Things to Do

Cycling the valley

You don’t need to be a cyclist to ride here – two of the routes are flat, car-free and genuinely beautiful. There’s also proper road cycling in the hills if that’s your thing. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Facts checked: July 2026. Two of central Italy’s best easy rides start on our doorstep – one flat and riverside, one a tunnel-and-viaduct classic on an old railway.

The easy one — Greenway del Nera

The Greenway del Nera follows the river on a flat, mostly car-free path – the family ride of the area, and the gentlest way to see the valley. It runs about 28.2 km in its full length, but you can do any section and turn back. Full route notes on our dedicated page. The Greenway del Nera →

The famous one — the Spoleto-Norcia ex-railway

The showpiece is the ex-ferrovia Spoleto-Norcia, a former mountain railway (opened 1926, closed 1968) rebuilt as a cycleway. In its day the line needed 19 tunnels and 24 bridges to climb the mountains, including a remarkable helical (spiral) section and the long Caprareccia tunnel – which is exactly what makes it a joy to ride now (umbriatourism.it). The full route is 44.5 km; the most enjoyable part is roughly the 26 km from Spoleto into the Valnerina. Two honest cautions from the official info: only portions are currently continuous (some detours are needed), and the tunnels are unlit – you must bring lights. It starts at Spoleto, about 35-40 minutes from us. Spoleto →

E-bike hire: the climb rewards an e-bike unless you’re fit and committed. Hire is available locally – ask us and we’ll arrange it for your dates.

Road cycling

For riders who want gradient, the hills around the lake and the valley roads deliver – the climbs around Piediluco and Labro, and the Valnerina’s quieter side roads. The hill roads around the lake and the quieter Valnerina side-roads give riders real gradient and long views.

The new Terni-falls cycleway

A dedicated cycle route linking Terni to the falls is being built: Lot 1 of the Terni–Cascata cycleway has been under construction since April 2026, a roughly two-year build, with a final phase to reach the falls themselves. The full picture is on the Greenway page →

Frequently asked questions