to Italians as the hometown of Bruno Pizzul, a popular and beloved TV commentator. Trieste, with its history, monuments, culture and commerce, is a paradigm of an open, cosmopolitan city. Udine, with its towering castle, its glorious Duomo, the Loggia del Lionello, the Archbishop’s Palace with frescoes by Tiepolo, and the Palace of the Patriarch attracts tourists from all over the world, every year. Udine University is growing constantly, as is the L. Danieli Science and Technology Park. The smallest province is Gorizia, with its beautiful old town.

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Many natural and historical-cultural sites in the region have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage, including the Lombard ruins in Cividale del Friuli, Aquileia, the fortress town of Palmanova (built in 1593), the Dolomites of Friuli, and the prehistoric pile dwellings of Palù di Livenza. Typical dishes in the Carnia area include frico (crisp fried cheese), polenta, brovada (a stew made of turnip and pork), and wild game. Typical sweets include gubana, from the Natisone valleys, made of sweet pastry stuffed with nuts, sultanas, pine nuts, and grappa in a snail-shell shape. Slivoviz is a distilled spirit produced from plums. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is closely tied to the Alpine Corps of the Italian Army, which shares many behavioural traits with the locals, and contributed greatly to the work of reconstruction after the devastating 1976 earthquake. When the Giro d’Italia visits the region, the “Black Feathers”, both those in active service and veterans, bring their expertise to

the voluntary groups coordinated by Enzo Cainero who, for years, has harnessed sport to promote the region in concert with the appropriate institutions. His niece Chiara Cainero is an Italian sport shooter who won a gold medal in skeet at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The region has long produced excellent sportsmen and women, including footballers Ferruccio Valcareggi, Nereo Rocco, Enzo Bearzot, Cesare Maldini and Dino Zoff, to name the very cream. It has produced many top basketball players as well. The world heavyweight champion Primo Carnera (1906-1967) was from the tiny village of Sequals. Nino Benvenuti, Welterweight world champion and 1960 Olympic champion, was from Trieste. The Di Centa siblings Manuela, 1994 Olympic champion at Lillehammer, and Giorgio, twice-Olympic champion at Torino in 2006, are from Friuli. Twice Italian cyclo-cross champion Daniele Pontoni is from Udine.

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Belluno > Marmolada (Passo Fedaia) 168 km

28 may 2022 SATU RDAY

BELLUNO - MARMOLADA

opIMA pi

20 01 02

(Passo Fedaia)

Classic Dolomitic colossal stage. The race starts in Belluno along the Piave valley. It then rolls up through Agordo and Cencenighe. This is where the final triptych of climbs begins, with the San Pellegrino Pass (with gradients of over 15% after Falcade), the Pordoi Pass (Cima Coppi 2022) and the Fedaia Pass with the Malga Ciapela straight ahead, with a gradient that sits on 18%. After 14 years, the Marmolada is once again the finish line.

02 20 10 START

BELLUNO > BELLUNO > VENETO The route of the penultimate stage of the Giro 2022 starts in Belluno and then makes a short detour along the Piave valley. Belluno, the only Italian capital located within a national park, allows people to admire the splendour of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the flow of the river Piave. Piazza dei Martiri is the city living room, while Piazza Duomo is the heart of the city, with the Cathedral, Palazzo dei Rettori and the Civic Tower dominating the scene. The Gothic church of Santo Stefano is worth a visit, as is Palazzo Fulcis, a recently restored stately home and home to the Museo Civico. Surrounded by greenery, Belluno is home to the Alpe del Nevegal, a destination for skiers and ski mountaineers in winter and a paradise for hikers in summer. Belluno’s gastronomy is rich in excellent products, starting with pastin, a mixture of minced and spiced beef and pork that is excellent for grilling, indeed a secret recipe to each butcher. Let’s not make the palate miss Schiz a cheese from the rich local dairy tradition, to be baked or pan-fried. For those who love sweets, there are the giuseppine filled with

Panorama Belluno.

cream, a characteristic of the Belluno carnival, the spicy pan de Belun and finally the kodinžon, a tasty stick of dried apple. The writer Dino Buzzati and the playwright and actor Marco Paolini were born in Belluno. Leaving the town, we head towards Sedico, in a strategic position between the Val Belluna and the Cordevole valleys as far as the gateway to Agordino, which territory is crossed by the Alta Via delle Dolomiti no. 1; in particular, the Bianchet refuge is the starting point for excursions into the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. In the village of Bribanèt, there is the church of San Nicolò, built in 1502 and now become a national monument.

