Project Description
Via Francigena is an old Christian pilgrimage route linking Canterbury in UK with Rome in Italy. We will ride the Bassa Valsusa segment, ringed by the Alpine peaks, across medieval abbeys and once-upon-a-time villages. A road born in the VI century and traveled by Kings, Popes, merchants, pilgrims and armies. From the Roman town of Susa to the maar lakes of Avigliana, this is a charming and unusual jaunt just nearby Torino.
The bike tour is free to join, you are welcome to leave a tip at the end if you liked it. We do it in the spare time, tell your favourite date and we’ll try our best to make it happen.
Duration: 8 hours |
55 km/460 metres gain |
Level: intermediate |
Start/End: Susa/Rosta |
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ALPINE TOWN OF SUSA | ORRIDO DI FORESTO | DIACONO MARTINO CYCLEWAY | VIA FRANCIGENA PILGRIMS’ ROAD | LUNCH WITH THE ARTISAN ICE-CREAM AND FRESH CHEESES | AT THE FEET OF SACRA DI SAN MICHELE CONVENT | VALSUSA BICYCLE ROUTE | AVIGLIANA LAKE | SANT’ANTONIO DI RANVERSO ABBEY
We meet in Torino, ride to the station and take the train to the alpine town of Susa (the train is provided with a bicycle compartment). The ride starts in this ancient municipality, located on the way to Moncenisio Pass and France. Heritages of the Roman Empire and Middle Ages can be found all over the town: the teathre, the walls and the gates are very well preserved and definitely worth a visit. Left Susa, we head towards the Orrido di Foresto gorges, a narrow canyon running by the mountain side. The landscape is just stunning: vertical limestone walls on both sides, with an alpine creek running in the middle. Past Foresto, we now hit the old Francigena trail riding through old farms at the feet of the Alps; few kilometers ahead is the medieval town of Bussoleno: we cross the Dora Riparia river and take a quick tour of the historic centre, adorned with buildings from the XIV century.
The route now follows the Diacono Martino cycle route winding across quiet mountain villages. We cross the bridge over river Dora and take the southern side of Valsusa valley, reaching the Agrigelateria farm: here, a family of cattle breeders produces cheeses and artisan ice creams only using milk from their livestock, which are fed outdoor on the alpine pastures. We will take lunch in the farm with a selection of fine ice creams and fresh cheeses: healthy, full of protein and tasty!
Back on the bicycle we tackle the Francigena cycle path until Chiusa di San Michele, at the base of the stunning Sacra di San Michele X Century abbey, the place which inspired the famous Umberto Eco’s novel The Name of the Rose. Past the Sacra, we now approach the Laghi di Avigliana natural park, a protected reserve featuring wild forests and maar lakes. We ride through the forest trails until Lago Grande (big lake), follow the lakeshores and reach the scenic Strada dei Laghi. We’re closed to the end of the today’s ride, the nearby train station of Rosta is our final destination. But we forst take a little detour to visit an unmissable place: the Sant’Antonio di Ranverso XII Century monastery, the most well preserved pilgrim’s restoration point of the Francigena of Valsusa ancient road.
DISTANCE: 55 km
ELEVATION GAIN: 460 mt
Region: Piemonte
Start/End: Susa/Rosta
When: on request, best from March to November
Info&Bookings: info@easytorino.com or fill the form above
Cost: free to join
Level of difficulty: intermediate
Duration: 8 hours
Distance/Elevation Gain: 55km/170 metres
Recommended bike: Touring, MTB. You can join with your own bike or we can help renting one (regular or E-bike). Please inform us if you need a bicycle
Note: in case of bad weather the tour might be cancelled
The tour is on request, you choose the date and we’ll do our best to make it happen. It takes place all year round according to the time availability of the bike host. Usually Spring, Summer and Fall are the best periods considering weather ad temperatures.
For Info&Bookings contact info@easytorino.com or fill the form above.
The outing is free to join: EASYTORINO is not a tour operator nor about guided tours nor a professional activity, but a welcome club of locals who love to share their places with the travelers, like with friends. You will pay your personal expenses (light lunch) directly to the business. They may vary depending on the chosen meal. The figures shown are therefore approximate based on average.
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PERSONAL EXPENSES 15€ PER PERSON INCLUDE:
– light lunch in the farm garden featuring a selection of cheeses, ice-cream, water
Additional services such as transfer to/from and bike rental, shall be quoted upon request.
The ride is hosted by an english speaking local expert (bike host) from our group: he is not a licenced tour guide but a volunteer, fine connoisseur of the places, culture and oenogastronomy. If you enjoyed the ride, you are welcome to leave him a gratuity
