Marked in the west by the ancient route of the Via Herculia, the Meridiana Cycle Route offers an intense travel experience through the iconic landscapes of the Lucanian Apennines.
It is a route of extraordinary scenic value that crosses the entire protected area, a veritable gateway to natural and cultural landscapes of rare beauty, towns and places of historical importance, archaeological sites and much more.
It is called 'meridiana' (meridian) because it transports travellers to the most authentic scents and flavours of the land of 'good encounters', offering a model of gentle tourism, uncontaminated by mass tourism, in the heart of southern Italy.
The Herculia was a strategic route for the transport of a wide variety and wealth of agricultural products that passed through the capital from Lucania, which the Romans called the 'regio optima': legumes, meat, lardum, lucanica, cheese, wine, oil and wheat... This productive vocation remains and is one of the most appealing ingredients of the Ciclovia Meridiana, a tradition that is reflected in a truly special food and wine offering that cycle tourists can enjoy by stopping at the many refreshment points along the route.
The Ciclovia Meridiana offers a main 308 km loop, which starts in Potenza and crosses the entire park area, six intersecting routes, a flat cycle path in the Agri Valley and, finally, the themed route 'La via dell'acqua' (The Water Way), which runs along the banks of the legendary Akiris, from the springs of Marsico Nuovo to the archaeological park of Grumentum.
Please note that the redevelopment of the Ciclovia Meridiana trails for cycling tourism is currently still underway (signage, information points, etc.). In any case, the main loop is fully accessible by following the GPX track available on this website.
Complete map
cycle routes
The Ciclovia Meridiana mainly consists of low-traffic roads with some short sections on cycle paths and cycle trails. It comprises nine routes, a main loop, five complementary intersecting routes and two themed itineraries that run alongside the River Agri:
1.Anello Ciclovia Meridiana (Ciclovia Meridiana Loop): 309 km +6070 m -6070 m (5 stages)
1A. Potenza-Viggiano (65,5 km + 1310 m -1200) | 2A. Viggiano-Lago Sirino [59 km + 1350 m - 1310 m] | 3A. Lake Sirino-San Martino d'Agri [63,2 km + 1220 m -1340 m] | 4A. San Martino d'Agri-Laurenzana [64.3 km + 1220 m -1170 m] | 5A. Laurenzana-Potenza [57 km + 970 m -1050 m]
The loop can also be divided into two parts thanks to the approximately one-kilometre junction located downstream of Viggiano:
Northern loop, Potenza-Viggiano-Potenza [160 km +3060 m -3050 m]
Southern loop, Viggiano-Lago Sirino-Viggiano [150 km + 3110 -3120 m]
Complementary intersecting routes:
B. Valico Sellata-Marsico Nuovo [22.2 km +220 m -690 m]
C. Calvello-Marsicovetere-Villa d'Agri [28.1 km +620 m -740 m]
D. Abetina Laurenzana-Viggiano [20.5 km +370 m -1370 m]
E. Spinoso-Moliterno [18.2 km +400 m -190 m]
F. Piani di Maglia-Cogliandrino [19.6 km +330 m -340 m]
I. Montemurro-Armento-Gallicchio [28,5 km +590 m -570 m]
Downhill routes on the Agri:
G. Anello Parco fluviale (River park loop) - Paterno [5.8 km +20m -20 m]
H. Via dell'Acqua Gravel Tour (The water gravel tour route)
Marsico Nuovo-Lago Pertusillo [30.6 km +120 m -380 m].
Useful information
Connections with other cycle routes: the Meridiana Cycle Route connects to the main existing national and international cycle routes (download the map of cycle routes in southern Italy): to the north, Bicitalia and Appennino Bike Tour, which passes through Potenza, Pignola and Abriola; to the west, La Via Silente - Cilento-Vallo di Diano (from Paterno to Padula); to the south, Eurovelo 7 "Ciclovia del sole" and the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria (from Lagonegro to Laino Borgo); in addition to this, the route connects at several points to the Anello dei Parchi Lucani, a 718 km route that connects all the protected areas of Basilicata (Guide).
Hospitality: each itinerary or stage offers adequate hospitality for cycle tourists: refreshment points and accommodation facilities that have signed up to the Park's Service Charter (find out more).
