Circular MTB-cycle route, a few kilometres from Bergamo in the cultivation and production area of Moscato di Scanzo, the smallest DOCG wine area in Italy.
You will ride on gentle hills with a few short off-road trails as well as a couple of slightly challenging ascents on asphalt that will take you to scenic and natural areas in the hills of the PLIS area of the Argon valleys.
You will reach the "Colle dei Pasta" pass and you will enter the Serradesca valley, the heart of the Moscato di Scanzo cultivation area. You will pass by estates, wineries and farmhouses surrounded by greenery.
The route is suitable for bikes with fat wheels and if possible at least with front suspension, suitable for covering short sections on dirt roads.
Route information:
Departure point: Scanzorosciate, piazza unità d’Italia
Arrival point: Scanzorosciate, piazza unità d’Italia
Travel time: 3 hours
Length: 19km
Type of path: cycle path 5%, dirt agricultural road 15%, low-traffic road 65%, medium-high traffic road 5%
Ground: asphalt: 80%, dirt: 20%,
Total change in altitude: 500m
Minimum altitude: 252m
Maximum altitude: 451m
Practicability: All year
Recommended bicycle: Mountain bike with front suspension
Difficulty: medium
Suitable for: Adults with at least a small amount of training and lovers of
cycle-hiking itineraries with short off-road sections on easy dirt roads.
Circular MTB-cycle route, a few kilometres from Bergamo in the cultivation and production area of Moscato di Scanzo, the smallest DOCG wine area in Italy.
You will ride on gentle hills with a few short off-road trails as well as a couple of slightly challenging ascents on asphalt that will take you to scenic and natural areas in the hills of the PLIS area of the Argon valleys.
You will reach the "Colle dei Pasta" pass and you will enter the Serradesca valley, the heart of the Moscato di Scanzo cultivation area. You will pass by estates, wineries and farmhouses surrounded by greenery.
The route is suitable for bikes with fat wheels and if possible at least with front suspension, suitable for covering short sections on dirt roads.
Route information:
Departure point: Scanzorosciate, piazza unità d’Italia
Arrival point: Scanzorosciate, piazza unità d’Italia
Travel time: 3 hours
Length: 19km
Type of path: cycle path 5%, dirt agricultural road 15%, low-traffic road 65%, medium-high traffic road 5%
Ground: asphalt: 80%, dirt: 20%,
Total change in altitude: 500m
Minimum altitude: 252m
Maximum altitude: 451m
Practicability: All year
Recommended bicycle: Mountain bike with front suspension
Difficulty: medium
Suitable for: Adults with at least a small amount of training and lovers of
cycle-hiking itineraries with short off-road sections on easy dirt roads.
It starts from Scanzorosciate, a town where the precious Moscato DOCG is cultivated, in the large car park in Piazza Unità d'Italia (pic1). Head towards the soccer field and turn left onto Via IV Novembre (pic2). At the stop sign go left and immediately right onto via Serenissima (pic3) (pic4), after a bend you will find yourself in front of the house of the famous architect Giacomo Quarenghi. There is also the historic headquarters of command of the area of Venice, as evidenced by the lion carved above the door of the building.
Once you reach the church square in Rosciate, turn left (pic5) and take a small road (pic6) which passes next to an old wash house and then plunges into the gentle slopes planted with vines.
After a couple of bends the road climbs, passes next to the two agricultural businesses La Brugherata and Fejoia and then continues downhill (pic7) on the dirt road that leads to Valbona. Now keep right (pic8) (pic9), pass by the parish of San Pantaleone (pic10) and then straight on until the stop sign.
Turn left and then immediately right (pic11) (pic12) and merge onto via Piave (pic13). Cross the road using the pedestrian traffic light and continue on a short stretch of cycle path (pic14). After 200 metres go left and then right (pic15) (pic16) skirting the La Tordela agriturismo and winery until you reach the stop sign near the town of Torre de 'Roveri.
It starts from Scanzorosciate, a town where the precious Moscato DOCG is cultivated, in the large car park in Piazza Unità d'Italia (pic1). Head towards the soccer field and turn left onto Via IV Novembre (pic2). At the stop sign go left and immediately right onto via Serenissima (pic3) (pic4), after a bend you will find yourself in front of the house of the famous architect Giacomo Quarenghi. There is also the historic headquarters of command of the area of Venice, as evidenced by the lion carved above the door of the building.
Once you reach the church square in Rosciate, turn left (pic5) and take a small road (pic6) which passes next to an old wash house and then plunges into the gentle slopes planted with vines.
After a couple of bends the road climbs, passes next to the two agricultural businesses La Brugherata and Fejoia and then continues downhill (pic7) on the dirt road that leads to Valbona. Now keep right (pic8) (pic9), pass by the parish of San Pantaleone (pic10) and then straight on until the stop sign.
Turn left and then immediately right (pic11) (pic12) and merge onto via Piave (pic13). Cross the road using the pedestrian traffic light and continue on a short stretch of cycle path (pic14). After 200 metres go left and then right (pic15) (pic16) skirting the La Tordela agriturismo and winery until you reach the stop sign near the town of Torre de 'Roveri.
The Municipality of Scanzorosciate is the only place where the Moscato di Scanzo is produced, a Muscat wine made using dark-skinned grape variety. Its taste is inebriating, soft, smooth and full-bodied. You can immediately spot it by its warm ruby red colour with purple shades.
