Val Colvera and the Pedemontana between Meduno and Maniago - Pordenone with love
SPORT / Ciclying & MTB

Val Colvera and the Pedemontana between Meduno and Maniago

Val Colvera offers a natural environment that is almost intact and characterised by incredible contrasts; from the rugged gorge of the Bus del Colvera, to the pleasant valley, woods and torrents, up to the massive mountain range of Raut. Man has settled harmoniously with a splendid rural architecture consisting of solid stone houses with arches and porticos and wooden raised balconies, in a terrace layout or small courtyards. This is why Frisanco has been nominated the ideal village in Italy and Poffabro has been classed among the most beautiful hamlets in Italy. Then the woody and isolated Valle Muiè, Navarons, where the riots of 1864 originated, with its characteristic houses, followed by Medino and Cavasso Nuovo with their buildings and Fanna with the typical courtyard houses. The route is quite short so that you can stop and visit. There are also a few climbs where those who are less trained can push their bikes.

The route starts from the roundabout in MANIAGO (0.0 km) at the end of via Unità d’Italia (SS464, towards Fanna). (The new FVG3 Pedemontana Cycle trail from Budoia, currently reaching Pinzano, passes through here). Go round the roundabout, following the road towards Frisanco (via Cassandra in FRATTA, slightly uphill). Turn left at the crossroads (via Brustolo) and immediately after the bridge over the Colvera Torrent keep to the left along via Battiferri, which runs alongside the torrent (views and waterworks). After a sharp rise, ignore the tunnel and go to the right (2.2 km up to this point) into an old unused road up a slight rise along a rugged gorge (the Bus del Colvera), between looming rocky walls and magnificent views of the Torrent.

The route then comes out onto the main road. Keep to the right and go into the tunnel for a few dozen metres until reaching a narrow passage to the left, where the old road ends when taking the main road (3.7 km). (To the left is a small dirt road that leads to Landris – the characteristic natural caves - at a distance of 2.2 km. A large pothole can be seen from the small bridge). Continue along the main road straight into the beautiful green landscape of Val Colvera with small characteristic houses scattered here and there. After several ups and downs along the quiet road, pass the junction to the right towards Frisanco (the main town can be reached at a distance of 1.1 km uphill) and a few metres after is another junction to the right (Church of S. Floriano) (6.3 km). (Poffabro can be reached by going straight uphill for 1.0 km).

Turn right to start a pleasant and almost uninterrupted descent along the lonely valley crossed by the Muiè Torrent. Pass the junction towards frazione Casasola to reach the entrance to NAVARONS at the end of the valley. (10.8 km). At the junction turn right, then left and continue downhill along via delle Scuole to reach the bridge over the Meduna Torrent. With a sharp rise to reach the main road SS 552 (12.6 km) connecting Tramonti and Meduno. Keep to the right along a rather busy road, cross frazione PITAGORA and go into MEDUNO. Follow the main road up to the large crossroads (15.4 km) taking the right road (sign to Maniago). Along the provincial road SP2, ignore the side roads, to reach Ponte di Maraldi over the Meduna (16.6) (views uphill and downhill).

Go uphill and at the widening (17.6 km) turn right into via Zorutti, which leads to the internal road to the left; this is via Martiri della Libertà. Still on the main road, along a quiet route flanked by houses, go across CAVASSO NUOVO to reach FANNA. Leave the square with the town hall to the right and when the church is in front of you, turn left and then right to come out again on the provincial road SP2 (21.4 km). Cross the road and take the FVG 3 Pedemontana cycle trail to the right, which will shortly take you back to the roundabout in MANIAGO, where you started from. This is a fascinating 23.7 km circuit.

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