GIRO DEL LAZIO ITALY
After a 20 year absence, I returned to Sora, Italy in August 2005 for a family reunion. Sora is a bustling town in the province of Frosinone; one of five provinces that make up the Region of Lazio. Located about 100km south of Rome, Sora is the birthplace of film legend Vitorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief). A few km's away in Fontana Liri was born  Marcello Mastroianni.
I cycled from Rome to Sora in 3 days using my road bike carrying a change of clothing in a small fanny pack. Along the way I stopped in Nettuno and Gaeta . Once in Sora I used it as a base for day-rides into the surrounding mountains..
In addition to my day-rides I did a 2 day trip to Pescina in the Abruzzi region.
I returned to Rome for my return flight in one day using a more direct route.
Click on me to listen to an italian classic. Hold the cursor on the photo to see my comments.
MAP of CENTRAL ITALY
For a larger view click on each photo.
ROUTE MAP
Detailed
Heading south from Rome along the Tirreno Sea, it was one long, flat, tense ride with cars lining the coastal road and constant bumper to bumber traffic. Fed up, I stopped here and spent the rest of the day on the beach waiting for the arrival of the Giro Del Lazio pro bike race.
Old Rome is a city of ancient ruins, statues, exquisite architecture. And tourists AND tourist hotels AND tourist restaurants, AND Tour Buses AND tourist......!!?!!  But no Romans to be seen anywhere - in August anyway.
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NETTUNO - Giro del Lazio
ROME
The figure of Father PADRE PIO has become ubiquitous all over Italy. Here in Sperlonga he watches over sun worshipers as they frolic on the beach along this very beautiful stretch of Italys coastline.
My GUIDEBOOK
Lonely Planet's ITALY 6th edition 2004
Lonely Planet's FAST TALK  ITALIAN 1st ed
My MAPS
Michelin # 563   1 / 400 000 (1 cm = 4km)
 Mappe ITER  LAZIO  1 / 250 000
SPERLONGA
This is a picturesque ancient town that dates back to the Roman Empire.  Walking thru the old town you can admire beautiful churches; wander the narrow alleyways and admire the coastline from its imposing castle.
ONLINE RESOURCES
LonelyPlanets THORNTREE
BBC - Languages - Italian
Litorale Pontino
TuttoSORA
ItalyBikeHotels
GAETA
Nearby I visited Montagna Spaccata; a rock fissure that according to legend opened up the instant JESUS died on the cross.
ACCOMMODATIONS (budget if possible)
Rome = 79 euros / double
Nettuno = 70 euros / double
Gaeta = 70 euros / double
Sora HotelValentino = 40 euros / single
Pescina = 20 euros / single
HotelLaura Giglio dI Veroli = 30 euros
GAETA
Sora is an ancient town dating back to pre-Roman times. It's my parents birthplace. The town stradles the Liri River at the meeting point of 3 valleys; the Liri, Rovetto, Comino and is surrounded by imposing mountains. TRAVELOGUES (+ more photos)
Allan's MARCHE tour   2000
Sue's MODANE MODE
Allan's ABRUZZO&PUGLIA byTandem 2005
Wayne's ATHENS to VENICE by Bike 2001
Little league bike races for kids from 6 to 12 year old along the Liri river in Sora . Like everywhere else in Italy,  the bicycle rules  in Spring and Summer. Everywhere you look  you see bicycles being used for transportation or for sport by both the young and old.
SORA
ITINERARY and DISTANCES (km)
ROME.................................................................6
Rome to NETTUNO........................................93
Nettuno to GAETA........................................117
Gaeta to SORA................................................85
Sora/Pescasseroli/PESCINA.......................84
Pescina/ Pescasseroli/SORA.....................85
Sora to GIGLIO Di Veroli...............................21
GiglioDiVeroli to ROME (via Casilina)......108
SORA
DAYTRIPS (km)
Sora/SanFrancesca/Veroli/Alatri/Collepardo
Certosa/IsolaLiri/Sora............................................96

Sora/SanDonato/Atina/Vicalvi/Alvito/S.Onofrio
Campoli/Pescosolido/Sora...................................80

Sora/Atina/BelmonteCastello/Cassino/
MonteCassino and back.....................................119

Sora/Avezzano/Sora.............................................114

Sora.....................................................................35+13

Sora/Atina/Casalvieri/Roccasecca/PonteCorvo/
Ceprano/GiglioDiVeroli/Sora...............................121

Sora/Capistrello/Filettino/AltipianiDiArcinazzo/
Guarcino/Alatri/Veroli/GiglioDiVeroli/Sora.......156
Located about 7 km from Sora this picturesque little town has a pretty waterfall in its downtown core and is only  a few km's away from FONTANA LIRI the birthplace of MARCELLO MASTROIANNI the renowned international film actor.
ISOLA LIRI
TOTAL DISTANCE .....................................1333
CYCLING DAYS...............................................16
AVE. / DAY........................................................83
On the road to Avezzano, hill top towns crowned by medieval castles cascade down steep slopes just like most of the other ancient towns in this region.
Mountains and steep hills make cycling in the region around Sora very streneous but very rewarding as the panoramic views along the way are breathtaking.
COLLEPARDO
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