Departure: Valico Sellata
Arrival: Marsico Nuovo
Length: 22.2 km
Elevation gain: 220 m
Elevation loss: 690 m
This mountain route crosses areas of great natural beauty, touching on some of the most famous mountains in the Lucanian Apennines.
It starts from the Sellata Pass at 1,254 m, where it crosses the Ciclovia Meridiana Loop in the Abriola-Potenza section. From here, it continues southwards, reaching an altitude of almost 1,400 m in Contrada Pierfaone, on the Marsico Nuovo-Lama-Sellata provincial road, and arrives at Serra Giumenta, where the descent towards Piana del Lago begins on the left at km 9. A stop at this pleasant spot, surrounded by a forest of centuries-old beech trees with spring water sources, is a must. A magnificent dirt road surrounds the lake basin, where it is not uncommon to encounter horses and Podolica cows grazing. The journey continues southwards with gradients of between 6 and 7%. After passing Timpa del Lupo, the woods open up onto the Agri valley, which can be seen on the left beyond the clearings and fields rich in dog rose and broom, in an area also notable for the presence of wild orchids such as Ophrys lucana. Once you reach the districts of Cognone and Calabritto, you will come across the first houses announcing your arrival in Marsico Nuovo. The village suddenly appears at km 19.8, with the dam preceding the historic centre of Civita and the crown of mountains overlooking the valley, offering a magnificent view. The town square, the end point of the route, is reached shortly thereafter at km 22.2, the ideal place to set off to discover the historical and architectural beauties of Marsico Nuovo, the ancient seat of the diocese that dominates the Agri Valley with its three hills.
