Stage 17 · Farfa → Subiaco
- Distance
- 80 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,310 m D+
- Difficulty
- Moderate-Challenging
- Surface
- 87% asphalt, 13% gravel · 7% on cycle routes
- Terrain
- Lucretili Mountains, Aniene Valley
- Cycle path
- Way of Saint Benedict
- Hospitality
- Monastery
GPX 1.1 file with the track, elevation and the abbeys as waypoints. Tracks are calculated on real roads and cycle routes (OpenStreetMap): check them on the ground before you set off.
Stage map
Map of the stage Farfa → Subiaco: track, start, finish, places to stay and abbeys
Hover the profile to see the spot on the map
Tracks calculated on real roads and cycle paths (OpenStreetMap); elevations from SRTM data — to be checked on the ground
Main climb: 2.8 km at 7.0% (up to 351 m)
Other climb: 4.6 km at 3.8% (up to 523 m)
This stage on Komoot
The same track is on the project's Komoot profile: save it in the app and ride it with voice navigation.
Overview
Climbing from the Sabine hills towards the Lucretili Mountains and the Aniene valley. The route enters the Apennine foothills following the Way of St Benedict up to Subiaco, cradle of Western monasticism.
Notes from the road
From Farfa the road climbs gradually toward the Lucretili Mountains, the stretch stays solitary, with little phone signal. The Aniene valley then brings back villages and fountains at regular intervals. Both monasteries of Subiaco are worth visiting unhurried, before riding on. They stand a few minutes apart on foot, not by bike.
What to see
Abbey of Farfa, Sabina countryside, Lucretili Mountains, Aniene valley, Monastery of Santa Scolastica, Sacro Speco of St Benedict clinging to the rock
Where to sleep
Foresteria Santa Scolastica; hospitality at the Sacro Speco (donation); B&B Subiaco (70-90€)
Where to eat
Cheeses of the Lazio mountains, chestnuts, pasta all'amatriciana, puntarelle, Castelli Romani wines
Tips
A demanding stage, 80 km and 1,310 m of climbing. A steady climb over the last 10 km. Subiaco holds two monasteries: visit them both. Carry water. From the Monastery of Santa Scolastica the Sacro Speco is reached only on foot, about three kilometres uphill to the San Benedetto car park, then a few minutes along a path. The bike stays there.
Water & supplies
Bars and fountains in Palombara Sabina and then along the Aniene valley (Vicovaro, Agosta). The Monti Lucretili section after Farfa, about 20 km, is lonely with patchy mobile coverage. The final climb to Subiaco is gentle; water at the fountains in the centre.
Places to stay on this stage
- Foresteria di Santa Scolasticaguesthouse
Monastero di S. Scolastica, Subiaco (RM)- Price:
- from ~€37 (B&B) to ~€60 (full board), to be checked
- Open:
- year-round (tel. 0774 85569)
- Facilities:
- 118 beds in 48 en-suite rooms, restaurant
- Source:
- foresteria-subiaco.com / camminodibenedetto.it
Large guesthouse of the Benedictine monasteries of Subiaco, a hub on the Cammino di San Benedetto.
Abbeys on this stage
- Start abbey: Abbazia di Farfa
- Finish abbey: Monastero S. Benedetto (Subiaco)
An amateur, non-profit project. The tracks are indicative: everyone rides independently, at their own risk.