Support Vehicle Arrangements

If we end up having a support vehicle, here is some brief commentary on arrangements for driving and parking. The general plan would be to have a mid-size hatchback/station wagon to travel with us from Bologna to Lecce. There would need to be room in it for two people and one or two bicycles and some luggage.

It may be that one person does not ride but travels in the car the whole way or we may (somewhat) evenly sharing the driving and riding. There is provision in this plan for driving part of the way on any particular day and the ability to take on a navigator or a different driver for the tricky bits into towns at the end of each day's route. Several of those planning to go on the ride have past experience driving in Italy.

Note that no day has more than two hours of driving, split over two or thee segments. So this means you can take your time leaving in the morning and still arrive at each stop in plenty of time!

Highlighted in Orange is the destination to set in Google Maps (or similar) for each leg.

Bologna to Galeata

This looks straightforward. From the car rental at the airport it is easy to get on the main road to Forli, the E45. We could make a place to meet up at Forli. Off street parking looks easy once you get out onto SP9ter. After that there are many small towns where it will be easy to get refreshments or a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator perhaps at Bar Tabacchi La Para. After that it is a route with few turns to Galeata, where there is free parking close to the B&B at Piazza Antonio Gramsci.

Note that, if the cyclists get delayed starting from Bologna, the 100km for the day may not be practical. Add to that the first 65km is flat and straight urban/suburban riding so not one of the highlights of the trip. We may decide to "skip" the first 35, 50 or 65km by catching the train to Imola, Faenza or Forli respectively. Or we could ride out as far as Imola and then catch the train to Forli. There are one or two regional trains every hour and it takes one hour to get to Forli.

• Google Maps destination Bar Tabacchi La Para, Via Roma, 2, 47121 Para. 60 minutes.
• Then Piazza Antonio Gramsci, 47010 Galeata. 30 minutes.

Galeata to Sansepolcro

The car will follow the same route as the bikes for the 24km to San Piero in Bagno.  After that you have the choice of using the SS3bis (autostrada). The next convenient place to meet up is at Pieve San Stefano at 58km for lunch and a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator. From there you can again take the SS3bis (autostrada)  all the way to Sanspolcro. On arrival there is a big public parking area at 24 Via Malatesta (on SS73) which, depending on where you stay may be close enough.

• Google Maps destination Via Tiberina, 20, 52036 Pieve Santo Stefano. 60 minutes.
• Then Via Malatesta, 24, 52037 Sansepolcro. 20 minutes.

Sansepolcro to Ponte Valleceppi

Almost the whole route could be done on the SS3bis autostrada, then onto Strada Tibertina Nord, Via Arno and you are almost there. There is free parking at 31 Via Bologna near the church which is only a 60m walk to the B&B. As an alternative, at Umbertide you could take the exit and join Strada Tibertina Nord which is the secondary road. We could meet up in Umbertide which is after 42km for the riders to have lunch and possible driver swap or addition of a navigator.

• Google Maps destination Piazza Mazzini 1, 06019 Umbertide. 40 minutes.
• Then Via Bologna, 31, 06135 Perugia. 30 minutes.

Ponte Valleceppi to Todi

Pop back out to the SS3bis and then E45 which takes you to Todi. After leaving E45 for SS79bis, the bike route and car route come back together and it would be easy to stop for a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator at 80 Località Ponterio. In Todi, parking might be problematic in some parts of the town but there is a large parking area at Circonvallazione Orvietana (SS79bis). You turn in at or just before Via San Raffaele, so get directions to there. This is quite central. Worth crawling around to find a spot because it is quite a large parking lot, used by the CONAD supermarket. 

• Google Maps destination Località Ponterio, 80, 06059 Todi. 30 minutes.
• Then Via S. Raffaele, 2, 06059 Todi. 5 minutes.

Todi to Narni

Use SS3bis and the SS675 from the big cloverleaf. After that take the San Gemini exit and head for Narni on SS3ter (Via Tiberina). This is where you rejoin the cycling route. At 285 Via Tuderte in Narni Scalo there is a large car park where we can meet up and possible driver swap or addition of a navigator for the last uphill bit. There is a left turn onto SP1. It then goes up and up, becomes Via Flaminia and then Via Roma, through the little piazza and becomes Via Vittorio Emanuele. My B&B at #23 says it has a car parking space.

