The Bruschetta Loop

The Bruschetta Loop is a short yet unforgettable overnighter bikepacking route through the Simbruini Mountains, straddling the border between Abruzzo and Lazio in central Italy. Winding along doubletrack and gravel roads, this ride takes you deep into Europe’s largest beechwood forests, across stunning karstic plateaus, and through landscapes that once set the stage for classic spaghetti-western films.

Much like its namesake—bruschetta, the iconic Italian appetizer made from bread, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil—this route is simple, satisfying, and packed with flavor. Designed as an easy sub-24-hour adventure, it’s perfect for those seeking a short but immersive escape into nature. The Bruschetta Loop begins in Marsia, a small village in western Abruzzo, perched at 1.500 meters above sea level. From here, a wide gravel road leads to Piano del Pozzo, an open expanse historically used for cattle herding, before continuing toward Piano la Sella, a valley so untouched it feels almost prehistoric.

The route then passes through Camporotondo (1.450m), a tiny mountain village, before reaching the Cesa Cotta plateau, the widest along the ride. One of the true charms of the Bruschetta Loop is the way it flows from one high plateau to another, much like a corridor connecting different rooms—each revealing a new and mesmerizing landscape of forests, rolling hills, and open meadows. The southern stretch of the loop follows the Fosso Fioio, a dramatic limestone canyon once marking the border between the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Towering rock pinnacles rise from the valley, adding a cinematic grandeur to the ride.

After about four kilometers, the route climbs a rugged dirt road toward Piano Morbano, a spectacular plateau at the heart of the loop. This is one of the best spots to set up camp, soak in a star-filled sky, and enjoy a freshly made bruschetta—perhaps paired with a local craft beer, surrounded by towering beech trees and pure mountain silence. The return leg follows peaceful doubletrack roads, winding northwest through majestic forests, enchanted valleys, and wide-open meadows, before closing the loop back at Marsia.