Girifalco - Serra San Bruno
The stage starting in Girifalco (446 m) marks the entrance of the Ciclovia in the Catanzaro Preserre. In just 5.5 kilometres we reach Covello Park (815 m), the mountain located in the centre of the Isthmus, a magnificent place in which to regenerate. A demanding ascent that continues until Km 11 where the highest point of the stage is reached at 880 m. above sea level. From here begins a steep descent that passes the junction for Polia (Variante Lago Angitola) and heads towards Chiaravalle on the SP145. At km 18 you arrive at Cenadi, a pleasant village with just over 500 inhabitants, and continuing downhill for another two kilometres you arrive at San Vito sullo Jonio (400 m), the village known for its ancient mulberry cultivation and the production of briar pipes, a tradition it shares with Brognaturo. After San Vito, the route continues with continuous ups and downs to Chiaravalle Centrale (525 m) in an area marked by vegetable gardens, orchards and cultivated hills. From here you pedal slightly uphill through hazelnut and beech groves to Torre di Ruggiero, a village founded by Ruggiero I the Norman. Once past the town, at Km 33 turn towards Simbario on the SP150 through the countryside of Cardinale, known for its hazelnut production. After climbing the slopes of Mount Pietre Bianche (818 m), the first ferns begin to appear, marking the landscape of the Serre Park. Having passed Simbario and Spadola, we proceed in the direction of Serra San Bruno (798 m), the town of the magnificent Certosa di Santo Stefano, which we reach at Km 46, following the Ancinale River.
ITINERARY AND DESTINATIONS
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Places you must visit
Iron Foundry in Mongiana
Established in 1771 under the reign of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, the iron foundry in Mongiana was used for war production and it was active in the field of civil engineering. Its furnaces made the iron for the suspension bridges over the Garigliano (Ponte Real Ferdinando) and Calore (Ponte Maria Cristina) Rivers and for the rails of the first Italian railroad, Naples-Portici.
The Marian Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Bosco
The Sanctuary in Santa Maria del Bosco takes its name from the church of Santa Maria, which stands at the centre of gigantic white fir trees, where the founder of the Carthusian Order did penance and was buried. An artificial lake evokes this thaumaturgist Saint’s moments of solitary prayer.
The Carthusian monastery of Serra San Bruno
The Carthusian monastery of Serra San Bruno was the first Certosa (Carthusian monastery) in Italy, and the second of the whole Order. It is located in a picturesque wooded area on the outskirts of Serra San Bruno. It was founded between 1090 and 1101 by Brunone of Cologne, founder of the Carthusian Order and the Grande Chartreuse near Grenoble.
climate
It is a stage that can be walked at any time of the year, preferably from March to November. During the winter season, snow may fall on Monte Covello, which is encountered in the initial part of the route, and heavy rain may fall in Serra San Bruno.
Food, drink and accommodation
Farmhouses, hotels and B&Bs are present in Girifalco and Serra San Bruno. In the villages along the route, there is no shortage of restaurants and trattorias offering local products and typical cuisine. The Ciclovia crosses mostly woods and green areas, where water sources are always available.
Clothing
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It is recommended to use a bike suitable for long distances, a gravel or mountain bike, also with pedal assistance. It may be appropriate to fit off-road (or mixed) tyres in the case of gravel. Although the route is on asphalt, it is a good idea to provide a set-up that allows you to safely tackle sections in the woods that may have mud and gravel in bad weather.
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If you want to travel with a tent, you can stay in tent camping sites or campsites, agritourism and bivouac areas. To learn more please visit the Parks’ websites.
