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Italy Motorcycle Route from Rome: 9 Stage Grand Loop to Matera, Puglia & Gargano | Free GPX

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Italy Loop Route 9 Stages Approx. 2,050 km Best in May

Rome to Matera, Puglia & Gargano Grand Loop · 9 Stages

Start / Finish: Rome

Nearest airport(s): Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Rome Ciampino (CIA)

Difficulty: Moderate

This circular Italian motorcycle journey starts and finishes in Rome, then rolls north into the volcanic landscapes of Lazio and Umbria before linking Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, Bomarzo and Orte Sotterranea. From there, the route climbs into Abruzzo for the mountain drama of Scanno, the Sagittario Gorges and Lago di San Domenico.

The southern half of the ride becomes warmer, broader and more Mediterranean, passing through the inland spine of Benevento before reaching the stone theatre of Matera. Then come the whitewashed forms of Alberobello, the Adriatic light of Polignano a Mare, the coastal ascent to Vieste and a refined final overnight in Sperlonga before returning to Rome.

It is a highly varied loop with hill towns, UNESCO sites, mountain lakes, inland ridges, Adriatic cliffs and one of the most satisfying combinations of scenery and culture you can ride in Italy in early May.

Route Map

Marker colours: black for waypoints, red for POI, blue for overnight stops, green for food-related stage towns.

Technical Overview

  • Total distance: approx. 2,050 km
  • Stages: 9
  • Route profile: hill towns, volcanic plateaux, mountain valleys, inland ridges, white villages, Adriatic coast and Gargano cliff roads
  • Road surfaces: predominantly tarmac, with occasional urban stone paving in historic centres
  • Best season: April to June, then September to October
  • Ideal departure window: early May is excellent for this route

Practical Riding Notes

This is a very balanced touring loop, but it works best with disciplined early starts on sightseeing-heavy stages. Historic centres such as Orvieto, Matera and Alberobello are best approached by parking outside the most restricted central areas and walking in.

The mountain stage around Scanno is one of the best pure riding sections, but early morning temperatures can still be cool in May. On the Adriatic side, traffic density rises near Polignano a Mare, Vieste and the main coastal resort areas.

Seasonality & Safety

May is one of the finest months for this itinerary. Central Italy is still green, visibility is often excellent, and southern temperatures are warm without being oppressive. Abruzzo can still deliver cool mornings, damp shaded bends and occasional rain, so pack for range rather than heat only.

The route is not technically difficult, but it includes several long touring stages and a mix of urban entries, scenic mountain roads and strategic transfer sections. A steady riding pace, regular fuel stops and flexible timing around tourist hotspots will make the whole loop considerably more enjoyable.

Roadbook

Indicative km only. Effective mileage may vary slightly depending on parking access, viewpoints, local detours and traffic conditions. All nine stages are listed below in one continuous sequence.

Stage 1 — Rome → Orvieto (~165 km)

A soft opener from Rome into volcanic Lazio and Umbria, designed to begin the loop with atmosphere rather than pressure.

Leave Rome, settle into the ride through Civita Castellana, then continue via the Viterbo corridor and Bolsena before climbing to Orvieto.

WP to WP

  • Rome → Civita Castellana: 65 km
  • Civita Castellana → Viterbo outskirts: 35 km
  • Viterbo outskirts → Bolsena: 38 km
  • Bolsena → Orvieto: 27 km

POI

Hotels · Orvieto

Restaurant

Activity

Arrival: Orvieto

Stage 2 — Orvieto → Civita di Bagnoregio → Bomarzo → Orte → Rieti (~210 km)

A richly layered cultural stage with suspended villages, surreal gardens and subterranean history.

From Orvieto ride to Civita di Bagnoregio, then continue to Bomarzo, on to Orte Sotterranea and finish around Rieti.

WP to WP

  • Orvieto → Bagnoregio: 32 km
  • Bagnoregio → Civita parking area: 3 km
  • Bagnoregio → Bomarzo: 42 km
  • Bomarzo → Orte: 18 km
  • Orte → Narni Scalo: 32 km
  • Narni Scalo → Terni bypass: 22 km
  • Terni → Rieti: 61 km

POI

Hotels · Rieti

Restaurant / dinner search

Arrival: Rieti area

Stage 3 — Rieti → Scanno (~225 km)

The first true mountain stage, and one of the strongest pure riding days of the whole loop.

Leave Rieti via Antrodoco, pass the L’Aquila corridor and descend towards Sulmona. Then the route sharpens through Anversa degli Abruzzi, the Sagittario Gorges and Lago di San Domenico before arriving in Scanno.