Who are the two men depicted in the Consorzio del Moscato di Scanzo D.O.C.G. trademark? Simone da Scanzo and Alberico da Rosciate, after whom the territory of this wine was named.
Turn left (pic17) and continue on the main road that leads to the "Col di paste" the famous ascent known among cyclists. It’s not too demanding with hairpin bends up the hill in the direction of the pass. As you climb you can admire views of the area and Bergamo and the upper town in the background.
When you reach the pass, an intersection with three roads, continue on the road to the left (via Collina Alta) (pic18). Ride 400 metres to the stop sign then go down to the left towards Tribulina di Scanzo (pic19).
Ride for about one kilometre and take the road to the left (pic20) which descends into the Serradesca valley. The road here gives way to a downhill dirt road (pic21) and reaches a group of houses.
Near the buildings turn left onto a paved road (pic22) and ride for a long stretch in the woods, in the heart of this quiet valley.
Once out of the woods, the road continues straight (pic23) and passes next to Tenuta Serradesca. At the stop sign, you will get back on the road taking the right and you will reach Tribulina di Scanzo (pic24).
N.B. If you take the left instead you shorten the itinerary and return to the starting point.
Turn left (pic17) and continue on the main road that leads to the "Col di paste" the famous ascent known among cyclists. It’s not too demanding with hairpin bends up the hill in the direction of the pass. As you climb you can admire views of the area and Bergamo and the upper town in the background.
When you reach the pass, an intersection with three roads, continue on the road to the left (via Collina Alta) (pic18). Ride 400 metres to the stop sign then go down to the left towards Tribulina di Scanzo (pic19).
Ride for about one kilometre and take the road to the left (pic20) which descends into the Serradesca valley. The road here gives way to a downhill dirt road (pic21) and reaches a group of houses.
Near the buildings turn left onto a paved road (pic22) and ride for a long stretch in the woods, in the heart of this quiet valley.
Once out of the woods, the road continues straight (pic23) and passes next to Tenuta Serradesca. At the stop sign, you will get back on the road taking the right and you will reach Tribulina di Scanzo (pic24).
N.B. If you take the left instead you shorten the itinerary and return to the starting point.
Ride up a short but intense ascent to the Tribulina di Scanzo roundabout where you take the third exit, via Pomarolo (pic25). This is also a challenging ascent, but it runs along the ridge and offers wonderful views of the Moscato basin on the left and Mount Misma on the right. In short you reach the last houses, where at the crossroads keep to the left (pic26).
The asphalt leaves room for a beautiful dirt road with a view of the long rows of grapes at the Celinate estate. With a little bit of uphill pedaling, you arrive at the Cagnola fork (pic27) where you continue straight and arrive at a crossroads.
At this point you have three options:
1) Continue straight and with two short and intense ascents reach Mount Bastia and the small church with three crosses and then return to the intersection.
2) Turn left downhill on the asphalt road and reach the historic centre of Scanzorosciate and rejoin the path.
3) Follow the trail described below which descends to the right onto a dirt road that leads to Villa di Serio (pic28).
Descend along the dirt road in the woods, take two hairpin bends and when you reach the road go left (pic29). After 500 metres you will enter the tree-lined dirt road (pic30) which leads you quickly to the centre of Scanzorosciate.
At the stop sign go left (in the wrong direction) for a few metres (pic31) passing alongside the Consorzio Tutela Moscato di Scanzo and then take the left again in via Simone da Scanzo and then right into via degli orti (pic32) (pic33) and right again. You arrive close by the cemetery and, behind this, is the point where you left for this circular route to discover the hills of the Terre del Vescovado.
Ride up a short but intense ascent to the Tribulina di Scanzo roundabout where you take the third exit, via Pomarolo (pic25). This is also a challenging ascent, but it runs along the ridge and offers wonderful views of the Moscato basin on the left and Mount Misma on the right. In short you reach the last houses, where at the crossroads keep to the left (pic26).
The asphalt leaves room for a beautiful dirt road with a view of the long rows of grapes at the Celinate estate. With a little bit of uphill pedaling, you arrive at the Cagnola fork (pic27) where you continue straight and arrive at a crossroads.
At this point you have three options:
1) Continue straight and with two short and intense ascents reach Mount Bastia and the small church with three crosses and then return to the intersection.
2) Turn left downhill on the asphalt road and reach the historic centre of Scanzorosciate and rejoin the path.
3) Follow the trail described below which descends to the right onto a dirt road that leads to Villa di Serio (pic28).
Descend along the dirt road in the woods, take two hairpin bends and when you reach the road go left (pic29). After 500 metres you will enter the tree-lined dirt road (pic30) which leads you quickly to the centre of Scanzorosciate.
At the stop sign go left (in the wrong direction) for a few metres (pic31) passing alongside the Consorzio Tutela Moscato di Scanzo and then take the left again in via Simone da Scanzo and then right into via degli orti (pic32) (pic33) and right again. You arrive close by the cemetery and, behind this, is the point where you left for this circular route to discover the hills of the Terre del Vescovado.
The Scanzo Muscat wine is today the smallest DOCG in Italy. Extremely valuable, Moscato is a sweet red grapes wraisin wine, obtained from native grapes grown on an area of only 31 hectares. Given the very limited production, it is considered a niche product, exclusive and refined. The Consortium for the Protection of Moscato di Scanzo guarantees, with its brand, its quality and excellence, aiming to spread in Italy and all over the world this unique and unmistakable wine. This precious wine is made from the grapes cultivated exclusively in the municipality of Scanzorosciate, in the province of Bergamo.
