20.2
PDI
14.3 mi
DISTANCE
3,966 ft
GAINED
5.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
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. Monte Ballerino climbs 1,209 m (3,966 ft) over 23.0 km (14.3 mi) at a 5.1% average, which hides a harder core. The steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) averages 8.5%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 8.0%, and the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 7.2%, while the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) still averages 5.8%. The steepest 91 m (100 yd) reaches 9.9%.
That means no single section is brutal, but the climb is a long, steady effort with a few easier stretches that pull the average down, including 41 m (134 ft) of total descent along the way. It suits steady pacing: start in a gear you can hold for the whole ride rather than attacking the early kilometers.
Roadway: The route stays on paved public roads from Caniparola through Fosdinovo and up into the mountains. It begins on the lowland road from Caniparola, passes through the village, and then continues as a mountain road toward the Campocecina area.
Traffic: Expect ordinary village traffic through Caniparola and Fosdinovo, and more visitors than usual when Fosdinovo hosts its Medieval Festival in July. Above the village the road is a mountain route linking the castle village with the Campocecina area.
Parking: Caniparola is a residential hamlet rather than a trailhead, so plan on street parking near the start or, better, arrive by train at Sarzana, about 3 km (1.9 mi) to the west, and ride in. Fosdinovo itself has the castle and old center, a worthwhile stop after the ride.
Top up your bottles in Caniparola or Fosdinovo before the long upper section, because the climb is 23.0 km (14.3 mi) and exposed to summer heat on the lower slopes: start early in July and August. The Campocecina area at the top is a popular hiking and cycling base, with Rifugio Carrara (1,320 m / 4,331 ft) a short distance away on a steep unpaved track, but a road bike should turn back at the paved end.
With a 5.1% average but 8-9% in the steepest kilometers, a 34 x 28 or similar compact setup is comfortable for most riders. Bring a jacket for the finish, where it is noticeably cooler than at the start.
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.
Fosdinovo is worth a visit in its own right. The Malaspina castle dates to the 12th century, sits on a rocky spur above the village and, from its courtyard, looks over the Val di Magra and the sea toward the islands of Palmaria and Tino. Local tradition says Dante stayed here, and the castle has a resident ghost story, that of Bianca Maria Aloisia Malaspina. The Museo audiovisivo della Resistenza at Le Prate, about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the village, adds the area's wartime history. Villa Malaspina in Caniparola can be visited by appointment.
Sarzana is the nearest base with a railway station and more services, and the Via Francigena pilgrim route passes through the area. Our Via Vallacara climb also starts in Fosdinovo.
To see other climbs close by, including those on the Carrara side, try our Routes in the Area tool.
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