The Intrepida – “short” route

The Intrepida is a route on dirt roads, tracks, country roads, paved stretches. Every year, in autumn, a big “ciclostorica” (historical cycling race) is held, a celebration of vintage cycling, among old bikes, cyclists with mustaches and leather helmets. A non-competitive bike ride in company, surrounded by the beauty of the places and tempted by the food at the refreshment points.

Of course, it is not mandatory to wait the event of the cycling race in order to take this beautiful route, that is also permanently marked and is basically a big “eight” that can be cycled in three different ways: short route, 42 km; long route, 85 km; and “intrepid” route, which, with further extension, reaches 120 km.

It starts from Piazza Baldaccio, at the entrance of the ancient village of Anghiari and it enters the great 19th-century vault in Via della Loggia, then it goes down the hill along Via Nova. At the end of the descent, in front of us is the long straight stretch leading to Sansepolcro and cutting the plain of Anghiari in two, where the famous battle between the Milanese troops of the Visconti and the forces of the Florentine republic took place in 1440. But we turn left right away, along Via del Molin Bianco, along a beautiful stretch on dirt roads that winds along the plain of the Tiber.

We cross the SP 47 twice, passing in front of the beautiful Romanesque parish church of Santa Maria in Micciano, until we take the provincial road at the height of the hamlet of Motina, where we begin a challenging 6.5-kilometer climb that will take us from the 340 m of the plain to an altitude of 640 m.

Crossing the hill, we begin to descend along the SP 57 and after a few kilometers, we turn right to reach the ancient village of Ponte alla Piera, one of the most characteristic places of the route, with its stone houses and medieval bridge from the 13th century.

We continue downhill and, after passing a small artificial lake, we turn right in the direction of Tavernelle. At the junction with SP 43, we turn right and then immediately left to visit the elegant castle of Galbino, rebuilt in 1500 after a fire had destroyed it.

We continue the descent keeping to the orographic right of the Sovara stream. After a few kilometers, a fork on the right indicates Pianettole, a digression included in the long version of the Intrepida, which you can do if you still have time and strength (see the description of the long route).

High above us is Castle of Pianettole, also reached by a tough 1-kilometer climb at 17%.

Continuing on our original track, shortly after we turn left, crossing the stream, then we turn right and arrive at Castle of Sorci. One last stretch slightly uphill and here we are back in Anghiari, enjoying the beauty of the village and a well-deserved aperitif.