From Ortona to the Canadian Cemetery pinewood - Acquabella - River Moro - San Leonardo - Santa Lucia - Ciampini - Ortona

The biker sets out from ortona goin downhill the National Route n.16 and following in the direction of San Vito as far as he reaches the Canadian Cemetery (3.5 km). He continues along the narrow road, which goes round the green meadows and the white parallel crosses in order to reach the pinewood. It is like an oen gym falling vertically to the sea, it has technical paths and up and dowhills slopes. The biker cycles in the pinewood shade d in fresh hair reaches long avenue at the entrance of the pinewood and follows it as far as a small step road dowhill on the left. Ce havin reached the level strech, the biker turs right and goes on the left side of the track which falls vertically to the sea as far as a second northern dirt road. He will rejoin it after a walk along an uneven pass. The byker cycles downhill to reach a little and sheltered bay, where are a few fishermen’s boats.

He climbs the step dirt road again as far as the hairpin bend and the narrow paved road that leads to the small outlying neighbourhood of Acquabella. Before going downhill it is worth following the bridle path beyond the hairpin bend, which leads to a lovely pinewood, a vineyard and to a splendid window on the reefs in the limpid blue seawater. From the hairpin bend the biker goes downhill onto a paved road and a stony track. He passes a characteristic group of houses (maybe fishermen’s in the past) beyond which a big artificial reef and the sea can be seen. The climbing back on the paved road is almost demanding for high slope even if it is not long. The cyclist turns left beyond a house and goes along an amusing dirt road downhill that brings him back at the sea level. The byker turns right on the far side  of the lower level onto an evident track  and reaches the near dirt road, which goes round River Moro. He follows this road for a long stretch in the direction of the mountains admiring the dense vegetation and then turns right to a sandy step dirt road. After a short level stretch the biker goes uphill on the right as far as he reaches the Adriatic National Route and follows the indications for the neighbourhood of San Leonardo at the crossroad. (8.5 km). He passes the National Route and keeps on pedalling for 1 km. As far as he arrives at a cross made of cement on the left and at a paved narrow road tha turns dirt. A lovely view on the hills and vineyards and the biker will reach again the road towards San Leonardo nearby a flyover of the Motorway A14. He turns left and goes on a dirt road, which will lead to San Leonardo and to the fresh fountain in the centre of the hamlet (12.3 km). The cyclist reaches the Church and goes on the narrow paved road in the direction of Contrada Licini. At the first fork he follows the dirt road downwards on the left, going straight to the next fork and others dirt roads. He goes on uphill on the left and along the narrow road with vegetation and thin canes in the background. He climbs again as far as a dirt road he will follow on the left side in order to arrive to the paved road (13.6 km). Following the direction of the sea along a level stretch on the right, he reaches the road that turns from San Leonardo to Ortona and turns left as far as a fork on the right indicating the neighbourhood of Santa Lucia. Passede the flyover of the motorway he reaches Santa Lucia and Ciampino, then goes dowhill as far as a cliff and a last short step climb, which will lead to Ortona at the crossroad with the National Route Marrucina where he started (20 km. All circuit).

From Francavilla or Chieti to Serramonacesca and through the erosion furrows of Casalincontrada