Services and assistance: the main services (rental, bike assistance, repairs) are available in the most populated towns along the Meridiana Cycle Route, as indicated in the specific section of the website (find out more).
Levels of difficulty: The Cycle Route has challenging gradients, so a good level of fitness is required, but with hybrid or e-bikes it is accessible to everyone. The river park loop (G), on the other hand, is a flat route that is also suitable for children, while La via dell'acqua (H) is partly on dirt roads and requires the use of gravel or MTB bikes equipped for off-road riding.
-
Green Road Award 2025
The Meridiana Cycle Route was awarded second prize at the Cycle Tourism Oscars during the award ceremony held in Trieste on 30 May 2025. The motivation was as follows: 'A cycle route with great potential that is part of the region's strong commitment to promoting slow tourism. Its vocation to be the link between the Cilento Park cycle route and the Pollino and Sila parks cycle route reinforces the value of the “meridian” role of the Basilicata Region'.
Ciclovia Meridiana Loop
The Ciclovia Meridiana loop covers 309 km and crosses the entire protected area of the Lucanian Apennines. It starts in Potenza, the regional capital, and returns there after passing through some of the park's most iconic landscapes: the Pantano di Pignola wildlife oasis, the Sellata mountains, Piana del Lago, the Agri valley and ancient Grumentum, the Sirino massif with its lake of the same name, skirted by the cycle path of the former Calabro-Lucana railway, Lake Pietra del Pertusillo, the Abetina di Laurenzana... A cycle route offering pure pleasure for passionate and adventurous travellers.
Sellata-Marsico Nuovo
The mountain trail passes through area of outstanding natural beauty, taking in some of the most mountains in the Lucanian Apennines [22.2km]
Calvello-Villa D'Agri
From the centre of Calvello, the route leads up to the magnificent Mount Volturino, passes through Marsicovetere and ends at Villa d’Agri [28.1 km].
Abetina-Viggiano
From one of the park’s most unique habitats, the Abetina di Laurenzana, you reach the historic centre of Viggiano, the town of the Black Madonna and the harp [19.3 km].
Spinoso-Moliterno
From the banks of the Pertusillo to Spinoso, the village overlooking the lake, and from there to Sarconi and Moliterno: a delightful journey through exquisite produce and works of art [18.2 km].
Piani maglia-Cogliandrino
From the Maglia river plateau, in the countryside around Moliterno, the route heads towards the ancient town of Herculia, then on to the River Sinni and Lake Cogliandrino, where Semuncla once stood [104 km].
Via dell'acqua/gravel tour
From Via delle Sorgenti in Marsico Nuovo to San Laverio Park, where the Agri and Sciaura rivers flow into Lake Pertusillo, on the outskirts of ancient Grumentum [30.6 km].
River Park Loop
The loop route runs along both banks of the Agri river in the Paterno area. It is a flat 5.8 km route, particularly recommended for those who want to enjoy a bike ride in the pleasant and rejuvenating surroundings of the Paterno River Park. Half of the route runs along a cycle path for exclusive use.
How to find your way around and get equipped
Signage
All routes are marked with directional and descriptive signs, which are located in particular at the arrival and departure points of each stage. The signs for each route are colour-coded.
The intersections of the Ciclovia with main roads are marked with warning signs, and along the entire route there are signs reminding motorists to observe the minimum safety distance of 1.5 m, inspired by the 'I respect cyclists' campaign.
The towns and villages at the start and end of each stage, as well as those through which the Ciclovia passes, are marked by totems displaying a map of the Ciclovia with an indication of the current location.
Service and rest stations
Near the National Archaeological Museum of Grumentum, centrally located along the Ciclovia, a rest stop is being set up that offers shelter and charging facilities for e-bikes and electronic devices via a solar-powered column: GPS coordinates: 40.28047° N, 15.90364° E.
Most of the towns and villages in the Park will soon have e-bike charging stations equipped with tools for minor repairs, and all accommodation facilities adhering to the Park's Service Charter allow e-bikes and digital devices to be recharged.
Recommended bikes and equipment
Gravel bikes and mountain bikes, including pedal-assisted models, are the most suitable, with off-road or mixed tyres for gravel (ideal width between 32 and 38 mm). Technical clothing suitable for the season chosen for the trip, bearing in mind that there are several points along the Ciclovia at high altitude, a water bottle, maintenance kit and GPS device.