Tour in bici in Val d'Astino

From Bergamo train station, ride along Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII (pic1) up to the Porta Nuova Propylaea (entrance gate to the lower city) and, without going through them, turn left into via Tiraboschi (pic2). Continue straight (pic3) (pic4) (pic5) until you get onto the cycle path in the residential area "il Triangolo" (pic6).

Cross via Palma il Vecchio (pic7) and take the stretch of path that, going straight, takes you to the San Paolo neighbourhood (pic8) (pic9) to the parish of Loreto (pic10). Now turn right (pic11) (pic12) where you will go through the residential area of Loreto (pic13) (pic14).

After reaching the beautiful Loreto park go to the right (pic15) and, on via Broseta, again to the right (pic16) for a few metres.

Go left on via Strada Vecchia (pic17), pass next to the door of San Matteo up to the stop sign and then go down to the left along via Longuelo (pic18) (pic19).

At the traffic light turn right (pic20) (pic21), at the fork keep right again (pic22) and here we are in the Astino Valley, near the wonderful Astino Monastery.

From the former Astino Monastery continue on the cobbled road uphill and reach Lavanderio, so called because in the past laundresses used to work there for the city’s wealthy families.

Then take the right and, after a hairpin bend, go through the arch that leads you to the entrance of the hamlet on Sudorno hill, where the temple dedicated to those lost during the war is situated.

Turn left into via Torni (pic23) and you will reach Pascolo dei Tedeschi.

Turn right uphill (pic24) and after having taken two hairpin bends (pic25) you are at the small church of San Sebastiano.

Continue your ride taking the road to the left of the church on via Colle dei Roccoli (pic26). During the ascent, turn your gaze towards the area where the Brembo river flows and further north to admire Mount Linzone.

Once you reach an open space where the Alpine troops’ headquarters is located, turn right uphill (pic27), continue along two hairpin bends and once you reach the top you will find yourself on a panoramic terrace with views over the lower city, San Vigilio and, if the sky is clear, Milan’s skyline.

Go down towards the village and continue straight on the road lined with houses and the greenery of their plants (pic28). At the stop sign in the locality of Largo del Pozzo, go straight on (pic29) until you get to the terrace of San Vigilio, another vantage point where you will surely make a small stop to take some pictures.

Continue along the road and turn uphill to the left (pic30)

If you wish, take a short detour and go straight ahead, taking the bike a few metres in the wrong direction to reach San Vigilio and the funicular station that comes from the Upper Town. Go left along the road with wonderful views of the upper town and that takes you to the San Vigilio Castle. The castle can be visited but bikes are not allowed.

Turning left on the ascent, you enter on the right onto Via Cavagnis where the descent begins. After four turns you quickly arrive in the square at Colle Aperto, inside the walls of the Upper Town.

From Largo Colle Aperto continue to the right and ride along Viale delle Mura (pic31), the road follows the course of the historic Venetian walls, Unesco World Heritage, to lead you behind Porta San Giacomo, the white marble gate. Go through it and go out of the walls (pic32) and continue straight on via Sant’Alessandro which descends towards the lower town (pic33).

At the square with the church turn left into via Botta (pic34) and at the traffic light turn right onto viale Vittorio Emanuele II (pic35), an elegant tree-lined avenue that, in a few minutes, will take you straight back to the train station, the point starting point of the tour.