Franciacorta gives bikers who want to go on a quiet ride the opportunity to admire historical palaces, convents, shrines, abbeys, chapels, churches, and castles. You can admire part of this architectural heritage following this easy bicycle itinerary.
The departure is from the town hall square of Passirano, where you start pedalling west on Via Libertà for a short distance, until you turn left onto Via Castello. After passing the fourteenth century fortified building, you continue and enter the municipality of Cazzago San Martino, where you reach and go through the village of Bornato. Just outside this village, you pass next to another castle, expanded and reinforced in the thirteenth century over a pre-existing structure, in which poet Dante Alighieri also found hospitality.
After crossing the tracks of the railway line to Edolo, continue cycling following the signs for Calino: pass through the northern portion of the village and turn right merging onto the provincial road, entering the municipality of Adro.
The direction to follow in the following section is that for Torbiato. As soon as you pass this village in the municipality of Adro, you begin to ride downhill between two vineyards, and in this stretch you exit right from the main road to merge onto a narrower road (Via Cattaneo) which leads you to the Shrine of Madonna della Neve. This church was built in 1521 on the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to a young deaf-mute boy, and is a popular destination for visits and pilgrimages. Behind the church, take the road for Nigoline di Cortefranca which runs at the foot of Monte Alto. The top of this mountain is reachable by mountain bike and from there you can enjoy an extraordinary view over the whole Franciacorta region, its morainic hills, and the vineyards. From Nigoline, proceed towards Timoline and then continue pedalling effortlessly towards Borgonato. Continue going east, crossing the railroad tracks for Iseo again, and then winning the slight difference in altitude which allows you to reach Monterotondo. From here, you return to Passirano.
Point of departure and arrival: Passirano, altitude 207m
Closest railway station: Passirano (www.trenord.it)
Length: 28 km
Difference in height: 60 m
Type of bicycle required: city bike, road bike
Difficulty: EASY
