Winter Climbing the Apennines - Castell’Arquato to Passo Guselli

Описание: A December ride through the northern Apennines is never just a bike ride: it’s a journey through layers of history, geography, and winter light. This route begins near Castell’Arquato, one of Emilia-Romagna’s best-preserved medieval towns, where stone towers and Romanesque walls still overlook the Arda Valley much as they did centuries ago. Rolling out from its cobbled silhouette, the road immediately points toward the mountains.

The climb unfolds gradually, following quiet roads toward the Diga di Mignano, a reservoir built in the mid-20th century that now sits peacefully among forested slopes. In winter, the Apennines feel stripped back and honest: bare trees, long shadows, and that unmistakable cold air that sharpens every sound of the drivetrain. From here, the ascent continues toward Morfasso, a mountain village long shaped by pastoral life and isolation, before pushing higher to Passo Guselli / Prato Barbieri, where snow lines the roadside and silence dominates.

What follows is one of those descents you remember for a long time: fast, sunlit, and unexpectedly warm despite the season. Dropping toward Bettola, the road twists through open valleys and wooded sections, offering sweeping views of the Nure Valley below. It’s the kind of winter ride where effort, solitude, and reward come together perfectly.

This vlog captures the atmosphere of cold climbs, historic landscapes, and that rare December sun that makes every kilometer feel earned. If you love road cycling, mountain routes, and riding through places where history and nature meet, this one’s for you.

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0:00 - Intro
1:14 - Castell'Arquato
2:36 - Diga di Mignano
9:54 - Morfasso
12:45 - Descent from Prato Barbieri