[email protected] a rather suggestive view of the hamlet the of view suggestive rather a Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino e Pesaro di Provincia 3. Belforte all'Isauro, all'Isauro, Belforte 3. www.turismo.pesarourbino.it of “Rocca Ubaldinesca” “Rocca of 2. Sassocorvaro, the courtyard courtyard the Sassocorvaro, 2. di Carpegna di 1. Carpegna, Palazzo dei Principi Principi dei Palazzo Carpegna, 1. e Simoncello” e Cover: “Parco del Sasso Simone Simone Sasso del “Parco Cover: to 1000 metres. 1000 to 3. “Sassi”. A difficult itinerary which climbs up climbs which itinerary difficult A “Sassi”. landscape with its two giant rocks or rocks giant two its with landscape characteristic of the tour is the unique the is tour the of characteristic enchanting and quiet countryside. The main The countryside. quiet and enchanting Sasso Simone e Simoncello, through an through Simoncello, e Simone Sasso through the heart of the natural park of park natural the of heart the through The proposed itinerary leads the cyclist the leads itinerary proposed The Piandimeleto • Mercatale • Piandimeleto S.S. 73 bis to Sant'Angelo in Vado • Vado in Sant'Angelo to bis 73 S.S. Inland: From signs for Urbino (S.P. 423) • Ca Gallo • Mercatale Mercatale • Gallo Ca • 423) (S.P. Urbino for signs Autostrada A14, Pesaro Exit • follow road follow • Exit Pesaro A14, Autostrada Coast: the From How to reach Sassocorvaro: reach to How 2. trained cyclists trained Intended for: for: Intended asphalt Type of road: road: of Type BELFORTE ALL’ISAURO BELFORTE Level of difficulty: difficulty: of Level m. 1195 1195 m. CARPEGNA Total ascent/descent: Total 5 h / 5:30 h 5:30 / h 5 DEL SASSO SIMONE E SIMONCELLO E SIMONE SASSO DEL Estimated time: Estimated PARCO REGIONALE REGIONALE PARCO km. 74 74 km. Total length: Total SASSOCORVARO SASSOCORVARO Racing or Mountain bike Mountain or Racing 1. and its Rocks Rocks its and Recommended bicycles: bicycles: Recommended 330 (start), 1007 (max) 1007 (start), 330 Altitudes: The Park The Sassocorvaro, piazza Garibaldi piazza Sassocorvaro, Starting and finishing point: point: finishing and Starting cycle tour cycle cycle tour cycle 9 9 ° ° tourist information Sassocorvaro W 330 R 60 From its hilltop position, the town dominates the Foglia Valley and is centre of the village stands the admirable Princes' Palace, (Palazzo reflected in the waters of the artificial lake of Mercatale. The town dei Principi) built in 1675 for Cardinal Gaspare di Carpegna. Among the extends along the side of the hill from where it is possible to admire religious buildings, the church of San Sisto with its splendid the splendid panorama of Montefeltro. Of notable interest is the XV Romanesque crypt is also worthy of note. Carpegna is also a well- Century “Rocca Ubaldinesca” designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. known summer and winter tourist resort. Information: Comunità The interior of the castle houses a perfectly preserved small theatre Montana del Montefeltro, tel. 0722 770073. and an art gallery. The castle was used during the Second World War as a secret storage place for the more important Italian works of art, Belforte all'Isauro W 344 R 60 hidden there to prevent them from being plundered by the retreating This fortified hamlet is located in the upper Foglia valley on the border Germans. For a number of years now, this event has been remembered with Tuscany and stands on a rocky outcrop between the banks of the through an initiative called "L'Arca dell'Arte", which honours the Isauro and Fossato rivers. At the entrance to the hamlet stands the modern-day saviours of major works that would otherwise have been parish church of S.Lorenzo which houses a painting by the Barrocci lost forever. Worthy of note is the XVIII Century Palazzo Battelli. school and a crucifix which is said to be miraculous. The ancient three- Information: Town Hall, tel. 0722 76133; Tourist Office, tel. 0722 76873; storey castle is also rather interesting. Information: Town Hall, tel. Rocca Ubaldinesca, tel. 0722 76177. 