21.1
PDI
12.3 mi
DISTANCE
3,858 ft
GAINED
5.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton and Stacy Topping, Midway, Utah.
INTRO
This climb starts at sea level in Bova Marina, on the Ionian coast near the southernmost point of the Italian peninsula, and climbs inland for 19.8 km (12.3 mi), gaining 1,176 m (3,858 ft) at a 5.7% average. It is the first leg of the road up to Bova, the hilltop village at 820 m (2,690 ft), and it keeps climbing past it toward 1,130 m (3,707 ft).
As the climb leaves the coast road, it goes up abruptly. Once you are a kilometer or two from the shore, our ambassador Bruce Hamilton reports, the road is very quiet and isolated: goats, sheep and cows outnumber the cars, and there is only one small village along the way. Higher up, switchbacks give spectacular views back down to the road below, the coastal town and the sea.
The steepest 500 m average 11.7%, the steepest 2 km 8.8% and the steepest 5 km 7.1%, so this is a sustained effort rather than a sprint. Bova itself is one of Calabria's Greek-speaking villages and a lovely place to turn around or refuel.
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. The climb covers 19.8 km (12.3 mi) and gains 1,176 m (3,858 ft) at an average of 5.7%. The road goes up abruptly from the coast, with the steepest 100 yards reaching 18.1%, and the steepest 0.5 km averaging 11.7%.
Beyond the opening ramps, the grade settles into a long, sustained rhythm: the steepest 1 km averages 10.1%, the steepest 2 km 8.8%, the steepest 5 km 7.1% and the steepest 10 km 6.3%, so there is little respite over the 19.8 km.
Roadway: Paved the whole way, winding, with switchbacks higher up the mountainside. The route climbs from the coast road at sea level to about 1,130 m (3,707 ft), so conditions can differ noticeably between the shore and the upper slopes.
Traffic: Light. Once you are a kilometer or two from the coast, the road is very quiet, and a rider who rode it saw only a few cars on the entire climb. Expect more traffic near the shore.
Parking: Park in Bova Marina near the coast road where the climb leaves the shore. The start is at sea level, so you can also roll out directly from wherever you are staying in town.
Provisions: There is one small village along the way and few other services, so stock up on water and food in Bova Marina before you start. Summer afternoons on the Ionian coast are hot, so an early start helps.
Gear: Compact or wide-range gearing is worthwhile for the opening ramps and the long, steady grades that follow. A light layer is welcome for the upper slopes and the descent.
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.
Bova Marina occupies the southernmost stretch of the Italian peninsula's coast, between Melito di Porto Salvo and Capo Spartivento, and it has more history than its beach-town feel suggests. Its archaeological park and museum preserve the remains of an ancient synagogue with a 4th-century mosaic, along with Byzantine and Roman remains, including the 10th-century church of S. Niceto.
Bova itself, the hilltop village at 820 m (2,690 ft), is one of the 'most beautiful villages of Italy.' Climb to the remains of its Norman fortress, topped with a white cross, for views over the Aspromonte, across the Strait of Messina to Etna, and out to the Ionian Sea. For the Greek-speaking heritage of this area in more depth, see our San Simio-Galliciano page. This corner of Calabria has plenty more roads to try, and you can see other climbs nearby with our Routes in the Area tool.
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