Ciclovia Meridiana Loop

A five-stage journey through the Lucanian Apennines Park

From north to south: on the roads of "good encounters"

Main loop

Departure and arrival: Potenza, FAL station
Length: 309 km
Elevation gain: 6070 m
Elevation loss: 6070 m

The main 308 km loop starts from Potenza, the capital of Basilicata. Retracing the ancient route of the Via Herculia, it crosses the Fossa Cupa beech forest and, in Madonna del Sasso, offers a spectacular terrace overlooking the southern Apennines, reaching the highest point of the route at 1372 m. Shortly afterwards, it reaches Sasso di Castalda and then Marsico Nuovo, the park's headquarters. The journey continues in the Agri Valley, where the cycle route touches the archaeological area of Grumentum, one of the major cities of the Roman era, before climbing back up to the peaks of Sirino (1368 m), overlooking the coast of Maratea, which can be seen on the descent leading to Lagonegro.

From here, the route joins an enchanting track for exclusive use, between the bridges and tunnels of the former Calabro-Lucana railway, through which you first reach the lovely Lake Sirino and then the old station of Lauria. Leaving the track, the Ciclovia Meridiana climbs back up towards Castelsaraceno, San Chirico Raparo and San Martino d'Agri. It runs alongside the large Lake Pertusillo and arrives at Montemurro, the village of the poet Leonardo Sinisgalli. Now close to Viggiano, the town of the Black Madonna of Sacro Monte, patron saint of Basilicata, it climbs towards Abetina di Laurenzana where, at about 1200 m, it encounters the monumental white fir trees. Descending once again, the Ciclovia Meridiana reaches Val Camastra and then climbs back up through Calvello and Abriola towards the Sellata forest, from where it descends again towards Pignola and the Pantano Wildlife Oasis, returning to Potenza via the cycle path.