From Francavilla

The biker sets out from Francavilla Stadium and goes beyond the Tennis Circle along the neighbourhood called Valle Anzuca. He affords a short climb uphill beyond which he crosses the flyover of the Motorway and goes donwnhill. At the lower hairpin bend he turns left and then right, along a narrow road recently paved as far as the dog’s house. The dirt road begins here and after having gone downhill on a rectilinear stretch he goes to the shores of the River Alento. The presence on the left of some technical, steep dirt roads, which lead to higher road linking Piane with Ripa Teatina, makes this area a real gym for bikers. It is easily reachable and far away from heavy traffic, among vineyards and fruit trees of various kinds, and the biker has the possibility of watching hawks and waders.
The biker cycles up the level terrain along the shores of the river and climbs uphill a narrow paved road. He turns right at the fork above and goes to the dirt road uphill. He climbs uphill to the second fork and turns right on a level ground. Passing a small house he climbs shortly uphill as far as another dird road. He turns left on a slightly uphill climb and reaches another short level stretch and, after a last sprint, he reaches the road coming from Piane.
The cyclist follows this road on the right and climbs slightly. On the far side of the short downhill stretch at the bottom of the rectilinear section, he turns right and climbs uphill as far as a small group of houses. He goes to the right in order to cycle downhill on a dirt road. At halfway downwards, before passing a white small house, he turns left on a level ground. The biker affords the steep downhill slope on a flat and earthy roadbed, which goes round a vineyard. He climbs uphill immediately after, in order to reach another paved street as far as a crossroad. He goes downhill to the right and toward a quarry. The biker goes again along the river as far as he reaches a paved by-road nearby a petrol station. He follows the signs for San Salvatore and, after a short uphill climb beyond the flyover, he reaches the neighbourhood and goes on a light climb in order to turn left, following the sign for Contrada Alento. Beyond the underpasses he reaches a furniture farm and follows the level narrow road on the right. He reaches a by-road for Chieti and after having crossed it, he cycles on the dirt road, which widens into a cart track, in parallel with thw Highway for Guardiagrele, after having passed a small group of houses.
On the far side of a lovely rectilinar stretch it is worthwhile to cross the underpass on the left and to turn right and then left, on a steep climb. He reaches a small group of houses, beyond which he rides downhill on the paved road and, after passing the flyover, runs into the last stretch of the dirt road that will lead him to the Buon Consiglio road and the bridge over the River Alento (18.5 km. Mark from Francavilla).


From Chieti

On the road wich climbs somewhat from Brecciarola to Chieti, the biker affords the first long rectilinear stretch downhill from the fork for the neighbuorhoods of Colle Marcone and Buon Consiglio as far as a huge petrol station. He turns left immediately after, rides downhill along the woody cart track. He climbs a short stretch and crosses a small group of houses reaching the paved road again, (2.9 km.) following the right side in the direction of Bucchianico as far as a bridge over the River Alento (4 km.).


