Terontola between railway history and cycling

Terontola combines railway history with several cycling routes and a mountain bike competition. It is also home to a church of recognized cultural interest, a section of the Via Romea Germanica, and the Sagra di Bacialla, featuring regional cuisine and evening entertainment.

A place shaped by the railway

In the second half of the 19th century, the establishment and development of the railway led to railway workers settling here. This soon gave rise to a new place called Terontola Scalo. The older settlement has been known as Terontola Alta ever since.

At Terontola railway station, there is a stele depicting the racing cyclist Gino Bartali, known by the nickname “Ginettaccio.” The Church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Terontola is a building of recognized cultural interest and adds to the historical perspective on the area.

Cycling routes for different levels

The ASD Ciclismo Terontola club held the 23rd edition of the Bacialla Bike on March 8, 2026. In addition to the national mountain bike competition, the event offered a route for recreational cyclists.

At the 21st edition of the Bacialla Bike, the main route was 45 kilometers long, featured 1,500 meters of elevation gain, and ran entirely on paved surfaces. The Classic route covered 28 kilometers with 900 meters of elevation gain; it was also open to e-bikes and recreational participants. It is 17 kilometers shorter than the main route and has 600 meters less elevation gain.

The Terontola–Assisi–Terontola gravel route is 143 kilometers long and follows roads that Gino Bartali used for training. At the gravel event announced for August 23, 2026, participants could register from 7 a.m. at the Dopolavoro ferroviario di Terontola and choose between this route and a 50-kilometer route along the Franciscan roads of Cortona.

A panoramic cycling route toward Terontola is 34 kilometers long, ranges from moderate to easy in difficulty, and is suitable for hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, or gravel bikes. At 34 kilometers, this cycling route is shorter than the 143-kilometer gravel route.

Hiking, culture and regional evenings

As its seventh stage, the Via Romea Germanica includes a 13-kilometer hike from Terontola to Castiglion del Lago, with 70 meters of ascent and 30 meters of descent.

At the Sagra di Bacialla, you can enjoy traditional cuisine from the Val di Chiana. The menu changes every festival evening. In Terontola, there is also dancing and other entertainment every evening, combining regional culinary traditions with a convivial evening program.

Planning information

The cycling route at Lake Trasimeno is easy to reach from Terontola railway station. The station is also a specific reference point for the area’s history and for route planning. In 2025, the Bacialla Bike race started at Parco Madre Teresa in Terontola.

Campaccio, Fratticciola, Torreone, Cegliolo, Sant'agata, Montanare, Chianacce or Pergo Di Cortona

Cortona