Belluno hosts a start for the eighth time in history. In 2014 was the last time the flag was dropped in Belluno, with the stage finish set at Rifugio Panarotta (18th stage). Julian Arredondo took his only victory at the Giro.

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KM 17

SANTA GIUSTINA > BELLUNO > VENETO The route then crosses Santa Giustina, a municipality halfway between Belluno and Feltre, with a territory that includes up North the Val Scura, the sources of the Vesès stream and the mountains within the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park constituting the western ridges of the Pizzocco group, while the southern portion displays hills that slope down to the Piave. The town is dominated by the imposing neoclassical church of Santa Giustina, built at the end of the 18 th century. From this point the race takes in to San Gregorio nelle Alpi, which territory is dotted with numerous villages: among these is the small village of Paderno with the 16 th-century Villa Sandi, probably the restoration of a small castle.

This is followed by Sospirolo, home to the Brentòn falls, a sequence of 15 deep cavities carved out by the waters of the stream flowing from crystal clear little waterfalls, and then Mas and La Stanga, town in the district of Sedico. A tunnel leads to Agordo, the economic and cultural centre of this area, home to the beautiful Villa Crotta-De Manzoni, built from the 16 th century onwards, and the characteristic church of Santa Maria Nascente, with two identical bell towers. Agordo is home to Luxottica, the world’s leading eyewear manufacturer. The race keeps rolling in Agordino area, passing through Listolade, a town in the municipality of Taibon Agordino with the typical characteristics of mountain villages.

City hall of Santa Giustina Belluno.

KM 63

CENCENIGHE AGORDINO > BELLUNO > VENETO The first intermediate sprint of the stage is in Cencenighe Agordino, historically famous for its stone working and the local tradition of stonemasons. The town centre is the point where the Val del Biois and the Val Cordevole meet, together with their respective rivers. Cen-

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cenighe Agordino is made up of many towns scattered throughout the municipal territory; the administrative seat is located at the bottom of the valley. From Cencenighe there is a cycle path which links the town of Mulan to Canale d’Agordo along the course of the Biois stream.

KM 72

FALCADE > BELLUNO > VENETO After a tunnel, Falcade emerges, the most important tourist centre in the Biois Valley: the Falcade San Pellegrino ski area offers

100 kilometres of slopes connecting Veneto with Trentino.

KM 81

SAN PELLEGRINO PASS > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The San Pellegrino Pass is then crossed, a first category KOM (1918 metres above sea level), that leads the group towards Trentino. A wide alpine pass, summer destination for excursions and trekking, both on the Costabella and Monzoni Group sides, and towards the Col Margherita and Cima Bocche areas, with interesting walkways dating back to the Great War. At the time of the Crusades, the Pass was the fastest and safest route between Germany and Venice, where people embarked for the Holy Land.

San Pellegrino Pass.

KM 93

MOENA > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The race then rolls down to Moena, the largest town in Val di Fassa. Moena lies in an alluvial basin and is a popular tourist destination both in winter and in summer for hiking or

mountain biking: the “Val di Fassa Bike” route runs through its territory, an event which attracts participants from all over Europe.

KM 99

VIGO DI FASSA > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The route continues through Vigo di Fassa, a town in the district of San Giovanni di Fassa from where a cable car reaches the 1998 metres of Ciampedìe in just a few minutes.

Particularly interesting is the Chiesa della Natività di San Giovanni Battista, one of the oldest buildings in the valley. Mazzin, at the valley’s narrowest point, is the next gate-

199

way, with the 16th century church of Santa Maria Maddalena and Casa Battel, one of the few examples of a rustic-heritage build-

ing, before reaching Campitello di Fassa, with the 13th century church of Santi Filippo e Giacomo.

KM 111

CANAZEI > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE The journey through the villages of Ladinia continues to Canazei, a well-known tourist resort, especially in winter, thanks to its easily accessible ski areas and ultra-modern ski lifts. Canazei is the annual venue for a round of the world skyrunning

championship, the Dolomites Skyrace, and is the crossroads for the Dolomite passes: the Sella Pass for Val Gardena, the Fedaia Pass for Alleghe and the Pordoi Pass for Arabba and Badia.