• Set Google Maps destination to Via Tuderte, 05035 Narni Scalo. 30 minutes.
• Then Via Vittorio Emanuele, 23, 05035 Narni. 10 minutes.

Narni to L'Aquila

The bike riders are going by train, so for the driver there is no reason to stop in between. One of the riders might choose to go by car if there is room. Arriving at L'Aquila the best parking is at Parcheggio Lorenzo Natali which is off Viale Giacomo Caldora. This underground free parking station has a moving walkway straight to Piazza Duomo. How good is that!

Update: despite my best efforts I can see no evidence that work on the underground walkway is complete. You need to be prepared to use the street instead. It only adds 100m to the trip.

• Parcheggio Lorenzo Natali, Viale Giacomo Caldora, 67100 L'Aquila. about 90 minutes.

L'Aquila to Sulmona

Following the bike route today as far as Raiano might make sense. It is direct and scenic.  It would be a good place to stop for refreshment and possible driver swap or addition of a navigator. Plenty of parking at Piazza Tullio De Michele with nearby eateries. The main street is one way so you have to go down and double back (take a left at Via Quattro Novembre) to get to the Piazza.

Only 12km from Raino to the finish! Arriving at Sulmona, parking is easy to get to, at the intersection of Via Tratturo and Via Porta Romana, only a few hundred metres from accommodation.

• Google Maps destination San Demetrio ne' Vestini, 67028 Province of L'Aquila. This is just to keep you on the bike route. 20 minutes.
• Then Piazza Tullio De Michele, 67027 Raiano. 45 minutes.
• Then Via Porta Romana & Via Tratturo, 67039 Sulmona. 20 minutes.

Sulmona to Colli al Volturno

It might make sense for the car to use SS17 to Roccaraso which is about the half way mark in terms of distance. There is good parking at 15 Via Claudio Mori. We will have lunch nearby there. After that we diverge again with the car on SS17. Ultimately we all end up on SS652/SS627. Soon afterwards (at around 61km for the bikes) there is a rest area cafe at "Il Poggio" which would be a good place for a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator.

It is only 14km almost all downhill from there to Colli al Volturno which is a small town and street navigation and parking will not be a problem.

• Google Maps destination Piazza Giochi della Gioventù, 1, 67037 Roccaraso. 40 minutes.
• Then Caffé Grill, 86087 Rionero Sannitico. 30 minutes.
• Then Via delle Mainarde, 9A, 86073 Colli a Volturno. 15 minutes.

Colli al Volturno to Benevento

Following the bike route makes sense. We will stop for lunch after 50km at Alife, Compania. There is convenient parking at Via Alcide de Gasperi. Soon after we meet SS372 and the car can stay on it all the way to Benevento. The last chance for a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator is at Telese Terme (on Via Roma) with about 30km to go.

On arrival in Benevento there is parking at 1 Piazza Risorgimento. The blue parking bays you have to pay for but up the back are some free ones. This is fairly easy navigation.

• Google maps destination Corno di Orio, 86073 Colli a Volturno IS, Italy (just to stay on bike route).
• Then Via Alcide de Gasperi, 12, 81011 Alife. 60 minutes.
• Then Via Panoramica del Lago, 2, 82037 Telese. 30 minutes.
• Then Piazza Risorgimento, 82100 Benevento. 30 minutes.

Benevento to Accadia

Today's driving route should be the same as the riding route. Once out of Benevento it is rolling countryside with small towns all the way. Navigation in Accadia is easy (the hotel is in the main street) and there should be plenty of parking straight outside. The driver can find an appropriate place for lunch and possible driver swap or addition of a navigator somewhere at or after Ariano Irpino. There are lots of lunch places... It is spectacular scenery and quiet roads the whole way!

• Google Maps destination Trimonti, 83031 Province of Avellino (to get on the correct road). 50 minutes.
• Then Bar Rosanna, Via Martiri, 73, 83031 Ariano Irpino. 10 minutes.
• Then Via Borgo, 64, 71021 Accadia. 40 minutes.

