3° 3° cycle tour cycle tour

Starting and finishing point: , piazza San Cristoforo Monte Nerone: Altitudes: 280 (start), 772 (max) 1. Recommended bicycles: between Racing or Mountain bike Total length: km. 79,5 wild nature Estimated time: 5:30 h / 6 h Total ascent/descent: and charming m. 1243 Level of difficulty: hamlets Type of road: URBANIA asphalt Intended for: trained cyclists 2. MONTE MONTIEGO E GOLA DI GORGO A CERBARA How to reach Urbania: COMPLESSO MONTUOSO From the Coast: Autostrada A14, Exit • Superstrada direction • Fermignano • Urbania (S.P. 4) DEL MONTE NERONE From Inland: S.S. 73 bis (from Bocca Trabaria o from Urbino) S.P. 4 Metaurense (from Fermignano)

The itinerary winds its way through the natural countryside and mountain roads of Monte Montiego and Monte Nerone. This tour is for trained cyclists, with three main climbs (max. alt. 772 m) well spread out over the 80 km route. The itinerary offers a splendid combination of art and nature. 3.

Cover: Piobbico, view of the hamlet with Castello Brancaleoni 1. Urbania, Palazzo Ducale on the Metaurus river 2. Urbania, il Barco Ducale www.turismo.pesarourbino.it (Ducal hunting lodge) Provincia di e Urbino 3. Monte Nerone mountain chain [email protected]

tourist information

Urbania W 280 R 55 Located in the Upper Metaurus Valley alongside the river which flows conifer plantations and pastures near the summit. The Regional past the ancient city walls, Urbania, which once bore the name of Environmental and Countryside Plan (Piano Paesistico Ambientale Casteldurante, lies in a hilly - mountainous region at the foot of Monte Regionale delle Marche) of 1990 designates the Gorge as a nature Montiego. The town has numerous historic and artistic monuments, reserve, which also includes the nearby Fosso dell'Eremo. Of an- including the prestigious Palazzo Ducale, which houses the town thropical interest are the rural agglomerates of Montiego, Castello dei library, the historic archives, the Civic Museum and the Museum of Pecorari and the Chiesa dell' Orsaiola. Country life. Worth visiting are the “Chiesa dei Morti” and its mummy cemetery, the renaissance complex of the Barco, hunting lodge of the Monte Nerone mountain range dukes of Urbino, and the nineteenth century “D. Bramante” theatre. Monte Nerone (W 1575) has its own unique geomorphologic characte- Famous throughout the world are the ancient ceramics of Casteldurante ristics. The heavy calcareous stratification and its fossils, in fact, decorated with historical scenes, which are still being produced today recount the long history of the Apennine Mountain. All the more thanks to the efforts of local craftsmen. The area is very popular with typical ecosystems of the peninsula are represented on its slopes and cyclists with a number of cycling associations and specialist cycle the spectacular landscape is one to admire. Wolves still live in its shops. Information: Tourist Office, tel. 0722 313140. woods, trout swim in its streams and the golden eagle still nests on its rocky summit. Information: Centro Educazione Ambientale (Environ- Piobbico W 334 R 71 mental Education Centre), tel. 0722 985455. The town of Piobbico stands between Monte Nerone and Monte Montiego at the confluence of the rivers Biscubio and which flow together through the centre of the town. Surrounded by green woods, the town is a much appreciated central Apennine health resort offering sporting activities in direct contact with nature. Of altitudes great historic and artistic interest is Castello Brancaleoni which still today dominates the underlying medieval quarter. The interior of the castle is rich in late renaissance frescoes and stucco work. Worthy of a Gorgo Cerbara Urbania visit are the Church of Santo Stefano, the Santuario di Santa Maria in Urbania Piobbico Secchiano Colombara

Val d'Abisso and the beautiful historic centre. Information: Town Hall, 772 tel. 0722 986225. m. 800 540 600 570 Monte Montiego and Gola di Gorgo a Cerbara Monte Montiego (W 975), also known as Mondiego, is bounded by the 400 valleys of the Metaurus and Candigliano rivers. The latter river has, on its south-east side, created a gorge called the “Gola di Gorgo a 200 Cerbara”, a site of important scenic and palaeontologic interest. The 0 rest of the mountain is characterised by extensive wooded areas, 10,00 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0 70,0 74,7 km.

W = altitude above sea level in meters R = distance from Pesaro in kilometres 3° cycle tour

Tour, starting point Other tours Dual carriageway, exit Main roads Secondary roads Railway line Places of natural interest Uphill stretch

Scale 1:125000

Start: Start from piazza S. Cristoforo in the centre of Urbania. This lively piazza provides all the logistical support required. Urbania is also a very popular town for cyclists. There is a cycle shop nearby. km. 0 Zero the milometer in front of “teatro Bramante” [W 280]. Cycle towards the public park continuing along the S.S. 73 bis. km. 0,4 At the roundabout, follow the signs for Sant'Angelo in Vado. km. 0,9 At the crossroads, turn left for Piobbico. 100 m. further on, continue straight-on towards Piobbico. km. 4,9 The road starts to climb. After 2.3 km, the road goes through the pass [W 540], and then downhill towards Piobbico. km. 14 Piobbico [W 334], turn right at the bridge towards . km. 14,5 After the tree-lined road, go straight-on at the stop sign. km. 20,5 Turn left towards Monte Nerone. After 300 m., turn left at the junction towards Monte Nerone, Serravalle. The road starts to climb [W 436]. km. 22,3 Colombara [W 519]. km. 27,8 The road goes through the pass [W 772]. Continue towards , Serravalle di Carda. km. 28,2 Continue through Serravalle di Carda and then downhill towards Cagli. km. 31,6 Continue on towards Cagli. km. 36,5 Pianello [W380], is at the bottom of the hill; turn right towards Cagli. After 500 m., turn left at the junction towards Cagli. km. 43,4 Secchiano [W 318]. km. 44,2 At the junction, turn left towards Piobbico, Rocca Leonella. The road climbs for about 4 km [pass W 570]. Warning: the road is narrow in places and very uneven! km. 54,6 The road goes downhill for about 2 km. Warning: steep hill! km. 56,8 Turn right at the stop sign [W 340] (S.p. 257). The road passes through the Gola di Gorgo (gorge), at Cerbara, formed by the faces of Monte Nerone and Monte Montiego. Continue for a few km along a slow descent to Bellaria at km 66.9 [W 227]. km. 67,4 Turn right towards Urbania. The road climbs for about 2.5 km [pass W 338]. km. 76,6 At the stop sign, turn left towards Urbania (S.p. 4). km. 79,2 In Urbania, leave the S.p. 4 after the traffic lights by turning right along corso Garibaldi which leads into piazza San Cristoforo. km. 79,5 Arrival in Piazza San Cristoforo of Urbania.

place of historical interest place of naturalistic interest crossroads can be misleading traffic can make this stretch dangerous W = altitude above sea level in meters