KM 123

PORDOI PASS > TRENTO > TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE At 2239 metres above sea level, we reach the Pordoi Pass, the historic passage of the Corsa Rosa, the Cima Coppi of this edition of the Giro (there is also a monument to Fausto Coppi). Passo Pordoi, nestled between Sass Pordoi and Sass Becé, marks the border between the provinces of Trento and Belluno. It is one of the four passes along the Strada delle Dolomiti (Dolomite Road), built at the beginning of the 20th century. A modern cable car takes people from the pass to the Boé Group, and in just a few minutes it is possible to reach the 2950 metres of Sass Pordoi, the most advanced spur south of the entire Sella Group. We then return to the province of Belluno to Arabba, a town in the district of Livinallongo del Col di Lana, on the banks of the Cordevole stream, which is part of the Sellaronda section of the Dolomiti Superski ski area, then on to the main town, Pieve di Livinallongo, and finally to the town of Cernadoi. During the First World War, these areas were theatre of fierce fighting for the possession of Col di Lana.

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Pordoi Pass 2239 m.

The race descends to approximately 1.000 metres to Caprile, in the district of Alleghe, at the entrance to the Pettorina and Fiorentina valleys, with the church of San Bartolomeo built in 1181 and rebuilt in the 15th century, and then soon returns to climb towards Sottoguda, a town of the municipality of Rocca Pietore.

KM 161

MALGA CIAPELA > BELLUNO > VENETO After a tunnel the intermediate sprint is at Malga Ciapela, a village that is part of the municipality of Rocca Pietore. Malga Ciapela is a tourist centre from

which the Marmolada cable car departs: divided into three sections, the cable car takes visitors to Punta Rocca, 3.265 metres, from where the “La Bellunese” ski run starts (12 kilometres and 1.810 metres of altitude difference), and allows people to visit the Marmolada Great War Museum in Serauta, 3000 m. From Malga Ciapela it is possible to take two

Frozen waterfalls serrai di sottoguda.

of the most evocative ski tours in the Dolomites: the aforementioned Sellaronda and the Great War Tour.

FINISH

MARMOLADA (FEDAIA PASS) > BELLUNO > VENETO Last uphill effort to reach the finish line at Passo Fedaia, located at 2057 metres, first category KOM. The area is characterised by the presence of the imposing artificial basin delimited by the dam that bars the head of the Avisio valley, giving rise to a lake just under 2 kilometres long. Passo Fedaia is located in the territory of Rocca Pietore, a community with a long history that has lived through important ex-

Fedaia lake.

periences, including the Magnifica Comunità della Rocca, a form of self-government during the Longobard period, and the First World War. In the area, it is worth visiting the parish church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Rocca Pietore, dating back to 1442, the small church in Sottoguda dedicated to Saints Fabiano, Sebastiano and Rocco, the sanctuary in veneration of the figure of Maria Ausiliatrice in Santa Maria delle Grazie and the church of San Gottardo in Laste, located on the characteristic Col da Gejia. Traditional dishes include canederli, known as balòte or bale, served in broth or with melted butter, speck or spinach and ricotta, or cheese; casonzièi or casunziei, half-moons of egg pasta filled with spinach and ricotta, pumpkin, red turnips or potatoes; local potato gnocchi with melted butter and smoked ricotta; menèstra da orz with smoked pork knuckle.

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NOTE

202

Verona > Verona Tissot ITT 17,4 km

29 may 2022 SU N DAY

21 01 02 VERONA (CRONOMETRO DELLE COLLINE VERONESI) Tissot ITT

A time trial on the Circuito delle Torricelle (of the World Championships) run counterclockwise. Its first part runs along straight and wide roadways. Then, a climb of around 5% gradient, with some “steps”. After the GPM and an intermediate split at the top of the climb, the riders will tackle 4km of fast downhill. A final 3km along city streets follows with some challenging corners before the final stage’s arrival in Piazza Bra and the Arena of Verona.

02 1201 DEPARTURE

VERONA > VERONA > VENETO The final stage of the 2022 Giro d’Italia is a time trial in the city of Verona, capital of the homonymous province. The city is situated in northern Italy at the foot of the Lessini Mountains on the River Adige. It dates from prehistoric times: a small built-up area that developed between the 4th and 3rd century BC became a Roman municipium in the 1st century BC after which it rose rapidly in importance. The core of the city consists of the Roman town nestled in the loop of the river containing one of the richest collections of Roman remains in northern Italy, like Ponte Pietra and Ponte Postumio, or the walls surrounding the city, less popular but equally interesting. In 1136 AD Verona became an independent commune. The city is known for being the land and crossroads of great poets and artists. Among the most popular ones, how not

to mention William Shakespeare, who set the tragedy of the lovers Romeo and Juliet within the Scaliger walls; Dante Alighieri, who for several years spent his exile as a guest of the Cangrande family; Paolo Caliari, known as Paolo Veronese, a great Renaissance painter. Among others, the poet Gaio Valerio Catullo, the writer Emilio Salgari, the actor Walter Chiari, the singer Gigliola Cinquetti and the physicist Carlo Rovelli were born in Verona. Veronese cuisine has been famous since Roman times, and its reputation continued for many centuries, until getting to the recognition of several DOP products. Among the traditional first courses, we must mention “pasta e fasoi” (pasta and beans), bigoli with sardines, gnocchi and the popular tortellini from Valeggio sul Mincio, known as the “lover’s knot”. The plains of Verona are covered

Arena of Verona.

