Mountain bike
The spirit that the bikers of the entire planet share is a love for this technological means in the natural environment (asphalt is out!) So, it is fun to bike for health and while together being in touch with nature at its best, for a real pleasure of the body and mind. What makes the difference in practising mountain bike by the lake of Bolsena is that the activity is included in a larger contest, with many historical and naturalistically interesting spots.
Everybody knows that the Etruscan people, inhabitants of the area, left evident traces of their living which still now it is possible to admire while biking around. It is easy to be fascinated by the Cimini mountains at the Eastern side, by the Amiata mountain at North side and by the Tirrenean sea if looking West.
ITINERARY
Depending on the time, the level and needs of the group it is possible to study different journeys suitable to everybody. Two areas though are suggested however (see also chapt. “trekking”) Due to their big interest they’re “protected areas”: The first is “La Selva del Lamone” on Ischia di Castro’s area and “Monte Rufeno” reserve, this is an extraordinary natural park on the northern Viterbo territory close to Acquapendente, it offers a spectacular variety of landscapes and animals.
Furthermore, the surrounding is very well organized in the tourism sector ( see ref. on website). The purpose of our proposal is oriented towards well being in open air, physical activity, cultural interests. All this located in a beautiful natural surrounding. Are you willing to spend a day with us? Contact our representative and we will be pleased to go with you, as we said we need to know your preparation level, your time available, and we’ll be able to offer you a suitable solution.
THE PROPOSAL: ARCHEO BIKE
The range of sporting, environmental and cultural opportunities offered to tourists by the Bolsena Lake, has now taken a very interesting twist: an archaeological excursion by mountain bike. The most willing of bikers will be able to mix the pleasure of cycling with that of visiting the place where the Acropoli of the ancient Vesentum probably rose, appreciating the lovely view of the Lake as of our predecessors, and moving on towards the necropolis Pianezze (IV sec. B.C.), near the village of Grotte di Castro, its legitimate heir, and after having crossed the Passo della Montagnola (639 height a.s.l.), dropping down to the woods and meadows towards the Lake of Mezzano, the home of the ancient Statonia, where traces of Protovillanovian lake – dwellings have been found.
According to many scholars, it is just near the basin of the above mentioned lake, and precisely on the Mount of Becco (567 a.s.l.), that the Etruscans built the famous FANUM VOLTUMNAE, a temple dedicated to Voltumna, the mother goddess of the whole of Etruria.
The “Olympic Pan – etruscan games” occurred in this place every year, a sporting, religious, political and cultural event which brought the people of the Dodecapoli together. The place is really pleasant, lending itself to the natural setting for a monument. However, the definitive certainty of its precise position has yet to be verified. The Lake of Mezzano, located in a pollution free environment, offers to tourists with a completely different view of the Alta Tuscia of Lazio.
Suddenly, climbing up over Monti Volsini which embraces the Lake of Bolsena, almost appearing to defend it , one finds itself in front of this naturalistic unusually alpine pearl, where deep green and cobalt blue prevail.
As far as one knows, 70% of the path (about 50 Km) winds both along “Percorso dei Briganti” (the Path of Brigands),and the edges of the “Selva del Lamone” (Lamone Forest), in a still intact environment , where one feels at home on a bike. Slopes are never prohibitive and the landscapes, lookouts and environment, where one moves, will widely compensate for the efforts made. Anyway the distance could be divided into two shorter excursions, of about 25 km each:1) Vesentum and Pianezze; 2) Vesentum and the Lake of Mezzano.
