With new maintenance works, it will be possible to travel most of the former Spoleto–Norcia railway on foot, by bike or on horseback along a breathtaking route.
The former railway from Spoleto to Norcia is being transformed into a soft-mobility route of great historical, artistic and natural value. Not all of the track is currently passable, but there are already breathtaking cycling and walking stretches that immerse those who travel them in the surrounding greenery.
The project for a late-19th-century railway was postponed due to costs, with a bus system preferred instead (steam-powered first, then petrol-driven) in the early years of the twentieth century. The railway entered service in 1926, and electric trains ran the route until 1968.
The full route is 50 km long, with a maximum gradient of 4.5 per cent; the moderate gradients make it suitable for a pleasant ride even for children or those not accustomed to long cycling trips. The highest point reached is 625 metres, where the Monti Sibillini National Park begins; on the descent, the route passes through the valley of the River Nera, its tributary the Corno and the valley of the River Sordo, old mills, narrow gorges and the bridge over the Cortaccione stream, which stands 60 metres high.
Once landslide safety works, vegetation maintenance and the remaining construction projects are completed, 37 consecutive kilometres of the total route will be passable (plus a further 7 between Serravalle and Norcia). The aim is to create a single route linking Assisi and Norcia via Spoleto. Sporting events and group rides are organised in the area, including hill-climb and mountain bike enduro races, as well as horse riding and walking. A recent highlight was the three-day event in September 2015 during which a group ride along the former railway route was held, with a thousand cyclists from all over Italy taking part.
To preserve the history of the railway, Spoleto station has become the Museo della Ferrovia e Centro di Documentazione Ferroviaria. Sant'Anatolia di Narco station, meanwhile, serves as a base for sporting activities such as fishing, given its proximity to the River Nera, while Serravalle station has been converted into a service centre for outdoor sports such as rafting and mule trekking.
Anyone wishing to try cycling the route can plan the journey and download the GPS track of the former Spoleto–Norcia railway.