Accadia to Lavello

A nice easy day with a straightforward route to the hotel.  It is a short ride and almost all downhill! The route takes a sequence of "SP" quiet country roads. After Candela at 20km there is nothing much to interrupt the riding except the views! There is parking right out the front of the hotel but if it is full there is another area about 200m down the street.

• Google Maps destination Piazza Plebiscito, 16, 85024 Lavello. 60 minutes.

Lavello to Matera

A longish day with perhaps the trickiest arrival. There are opportunities for refreshments at several towns along the way, with Spinazzola (33km) and Gravinia in Puglia (70km) the most promising.  We won't meet up in Gravinia. After Gravinia, the car should stay on SS99. At 91km there is a service centre with a large parking area at Borgo Venusio. We will meet up there for a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator. There are only about 11km remaining.

I can negotiate paid parking at a date closer to our arrival but there is also the Parcheggio Via Madonna della Virtu' which holds about 50 vehicles. If there is a spot free then take it! It is an easy walk from there.

• Google Maps destination Bar Snack Autolavaggio MELY, SP232 km 45.270, 70058 Spinazzola. 30 minutes.
• Then Centro Commerciale Venusio, SS99, KM 12.7, 75100 Borgo Venusio. 60 minutes.
• Then Parcheggio via Madonna delle Virtu', 75100 Matera. 20 minutes.

Matera to Alberobello

An easy drive. Going by car you can skip driving through most of the towns along the way.

We will stop for lunch and a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator in Noci, Piazza Garibaldi looks the best bet as there are several eateries. Noci does not look high pressure in terms of parking but if there is nothing around the Piazza try 11 or 14 Via Sold Rocco Tinelli (two parking lots, one at a supermarket).

To get to the accommodation in Alberobello, aim the navigation at 15 Via Olmo. Our actual accommodation is a few doors down in a pedestrian-only area. As soon as you hit Via Olmo, look for a parking spot! If all else fails there is parking at Parcheggio Traversa Giovanni XXIII which is a 400m walk. Via Olmo is pretty quiet, so just park anywhere to unload!

• Google Maps destination Via Sold Rocco Tinelli, 14, 70015 Noci. 60 minutes.
• Via Olmo, 15, 70011 Alberobello. 20 minutes.

Alberobello to Ostuni

We will explore Locorotondo after only 10km. There is a large parking area on the east side of town at Piazza Antonio Mitrano. Easy to get to. There is a lovely park just outside Piazza Vittorio Emanuele which is a good place to meet up. It is either an early lunch here or we wait until Ostuni. After Locorotondo the car and bike routes diverge so this is the place for a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator.

Parking in Ostuni is either use paid parking or be optimistic and hunt, but it is a maze of one way streets and easy to get lost and there is a big camera-enforced ZTL. There is reliable paid parking at Via Giosue Pinto and it is only 200m from the central piazza, but it is €1.20/h! Instead I recommend "Ostuni Foro Boario" parking with access from Via Peppino Orlando. It is very basic, but guarded and only €4.00 per day. Navigation to this parking area is easy. It is about 400m walk to my accommodation!

• Google Maps destination Piazza Antonio Mitrano, Locorotondo. 20 minutes.
• Then Via Peppino Orlando, 1, 72017 Ostuni. 40 minutes.

Ostuni to Lecce

A straightforward route, more or less the same for car and bikes. First through/around Mesgane and then a stop at Cellino San Marco at 46km for lunch and a possible driver swap or addition of a navigator. Perhaps a winery lunch at Masseria Li Veli would be good! Then onwards to Lecce. On arrival, head for Corte Vincenzo Licci which has meter parking and is very close to the hotel. We can unload and then dispose of the hire car if that is the plan. Otherwise there is long term paid parking at Viale S. Nicola which is not too far.

• Google Maps destination Masseria Li Veli, S.P. Cellino-Campi, Km 1, 72020 Cellino San Marco. 60 minutes.
• Then Corte Vincenzo Licci, 73100 Lecce. 30 minutes.