Langhirano to La Spezia – bike rides to the Italian coast

Langhirano, one of the capitals of Parma Ham, is a delightful starting point for this sixth crossing. It is easily reachable from Parma and the neighboring foothill villages. In the first 25 kilometers of the Tour you will have to go up the course of the Parma stream, with gentle slopes up to Bosco di Corniglio. Here begins the real climb towards the Cirone pass, one of the most unknown and at the same time the most fascinating Apennine passes.

If the final stretch will put even those who go faster uphill to the test, the descent in Tuscany will likewise give a hard time. The asphalt is not in excellent condition and up to the town of Molinello pay attention to bumps and small holes. Very soon, however, the descent towards Pontremoli and the sea becomes more streamlined.

Some depressions along the Magra river are located between Villafranca in Lunigiana and Barbarasco, but to reach La Spezia it will almost literally be all downhill. Here you can enjoy the splendid sea of San Terenzo and Portovenere, not far away. Equipped with a station that arrives directly in Emilia, La Spezia is also the ideal destination for taking a train and continuing a hypothetical journey towards western Liguria, for example.