Common route

The biker turns right just before the bridge over the river Alento (coming from Chieti) and then left (avoiding to follow the paved rectilinear stretch). The narrow paved road turns earthy at 4.4 km. Mark (the kilometre are counted from Chieti). 5 kilometres further and after a short climb the biker reaches a narrow paved road and goes on downhill on the left. The view over the Maiella Massif in the background, the erosion furrows on the right and Bucchianico on the left is really lovely. The biker reaches a small riding track at 6.5 km. And turns left for a short stretch downhill. He climbs uphill on the right for 100 metres. The biker begins to go round the Highway for Guardiagrele and passes near the first spectacular erosion furrows at 7.6 km., clearly visible on the right and beyond a gate that forbids the entrance to the street.
Immediately after, at 7.8 km. Mark, the biker turns left on the cart track, which crosses the Highway through an underpass and goes on in parallel. The biker passes a big petrol station and a fork. He turns right at a second fork (10 km.) and goes to the other side passing through an underpas. He is now, avoiding the heavy traffic, on the road for Casalincontrada. The biker turns left and at the district of Reginaldo turns right toward Casalincontrada. He tackles the easy climb and at 15 km. From the startig point, before entering the village, he reaches a big bar with a small area, nearby a crossroad with a by-road on the left. He cycles as far as the far side of the road and turns right on a dirt road at 15.5 km., nearby the big gate of a garden. This road will lead the biker along the ridge of a spectacular tour among steep erosion furrows and cornfields, and a view over the Majella Massif ahead, Roccamontepiano, Serramonacesca and Castel Menardo as the Alento valley on the left and the Pescara valley on the right.
A great erosion furrow, which is like a spoon, can be admired from a spectacular point at the edge of the precipice on the right (17.5 km.).
Passing a steep stretch and a small hill the biker reaches a fork at 18.5 km. It is worthwhile avoiding to go downhill on the left toward the path, that climbs steeply toward Roccamontepiano, but he’d better go straight on towaerd Serramonacesca, passing near the famous and horrible aerial, reaching a labyrinth of narrow paved roads. (He ca see the road, that links Manoppello and Serramonacesca). A stop and a tour of the beautiful San Liberatore a Majella Abbey, plunged into green meadows, would certainly be in order. It is worthwhile to ride the testing uphill stretch the following day. The climbing is really evocative for its landscape, which climbs on a dirt road, that turns in a path manageable by mountain bike, from 330 m. Of altitude of Serramonacesca toward the Abbey and then Brecciarola as far as 1.350 metres of altitude of Passolanciano. For the return route the biker turns right from the labyrint of the narrow paved roads and goes downhill for 1.5 km. as far as the district of San Gennaro. Before entering he leaves the paved road and turns left on an uneven dirt road downwards. It is worthwhile to dismount because of the clayey sediments made by the landslides.
He crosses a paved road coming from Manoppello Scalo for Casalincontrada at 23.3 km. and goes along the earthy cart track on the right in the direction of a hill, which has to be reached through a short, but really steep stretch manageable by bike. At the top of the hill the cart track becomes more evident and continues on a long ridge in the direction of Casalincontrada, among cornfields that go down to the valley both sides.
After a few short sprints, at 25 km. mark, he reaches a locality callede Barbarossi and goes to a paved narrow road.
1 km. further, he turns left toward Ripacorbaria which is reachable after a downhill ride and having rounded a small lake among cane-brakes (28 km). 1 km. further, after the sign for Colle Cirino street, the biker turns right on a grassy track: a narrow road which has earthy and grassy sections, among cultivated lands begins here and will lead to Contrada Brecciarola of Chieti.
The narrow road turns onto paved roads climbing somewhat to Casalincontrada. At 31.5 km. the biker has passed a stetch among high grass and turns left and 500 m. further on the right through Via delle More, which will lead to the same narrow road he cycled. He climbs a short uphill as far as a big storage bin. At 32.6 km. the narrow road passes through the golf grounds of Brecciarola. He follows the narrow dirt road with a lovely antique tower with battlements, settled on a ridge on the left. He passes beyond the barrier and goes downhill on the left toward the paved narrow road. He reaches the road, which links Brecciarola with Chieti (34.2 km.), turns right and climbs toward Chieti as far as the fork of Colle Marcone, where his tour started (km. 38 complete circuit).