WP to WP

  • Rieti → Antrodoco: 25 km
  • Antrodoco → L’Aquila outskirts: 55 km
  • L’Aquila outskirts → Sulmona: 70 km
  • Sulmona → Anversa degli Abruzzi: 18 km
  • Anversa degli Abruzzi → Lago di San Domenico: 12 km
  • Lago di San Domenico → Scanno: 20 km
  • Scanno panoramic lake loop: 25 km

POI

Hotels · Scanno

Restaurant / dinner search

Arrival: Scanno

Stage 4 — Scanno → Benevento (~285 km)

A long inland transition through the southern Apennine spine, with a clear sense of moving deeper into the south.

From Scanno return via Sulmona, then continue through Castel di Sangro, Isernia and the Campobasso corridor before dropping into Benevento.

WP to WP

  • Scanno → Sulmona: 30 km
  • Sulmona → Castel di Sangro: 58 km
  • Castel di Sangro → Isernia: 42 km
  • Isernia → Campobasso outskirts: 52 km
  • Campobasso → Benevento: 103 km

POI

Hotels · Benevento

Restaurant / dinner search

Arrival: Benevento area

Stage 5 — Benevento → Matera (~235 km)

An inland connector with one of the most rewarding arrivals of the whole journey.

Leave Benevento and push through the Avellino and Potenza corridor before entering Basilicata’s broader southern landscapes. The final arrival into Matera transforms the whole mood of the route.

WP to WP

  • Benevento → Avellino east: 38 km
  • Avellino east → Potenza: 105 km
  • Potenza → Grassano: 48 km
  • Grassano → Matera: 44 km

POI

Hotels · Matera

Restaurant

Activity

Arrival: Matera

Stage 6 — Matera → Alberobello → Polignano a Mare (~145 km)

A shorter stage built around architecture, atmosphere and a slower Adriatic rhythm.

Leave Matera for Gioia del Colle, continue to Alberobello and then make the final run to Polignano a Mare.

WP to WP

  • Matera → Gioia del Colle: 58 km
  • Gioia del Colle → Alberobello: 38 km
  • Alberobello → Monopoli inland road: 27 km
  • Monopoli → Polignano a Mare: 22 km

POI

Hotels · Polignano a Mare

Restaurant

Activity

Arrival: Polignano a Mare / Monopoli area

Stage 7 — Polignano a Mare → Vieste (~315 km)

A long Adriatic stage that becomes increasingly dramatic once the Gargano begins.

Leave Polignano a Mare for the northern Puglian corridor via Bari and Barletta, then turn into the Gargano approach through Manfredonia, Mattinata and the scenic SP53 towards Vieste.

WP to WP

  • Polignano a Mare → Bari north: 38 km
  • Bari north → Barletta: 88 km
  • Barletta → Manfredonia: 62 km
  • Manfredonia → Mattinata: 38 km
  • Mattinata → Vieste via SP53: 52 km
  • Vieste local scenic loop: 37 km

POI

Hotels · Vieste

Restaurant / dinner search

Activity

Arrival: Vieste

Stage 8 — Vieste → Sperlonga (~325 km)

A revised return stage that swaps a punishing transfer for a proper final tourist overnight.

Depart Vieste and head north-west through Termoli, the Vasto Marina sector and the inland run past Cassino to the Tyrrhenian side, finishing in Sperlonga.

WP to WP

  • Vieste → Termoli: 118 km
  • Termoli → Vasto Marina: 32 km
  • Vasto Marina → Lanciano bypass: 52 km
  • Lanciano bypass → Cassino area: 58 km
  • Cassino area → Sperlonga: 65 km

POI

Hotels · Sperlonga

Restaurant / dinner search

Activity

Arrival: Sperlonga

Stage 9 — Sperlonga → Rome (~145 km)

A soft final ride back to the capital after a sea-facing overnight.

From Sperlonga, follow the coast and the inland Roman approach via Terracina, the Latina area and the Castelli Romani option before re-entering Rome.

WP to WP

  • Sperlonga → Terracina: 18 km
  • Terracina → Latina coast zone: 48 km
  • Latina coast zone → Castelli Romani option: 42 km
  • Castelli Romani → Rome: 37 km

POI

Hotels · Rome

Final food / discovery links

Finish: Rome

POI Photo Gallery

Orvieto Cathedral façade
Orvieto Cathedral. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Civita di Bagnoregio panorama
Civita di Bagnoregio. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Lake Scanno shoreline
Lake Scanno. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Sassi di Matera stone district
Sassi di Matera. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Alberobello trulli district
Alberobello trulli. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Vieste and Pizzomunno sea stack
Vieste and Pizzomunno. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo credits: images from Wikimedia Commons (see captions for authors and licenses). Used under CC BY-SA / public domain terms where applicable.

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