19.7
PDI
5.5 mi
DISTANCE
2,683 ft
GAINED
8.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton and Stacy Topping, Midway, Utah.
INTRO
Bivio Roghudi climbs 8.9 km (5.5 mi) from the abandoned village of Roghudi Vecchio, in Calabria's Aspromonte, to a road junction (bivio) at 1,240 m (4,068 ft). It starts at 507 m (1,662 ft) and averages 8.3% net, but the opening kilometer averages 14.8% and the steepest 500 m reach 17.3%.
Our ambassador Bruce Hamilton calls it one of the most remote rides in our database. The climb starts at a very old bridge across the river and heads straight up a series of tight, uniform switchbacks held in place by stone walls, with Roghudi Vecchio sitting at the hairpin of the first switchback. The road is rough - old concrete and tiles in places, some pavement, and rocky and dirt sections - and it feels as though cars haven't been up here in a long time. There are nice views back down near the top.
Roghudi Vecchio stands on a rock spur above the Fiumara Amendolea and was abandoned after floods in 1971 and 1973; the new village of Roghudi Nuovo was built nearer the coast. Today its empty houses are home to goats and swallows.
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. Bivio Roghudi is 8.9 km (5.5 mi) long and climbs 733 m (2,405 ft) net at an 8.3% average, from 507 m (1,662 ft) to 1,240 m (4,068 ft). A short dip in the second kilometer means the total ascent is a little higher, at 818 m (2,683 ft).
Km 0-1 (0-0.6 mi): 14.8% straight out of the village on the first switchbacks.
Km 1-3 (0.6-1.9 mi): rolling, with a short descent and a net gain of only about 1%.
Km 3-5 (1.9-3.1 mi): 11.3% - the sustained heart of the climb.
Km 5-8.9 (3.1-5.5 mi): 8.9%, ranging between about 8% and 10%.
Km 1-3 (0.6-1.9 mi): rolling, with a short descent and a net gain of only about 1%.
Km 3-5 (1.9-3.1 mi): 11.3% - the sustained heart of the climb.
Km 5-8.9 (3.1-5.5 mi): 8.9%, ranging between about 8% and 10%.
The steepest 500 m average 17.3%, the steepest 1 km 14.1%, the steepest 2 km 12.0% and the steepest 5 km 10.6%.
Roadway: The surface is poor and varied: old concrete and tiles in places, some pavement, and rocky and dirt sections, on a narrow winding road. It is not a smooth road-bike climb, and the widest tires your bike takes will be more comfortable. After heavy rain in early October 2026 a landslide interrupted a provincial road nearby, between San Lorenzo and Roccaforte del Greco, and local mayors were reported to be preparing traffic bans on the most exposed inland roads, so check current conditions before you ride.
Traffic: Essentially none. The road feels as though cars haven't used it in a long time, and around the village you are more likely to meet goats than vehicles.
Parking: There is no parking infrastructure or services at the start. We reached it by riding from Bova Marina up to Bova and then over the hill and down into the valley, which is the most direct way to link the two climbs - you descend before you climb. Bova Marina, on the coast, is the practical place to leave a car.
Gear: Low gearing, such as a compact crankset with a 32-34 tooth rear cog or easier, for an opening kilometer of nearly 15% and a long stretch around 11%. Carry a spare tube and tools - there is nobody to call on the road.
Provisions: Bring all the water and food you need; there is nothing on the climb and no shop in the abandoned village. Phone coverage is patchy in this part of the Aspromonte, so tell someone your plan.
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.
Roghudi Vecchio is the reason to come. The ghost village hangs on a rock spur above the Fiumara Amendolea, the largest river in the province of Reggio Calabria, and its origins are Greek. The houses still stand, along with a partly restored church, a small square with a fountain and a wood-fired oven in good condition; Leo Pangallo, the last resident, stayed until 2013. If you step inside any building, watch the floors - they can be unstable. Nearby, the Rocca del Drako is a lone rock long held sacred, and local legend has a giant guarding a brigands' treasure there.
Roghudi was a Greek-speaking (Grecanico) community: for the language and the area's other Greek-speaking villages, see our San Simio-Galliciano climb, and for the coastal base with hotels and restaurants, see Bova Marina on our Primo tratto salita verso Bova page. More Aspromonte roads sit close together here - see other climbs nearby with our Routes in the Area tool.
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