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in rice fields, making it the main ingredients of many delicious meals like risotto with red chicory or with peas, known locally as “risi e bisi”. The best known risottos are “risotto all’Amarone”, cooked with the prestigious wine from Valpolicella, and “risotto al tastasal”, flavoured with pork sausage. Among the second courses we should mention the “pastisada de caval” and the “bollito con la pearà”, a sauce to go with the meat. In addition to the well-known Pandoro cake, other desserts are never missing on Veronese local tables: “Nadalin”, “crostoli” and carnival “fritole”. Also, the production of cheeses and sausages is worth mentioning: Monte Ve-

ronese cheese is undoubtedly the most popular, but many others are made in the Lessinia huts, along with local cured meats, such as the “soppressa” with garlic. Last, but not least, the production of olive oil, from Garda to Valpolicella, both DOP certified. The province of Verona rules the roost when it comes to wine: Amarone and Recioto from the Valpolicella, Bardolino Superiore, Recioto Soave, and Soave Superiore are DOCG certified, while among the DOC wines we must mention Bardolino, Bianco di Custoza, Valpolicella Ripasso, Soave and Lugana. The route starts in the Trade Fair area and then leaves the city towards the Maximilian Towers.

For the 9th time Verona hosts an individual time trial finish. The last time was the final stage of the Giro 2019 (Verona-Verona), with Chad Haga as stage winner and Richard Carapaz as the winner of the Giro.

KM 9

TORRICELLA MASSIMILIANA > VERONA > VENETO The route then climbs up to the 301 metre-high Torricella Massimiliana, a fourth

category GPM and partial time trial. The Maximilian Towers rise on the hills of the left bank of the Adige river, north of Verona, and take their name from the towers built in Linz between 1831 and 1833 by Archduke Maximilian. There are four fortifications, forming part of the city defensive system, built between 1814 and 1866 by the Austrians during the Habsburg domination. Cylindrical in shape, they are located on the dominant points of the ridge of Santa Giuliana. The towers are well preserved, despite the several damages suffered in the past; one of the towers is currently being used by the National Center for Atmospheric Physics and Meteorology for installing pylons and other devices.

206

Another tower is used as a reservoir for the city aqueduct, while the Fire Observatory of the State Forestry Department has included one of the towers in its appurtenances. The route then ends with the longed-for arrival at the center of Verona.

Maximilian Towers.

FINISH

VERONA > VERONA > VENETO The arrival is scheduled at the Arena of Verona in Piazza Bra. Considered to be the beating heart of the city, Piazza Bra houses the Arena, a Roman amphitheater known throughout the world for hosting the Opera Festival, as well as concerts and international events. Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its two-thousand-year history, which can still be felt today in the streets of the old town, as well as some traces of important periods of the European history. Not far from Piazza Bra, there is Piazza delle Erbe, the ancient Roman forum of Verona where most of the economic, political and social activities took place and still venue of the city market as well as meeting place for locals. The square is dominated by the Middle Ages Torre dei Lamberti, 84 metres high, from which you can admire a breathtaking view. A few steps away is the

Juliet’s balcony.

Casa di Giulietta, with the famous balcony, and the more hidden Casa di Romeo. Other interesting spots of the city are Piazza dei Signori, the Arche Scaligere, a group of five Gothic funerary monuments celebrating the Scaliger family, Castelvecchio, a military fort considered the most important military monument of the Scaliger family, the Roman Theater and the Cathedral, consecrated in 1187.

Panorama of Verona.

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Giro d'Italia 2020 | Roadbook ENG

Articles inside

20 BELLUNO > MARMOLADA (Passo Fedaia) Sa 28/05/22

19 MARANO LAGUNARE > SANTUARIO DI CASTELMONTE Ve 27/05/22

FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

17 PONTE DI LEGNO > LAVARONE Me 25/05/22

AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO

LOMBARDY

18 BORGO VALSUGANA > TREVISO Gi 26/05/22

MOLISE

HUNGARY

EMILIA-ROMAGNA

SICILY

CALABRIA

AOSTA VALLEY

MARCHE

CAMPANIA