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Via di Francesco - St Francis' Way - Southern Way from Roma to Assisi
Stage 3 - from Ponticelli di Scandriglia to Rieti
The third leg of the Southern Way begins at Ponticelli and after a series of arduous climbs leads to Rieti.
The third leg of the Southern Way begins at Ponticelli and after a series of climbs and towns in the Sabina area, leads you to the Holy Valley of RietiFrom
Ponticelli di Scandriglia
To
Rieti
Distance
45 Km
Height differences
1400 meters
Surface
tarmac - dirt road
Road Sign
No
Recommended Bike
hybrid, gravel, ebike
Water sources
yes (Poggio Moiano, Monteleone Sabino, Poggio San Lorenzo,
Torricella in Sabina, Ornaro Basso, Rieti)
Torricella in Sabina, Ornaro Basso, Rieti)
Degree of difficulty
challenging
The third leg of the Southern Way goes from Ponticelli di Scandriglia to Rieti, passing by many towns in the Sabina area. It is also one of the journey’s most difficult legs in terms of distance (45 km) and cumulative climb (some 1,400 metres).
The first stretch is through olive groves on a road that immediately starts going uphill, towards Poggio Moiano. Once past Monteleone Sabina you head down towards the Via Salaria Vecchia road to then climb up to Poggio San Lorenzo, more or less the midpoint of the day’s ride. If you want to split this leg in two, then stop here for the night. From Poggio San Lorenzo you continue uphill to Torricella in Sabina as the landscape gradually changes and the olive groves give way to woods of a diverse variety of oak trees.
Past Torricella in Sabina is another climb, this time to the little town of Colonetta, and here the worst of the day’s ascents is over. The rest of the way goes over undulating roads that pass by such towns as Ornaro Basso and San Giovanni Reatino before you actually reach Rieti, through the Park of the Terme di Fonte Cottorella.
The first stretch is through olive groves on a road that immediately starts going uphill, towards Poggio Moiano. Once past Monteleone Sabina you head down towards the Via Salaria Vecchia road to then climb up to Poggio San Lorenzo, more or less the midpoint of the day’s ride. If you want to split this leg in two, then stop here for the night. From Poggio San Lorenzo you continue uphill to Torricella in Sabina as the landscape gradually changes and the olive groves give way to woods of a diverse variety of oak trees.
Past Torricella in Sabina is another climb, this time to the little town of Colonetta, and here the worst of the day’s ascents is over. The rest of the way goes over undulating roads that pass by such towns as Ornaro Basso and San Giovanni Reatino before you actually reach Rieti, through the Park of the Terme di Fonte Cottorella.
What you should know before departure
Sources
Water fountains can be found in the towns you will come across along the route, so a San Giovanni Reatino, Ornaro Basso, Torricella in Sabina, Poggio San Lorenzo, Monteleone Sabino e Poggio Moiano. The itinerary is challenging and therefore we advise you to travel with two water bottles or a water reservoir.
Water fountains can be found in the towns you will come across along the route, so a San Giovanni Reatino, Ornaro Basso, Torricella in Sabina, Poggio San Lorenzo, Monteleone Sabino e Poggio Moiano. The itinerary is challenging and therefore we advise you to travel with two water bottles or a water reservoir.
Intermediate stages
This is one of the most arduous stretches of all of the Southern Way, both for the distance and the total climb. If you think it might be too much for you, or you find yourself especially exhausted after the climbs, then break it into two and spend the night at Poggio San Lorenzo.
This is one of the most arduous stretches of all of the Southern Way, both for the distance and the total climb. If you think it might be too much for you, or you find yourself especially exhausted after the climbs, then break it into two and spend the night at Poggio San Lorenzo.
Suggestions
It is a really beautiful leg of the journey with plenty of towns along the way, but it is also an exhausting one, with a total climb of 1,400 metres. We suggest you go more slowly than you otherwise might, especially at the beginning, so that you pace your energy consumption as the tomorrow’s stretch is another one where everything you have will be required. Don't forget to take a small food supply with you (fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, energy bars, mineral salts if it's very hot).
It is a really beautiful leg of the journey with plenty of towns along the way, but it is also an exhausting one, with a total climb of 1,400 metres. We suggest you go more slowly than you otherwise might, especially at the beginning, so that you pace your energy consumption as the tomorrow’s stretch is another one where everything you have will be required. Don't forget to take a small food supply with you (fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, energy bars, mineral salts if it's very hot).
Information (e.g. how to get there using public transport)
Territorial Tourist Office of Rieti.
Address: Via Cintia, 87 - 02100 Rieti
Phone: +39 0746 264106 – 8 – 0
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Territorial Tourist Office of Rieti.
Address: Via Cintia, 87 - 02100 Rieti
Phone: +39 0746 264106 – 8 – 0
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Southern Way - Cycling stages
