Thick woodlands, sun-ripened tomatoes, narrow lanes in historic mountain villages, and, of course, the distinct hospitality of the Calabrese people – these are just a few reasons why Angelika and Reinhard from the cycle touring channel ‘Saddle Stories’ headed to the southern tip of Italy.

In this Collection, the well-travelled Austrian bloggers guide you along a section of the Ciclovia Parchi, a route which exploresthe vibrant heart of Calabria in Italy. The Ciclovia Parchi can be translated as ‘the cycle path of the parks’. It traverses the spine of the Calabrian Apennines through four national and nature parks that are home to wolves, small arboreal animals and cork oaks. The numerous ascents and descents provide splendid views of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea, and once you reach the Aspromonte National Park, Sicily and the active Stromboli volcano come into view.

The Ciclovia Parchi is a 545-kilometre (338 mi) long cycle path that’s perfect for nature lovers. It offers gentle gradients, well-maintained roads with low traffic, excellent infrastructure, and varied landscapes. The daily stages are easy to tailor to your preferences. You’ll come across numerous fountains with clear mountain water and small cafés and restaurants in the charming villages offering delicious local specialities – a bike Tour through Calabria is always a feast for the senses.

While Angelika and Reinhard rode gravel bikes, e-MTB or touring bikes are also suitable for this adventure. You can also rent a suitable bike from the Hitinero bike rental shop when you arrive. If you have enough time, you can catch the Nightjet from Munich to Rome and then travel to the gates of Calabria by train. If flying, Naples has an airport.

If the thought of homemade pasta, idyllic mountain lakes, freshly brewed espresso, solitary mountain roads, and southern Italian hospitality stirs your heart, and you wish to immerse yourself in the Dolce Vita for a few days, you should definitely add the Ciclovia Parchi to your to-do list.