0722 721101. Parco Regionale del Sasso Simone e Simoncello This Natural Park was founded in 1994 by a regional law and covers a total area of 4,847 hectares. The “Communes” that make up the park are: Carpegna, Pennabilli, Frontino, Piandimeleto, Montecopiolo and altitudes Pietrarubbia. The park has numerous parking areas from where it is possible to visit the protected areas. The Nature Museum is also open to the public and has an annexed Visitor's Centre for schools and nature lovers. The two “rocks”, Simone (W 1204) and Simoncello Passo Belforte Carpegna (W 1221) are the main feature of the park with their immense square all’Isauro Cantoniera Sassocorvaro Sassocorvaro forms. The park is also home to numerous species of wild animals and Piandimeleto birds, such as foxes, hares, roe and fallow deer, wild boar, peregrine 1007 950 falcons and the Apennine wolf. Information: Park Authority, tel. 0722 m. 1000 770073; Park Visitor's Centre, tel. 0722 75350. 800 Carpegna W 751 R 65 600 Carpegna is a well-known mountain locality on the slopes of the mountain of the same name. The numerous footpaths make the area 400 the ideal place for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. At the 200 W = altitude above sea level in meters 0 R = distance from Pesaro in kilometres 0 10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0 70,0 74,0 km. 9° cycle tour Tour, starting point Other tours Main roads Secondary roads Places of natural interest Uphill stretch Scale 1:110000 Start: Sassocorvaro: the start point is in Piazza Garibaldi. The piazza is in front of the castle “Rocca Ubaldinesca”, which also provides a good reference point. Here, we are in the old centre, which is well equipped with all the amenities for touring cyclists. Km. 0 From the piazza, take via S.Francesco [W 330] passing alongside the town hall. 50 m from the start, turn right at the stop sign. The road goes down towards Mercatale [W 203]. Km. 1,2 Mercatale. After 600 m., turn left at the roundabout towards Carpegna, Belforte all'Isauro. Km. 3,4 At the junction, follow the signs for Piandimeleto, Lunano. Km. 9,1 Continue on towards Lunano, Belforte all'Isauro. Lunano is reached after 100 m. Km. 10,3 At the fork, (signpost right for Lunano and left for Urbania) go straight on. Km. 11,3 At the junction, turn right towards Carpegna, Frontino. At the next junction, immediately after the first one, turn right again towards Carpegna, Frontino. Km. 11,4 At the stop sign, turn right. Continue down towards Carpegna. The road is more or less flat for a few km, after which it starts to climb up to Carpegna. Km. 17,8 Continue towards Carpegna. Km. 18,3 The road enters the “Parco del Sasso Simone e Simoncello”. Km. 22,4 At the junction, turn left towards Carpegna. Km. 22,5 Carpegna [W709]. At the junction, continue straight-on towards “Passo Cantoniera”. To visit the old centre of Carpegna, turn right. Km. 24,1 At the junction, follow the signs for Pennabilli. 500 m. further on, follow the signs for Passo della Cantoniera. Km. 28,2 Passo della Cantoniera is at the top of the hill [ 1007 m]. At the pass, there is a road junction: turn left for Valpiano, Miratoio, Sestino. Sasso Simone is on the left. Km. 33,5 At the stop sign, turn left towards Sestino, Miratoio. Km. 38 Road junction with no signposts: turn left. After the junction the road arrives at Miratoio [W 835]. Km. 40,5 Val di Ceci di Sopra. Once through the village, the roads starts a long uphill climb, approximately 3 km. Once through the pass [W 949] the road goes downhill again. Take maximum care! The road is narrow with dangerous bends and steel slopes. Km. 48,5 The stop sign signals the bottom of the hill. Turn left for Sestino, Pesaro. The hamlet of Sestino starts after 700 m. Km. 50,1 Continue towards Pesaro, Monterone. Follow the signs for Pesaro for the next few km. Km. 54,6 Monterone [W 428]. Belforte all'Isauro is reached after 2.2 km. Km. 59,4 Piandimeleto [W319]. 50 m after the traffic lights, follow the signs for San Angelo in Vado. 1.4 km further on, follow the signs for Carpegna, Mercatale. Km. 61,3 Continue towards Lunano. Lunano is reached after 1.3 km. Km. 62,9 At the junction, follow the signs for Mercatale, Lunano. Km. 70,8 Mercatale. Follow the signs for Pesaro. 600 m. further on, follow the signs for Sassocorvaro. Km. 72,2 At the junction, turn right towards Sassocorvaro. Sassocorvaro is reached after 1.5 km. Km. 74 The road arrives at Piazza Garibaldi. 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.