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Via di Francesco - St Francis' Way - Southern Way from Roma to Assisi
Stage 4 - from Rieti to Piediluco
The fourth leg of the St Francis’ Way, one of the journey’s most arduous, takes you from Rieti to Piediluco.
The fourth leg of the Southern Way bike route is one of the journey’s most arduous, with four climbs and almost 1,000 metres of cumulative ascent. It leads out of Lazio and into Umbria, from Rieti to PiedilucoFrom
Rieti
To
Piediluco
Distance
44,5 Km
Height differences
900 meters
Surface
tarmac
Road Sign
No
Recommended Bike
hybrid, gravel, ebike
Water sources
yes (Rieti, Cantalice, Poggio Bustone, Rivodutri, Labro, Piediluco)
Degree of difficulty
challenging
The fourth leg of the Southern Way goes from Rieti to Piediluco, from Lazio into Umbria. It is one of the most arduous stretches of the journey from Rome to Assisi, with 4 ascents for a total climb of just under 1,000 metres, but it will also offer you some gorgeous scenery among the mountains of the Rieti Apennines. The trip starts from the centre of Rieti where, for a few kilometres, you’ll have to cope with city traffic.
After three kilometres of flat riding, great for warming up the legs, you have the first of the climbs, an 8.6 km ascent to the La Foresta sanctuary. Soon after the downhill from it you have another 6.5 km to go uphill to the charming town of Cantalice at the feet of Mt Terminillo. After the descent from this one, and a few kilometres to get your breath back and give your legs a break, is the third climb of the day, the one that goes to Poggio Bustone.
The itinerary does not go right into town, but if you feel like going up for another kilometre, you can visit it or rest up, even decide to call it a day if you don’t feel like continuing. If you do, from Poggio Bustone head towards Rivodutri over roads through verdant nature where cars are few and far between. It is after Rivodutri that you will face the toughest climb of the day, one that in 4 kilometres takes you all the way up to Morro Reatino. From there on the going is much easier and soon you will be at Piediluco, the first Umbrian town along the Southern Way, reached gliding downhill and over roads that are essentially flat along the shores of Piediluco lake, where you will be able to enjoy a very well-deserved rest..
After three kilometres of flat riding, great for warming up the legs, you have the first of the climbs, an 8.6 km ascent to the La Foresta sanctuary. Soon after the downhill from it you have another 6.5 km to go uphill to the charming town of Cantalice at the feet of Mt Terminillo. After the descent from this one, and a few kilometres to get your breath back and give your legs a break, is the third climb of the day, the one that goes to Poggio Bustone.
The itinerary does not go right into town, but if you feel like going up for another kilometre, you can visit it or rest up, even decide to call it a day if you don’t feel like continuing. If you do, from Poggio Bustone head towards Rivodutri over roads through verdant nature where cars are few and far between. It is after Rivodutri that you will face the toughest climb of the day, one that in 4 kilometres takes you all the way up to Morro Reatino. From there on the going is much easier and soon you will be at Piediluco, the first Umbrian town along the Southern Way, reached gliding downhill and over roads that are essentially flat along the shores of Piediluco lake, where you will be able to enjoy a very well-deserved rest..
What you should know before departure
Sources
There are sources of water at Rieti, where you will be able to get a supply of water for the leg of the journey, Cantalice, Poggio Bustone, Morro Reatino and Labro.Considering the altitude difficulties in the summer, we advise you to travel with two water bottles or a water reservoir.
There are sources of water at Rieti, where you will be able to get a supply of water for the leg of the journey, Cantalice, Poggio Bustone, Morro Reatino and Labro.Considering the altitude difficulties in the summer, we advise you to travel with two water bottles or a water reservoir.
Intermediate stages
This leg of the journey is hard, with four major ascents. Those of you who are less fit should take short breaks to recover energy and maybe even consider splitting the leg into two parts, stopping over night along the way in Poggio Bustone, which is the halfway point.
This leg of the journey is hard, with four major ascents. Those of you who are less fit should take short breaks to recover energy and maybe even consider splitting the leg into two parts, stopping over night along the way in Poggio Bustone, which is the halfway point.
Suggestions
The leg is arduous because it has four climbs for a total of about 1,000 metres, even though the gradients are not exceptionally steep. We suggest you start out slowly, make good use of your gears so as not to tire the legs on the first climbs and then find yourself unable to face the last climbs. Also make sure you stop along the way and rest and remember, once you have gotten past Morro Reatino, 32.5 km into it, the rest is all downhill and over flat roads all the way to Piediluco Lake, where you can finally relax. Don't forget to take a small food supply with you (fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, energy bars, mineral salts if it's very hot).
The leg is arduous because it has four climbs for a total of about 1,000 metres, even though the gradients are not exceptionally steep. We suggest you start out slowly, make good use of your gears so as not to tire the legs on the first climbs and then find yourself unable to face the last climbs. Also make sure you stop along the way and rest and remember, once you have gotten past Morro Reatino, 32.5 km into it, the rest is all downhill and over flat roads all the way to Piediluco Lake, where you can finally relax. 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 Terni.
Address: Via Cassian Bon, 4 - 05100 Terni
Phone: 0744423047 - Fax 0744427259
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Territorial Tourist Office of Terni.
Address: Via Cassian Bon, 4 - 05100 Terni
Phone: 0744423047 - Fax 0744427259
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Southern Way - Cycling stages