From the neighbourhood of Pretara to S. Giovanni waterfall

The biker sets out from a neighbourhood called Pretara at 26.1 km of the National Route 263. He heads for a dirt road on the right, riding round a wire netting, turns left at the first fork and right at the second one in order to go to a lovely and shady beech wood. The cyclist reaches a clearing and goes along it as far as two slopes. He goes on the right along the evident grassy cart track. As soon as he gets at a quarry at 750m. he turns left and goes across the meadow as far as he runs into the dirt road coming from the bottom of the quarry. (It is worthwhile to avoid going downhill along the dirt road). He goes uphill on the right in the shadow of the gigantic oaks as far as a white house and a municipal road at 1.5 km. He goes on the right for about 100 m. and then turns left toward a long dirt road, nearby a barn.
He goes across a narrow paved road after 300 m. and turns right getting to the road which links Pretoro to Bocca di Valle, after havin climbed slightly at 2.4 km. The biker goes on a dirt road, which is at first in dense wood and lately amid olive groves and the big quarry of Rapino, nearby a crumbling tower and a famous Grotta del Colle.
When the biker arrives at a tank for water he can choose between the road which goes round the cave, in order to reach the suggestive gorge leading to the Path E 1 or to turn left for the National Route 263 and to climb as far as the fork for Forcatura, joining the Path n.22, after having climbed a very steep narrow road recently paved. If the biker chooses the first way he turns right and goes downhill on a stony roadbed at 3.7 km, then climbs a steep, uneven street, which leads to a level terrain and to a visible metal tower, nearby a fountain at 3.9 km and 530 m. of altitude. The biker goes round the quarry and along the stony mule track uphill arriving near a stream and a drinking through at 4.5 km. He plunges into a lovely pinewood inside the gorge. 1 kilometre further, the biker dismounts his mtb and walks on a short uneven stretch, because of the numerous stones on the mule track (when the snow dissolves in spring the track is like a riverbed). The biker reaches the dirt road coming from Forcatura at 5.6 km. (Path E 1 toward Fonte Matteo) and follows the right side of a lovely stretch within dense wood. He keeps on klimbing and going round the noisy streem. 1.2 km further along a steep, but manageable climb the biker rides on a short level terrain. A last print on a rocky ground and the cyclist leaves the mule track near a wooden sign for the Path called Italia (Sentiero Italia) at 7 km and 825 m. of altitude. He turns left for thr bridle path in dense wood and a really amusing stretch of single track. The cyclist keeps on climbing as far as 8 km and 870 m. of altitude, where he starts going downhill at first on a ricky ground and then on an earthy roadbed on the left as far as Ornelli source. (8.4 km and 810m.). He goes on the cart track as far as the yellow gazebo, where he turns right toward the earthy narrow road, which will lead to the road running between Bocca di Valle and Piana delle Mele (9.1 km and 790 of altitude). The cyclist might well consider the option of avoiding the climbing on the paved road, reaching Piana delle Mele few hundreds metres downward and running into an evident mule track, after a climb on the right. He might also turn right on the paved road and turn to the hairpin bend at 10 km. and 850 m., where is the mule track that leads to the bridle path on the left, climbing uphill as far as the mule track and the grassy level terrain on the left, nearby Piana delle Mele, whi ch is 10.5 km further. Once having passed the barrier and having stocked up with fresh water from the source under the pinewood, the biker goes onto the bridle path and reaches a second barrier, which obstructs the way to motorised vehicles. The cyclist comes by the lovely dirt road under higher pine trees and reaches Valle delle Monache, with a picnic area and a fresh water of the fountain (12.5 km and 1.050 m). (It is possible to follow the bridle path but the climb is not all manageable by mountain bike. The cyclist enters the track on the left from the hairpin bend and climbs shortly the most demanding stage of the ride. He immediately finds a leveller and more manageable stretch. Proceeding into deep wood and with the Block-House in the background he reaches the ford of the stream, which originates the waterfall (14 km and 1.080 m). Once having passed the stream, whose flow is at its maximum level in spring obliging the biker to dismount for crossing its ford, he walks uphill the stony roaded for 200 hundreds metres. Remounting for a short level terrain he goes dowhill onto a step and earthy path, which requires a fairly solid technique (14.2 km and 1.110 m).On the far side of the slope the biker avoids the brook and goes to the left following the white and red signs for the Path n.24. He encounters the evident sign for the waterfall on the left. Dismounting for a short section on a mule track he reackes his destination at the foot of the waterfall. A stop here would be in order to enjoy the refreshing and lovely place. For the route back the biker comes back to the bridle path and goes downhill on an uneven track, which turns, immediately into a long smooth stretch. The cyclist crosses the stream twice as far as a last stretch uphill and to the tank for water. He walks downward an uneven roadbed as far as the mule track marked as Path n 24 (16 km) and goes along the lovely gorge as far as Bocca di Valle (18 km). He turns left toward the National Route as far as the junction of Forcatura (19.8 km) and then again to the cave of Rapino (21.5 km), where once having passed the dirt road on the left he reaches the metal tower and the fountain of the outward route. He goes to the same way he did as far as Contrada Pretara (26 km all circuit).