VERONA - ROME A MOTORCYCLE TOUR CROSSING THE APENNINES
Many motorcyclists know Verona, the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet, but probably only a few have heard about Campo Imperatore. It is a magnificent plateau in the heart of the Apennines, located at the foot of the Corno Grande, the highest peak in the mountain massif Gran Sasso. It offers an evocative panorama very similar to that of the Plateaus of Tibet and that is why it was nicknamed the small "Tibet of Italy". For this reason, the Italian motorcyclists consider it the second-best destination in Italy where to take a ride on their motorcycle. (the first one is nothing less than the king of the Alps, the legendary Stelvio Pass).
Indeed, the tour from Verona to Campo Imperatore, which follows the Apennines ridge, is one of the most spectacular routes, where to ride a motorcycle in Italy. This itinerary is rich in many winding roads crossing various natural environments in this mountain massif and where you can enjoy astonishing views. Just out of curiosity: shortly after passed Bologna you will enter the track that for decades has been the "Test Road" of Ducati, that means, it has been here, on this winding road full of bends where this worldwide famous motorcycle manufacturer has been testing its prestigious motorcycle models since many years!
Here below are all the places you will cross or touch:
Regions crossed: Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo
Main Cities: Verona, Florence, L'Aquila
Art Cities:
- Verona; Florence;
- Poppi: is Medieval Tuscan village characterized by an imposing castle that overlooks the whole Casentino area;
- Badia Tedalda: is another Tuscan Medieval village located at the crossroads of three regions: Tuscany, Romagna, and Marche;
- Gualdo Tadino: is an Umbrian village located on the top of the Sant'Angelo hill overlooked by the Rocca FleaPieve Torina;
- Castelsantangelo sul Nera: it is surrounded by medieval walls featuring a characteristic square tower that rises towards the sky;
- Castelluccio: during springtime, its meadows become a riot of flowers, a pleasure for the eyes, unfortunately, this small village is now semi-destroyed in the 2016 earthquake;
- Calascio: is an old Medieval village where you can visit the ancient, 13th-century stone fortress of the same name (Rocca of Calascio), the symbol of Abruzzo and one of the highest fortresses in Italy with its 1450 meter height visited by many tourists every year;
- Castel del Monte: is surrounded by an extraordinary Apennine mountain environment and considered one of the most beautiful ancient villages in Italy.
Mountains:
- Appennino-Tosco Romagnolo, Tosco-Marchigiano, Monti Sibillini. The Italians call them "Enchanted Mountains" and are truly a unique setting;
- Gran Sasso: the highest mountain massif in the Italian Apennines where the Campo Imperatore, the small Italian "Tibet" is nestled among its rocks.
- Lakes: Campotosto, a beautiful artificial lake whose water reflects the majestic shapes of Gran Sasso.
