Castelli Romani Dawn Loop · part 2

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Photo stop near Forano

   Silver-green olive groves cover the hills of the Sabina, the ancient land of the Sabines north-east of Rome, and the oil they produce is among the oldest protected olive oils in Italy. Forano is one of the small hill towns of the area, perched above the Tiber valley with stone houses and narrow streets, and from its edges the view stretches across the river to the volcanic hills and mountains beyond.

   Read the complete Photo stop near Forano write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Photo stop near Forano is where the day begins. Next is Rome / Central Italy return.

2. 2. Near Anagni, on the way back

   South of Rome the Sacco valley runs south-east between two lines of hills, and Anagni stands on a ridge above it, a town of grey stone that the Middle Ages treated as a second Rome. Four popes came from here, and for long periods the papal court lived behind its walls. This stop lies down below, between Anagni, Paliano and Gavignano, in the farmland of the Ciociaria.

   Read the complete Near Anagni, on the way back write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Rome / Central Italy return comes up about 97 km into the recorded legs. Next is Food stop near Cisterna di Latina.

3. 3. Food stop near Cisterna di Latina

   South of the Alban Hills, the land flattens into the Agro Pontino, the plain that was once the Pontine Marshes, a malarial wilderness that defeated the Romans, the popes and Napoleon. It was finally drained in the 1930s under Mussolini, in a vast project that created new towns, farms and canals. Cisterna di Latina sits on the edge of the plain, at the foot of the Monti Lepini.

   Read the complete Food stop near Cisterna di Latina write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   A break here. Next is Back to Castelli.

4. 4. Back to Castelli

   This low, flat island between two arms of the river is rich in history. It was the site of Portus, the harbour that the emperors Claudius and Trajan built to supply Rome, and the ruins of warehouses, docks and a hexagonal basin can still be seen. Ostia Antica, the old port town, is only a short ride away.

   Read the complete Castelli write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back to Castelli closes the day.