17.2
PDI
6.5 mi
DISTANCE
2,614 ft
GAINED
7.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Below you, the whole Bay of Naples: the city, Capri, the Sorrento peninsula. Above you, a grey cone of ash and lava - the same mountain that buried Herculaneum, the town you start from, in AD 79. You don't get to ride up a live volcano very often, and this one is a short train ride from Naples.
The first kilometers through Ercolano's upper streets aren't much to look at, but once the road leaves town the views open up and the climbing settles in. It's 10.5 km (6.5 mi) with 797 m (2,614 ft) of gain at a 7.6% average, and very consistent: after an easier first 1.5 km, almost every half-kilometer sits between 7 and 10%. About halfway up you pass the Vesuvius Observatory on the ridge of Colle del Salvatore. Founded in 1841, it's the oldest volcano observatory in the world, and the stretch around it is the one place the road relaxes.
Above it, the hairpins wind across old lava flows to the Piazzale di Quota 1000 at 993 m (3,257 ft). The 2009 Giro d'Italia finished a stage up here, won by Carlos Sastre riding alone. From the end of the road, the crater rim is a steep walk of roughly 2 km on a cinder path - with a timed ticket booked in advance.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Mount Vesuvius from Ercolano climbs 10.5 km (6.5 mi) from 196 m (643 ft) to 993 m (3,257 ft) at a 7.6% average, with no descents and very little variation once it gets going.
0 to 1.5 km: 4 to 6% through Ercolano's upper streets.
1.5 to 5 km: The steepest sustained stretch, 6.8 to 10.3% as the road climbs out of town into the hairpins.
5 to 6 km: The road eases to 4 to 6.5% around Colle del Salvatore and the Observatory.
6 to 9 km: A steady 7.3 to 8.6% across the lava fields, with the bay opening up behind you.
9 to 10.5 km: The last stretch to Quota 1000 is a touch harder, 8.6 to 10.2%.
The steepest kilometer averages 9.7%, the steepest 2 km 9.1% and the steepest 5 km 8.1%, with short pitches around 12%.
Roadway: Good asphalt from Ercolano to the top, with plenty of hairpins on the upper half. The lower part runs on ordinary town streets; above Ercolano it becomes the provincial road through the national park. Private cars stop at the car park at about 800 m, and a municipal shuttle covers the last 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to Quota 1000 - riders carry on to the square, where there are places to lock a bike.
Traffic: Moderate to busy through the middle of the day, mostly tourist cars, taxis and buses heading for the crater. Early morning and late afternoon are much quieter, and the stretch above the car park is the calmest part of the climb.
Parking: The easiest option is to leave the car behind: the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrale stops at Ercolano Scavi, a short ride from the start. If you drive, use street parking in upper Ercolano away from the excavations, or the municipal parking areas along the road higher up.
Gear: Ordinary compact gearing is plenty - almost nothing on this road goes past 10%. If you plan to walk to the crater, bring shoes you can walk in - cleats on the loose cinder path are miserable - and a lock for the bike.
Provisions: Buy water and food in Ercolano before you start. In summer the upper slopes are hot and largely shadeless by late morning, so carry two bottles from June to September. It's often cooler and windier at Quota 1000 than on the coast, and a light layer makes the descent more pleasant.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Pair the ride with the Herculaneum excavations in Ercolano, minutes from the start. The site is smaller than Pompeii and better preserved, with carbonized wooden beams and upper floors still standing. Naples is about 20 minutes away on the Circumvesuviana, so you don't need a car for any of it.
To see the crater, buy your Gran Cono ticket online before you go. Tickets are sold only in advance, by time slot, and entry closes automatically on days with an orange or higher weather alert. Hours run 9:00 to 15:00 in winter and stretch to 18:00 in July and August. Afterward, the wine of these slopes is Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio - worth a glass back in town. For more climbing, the Valico di Chiunzi over the Lattari mountains toward the Amalfi Coast is our nearest neighbor.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
FROM No Climbs Found
MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
