The certification of the cycle path of the parks of Calabria, which will make it the first cycle certified Eurovelo in Italy, was officially presented on Saturday 29 March 2025 during the conference “Cycle tourism in the parks and reserves: a steering wheel of sustainable development for the internal areas”, which took place at Paestum from the field of the Outdoor Experiences event. A meeting that represented an unmissable opportunity to get to know the details of this important milestone that marks a fundamental step in the panorama of Italian cycling.
The Eurovelo certification is the recognition that allows the cycle path of the Calabria parks to enter the Eurovelo network, one of the most prestigious international cycle tourists. Thanks to the collaboration between the Calabria Region and the Fiab (Italian Federation of Bicycle Friends), the path is part of a network that connects thousands of kilometers of cycle routes throughout Europe, guaranteeing quality, safety and accessibility for cyclists.
The Councilor for Tourism and Environment of the Calabria Region, Giovanni Calabrese, He expressed great satisfaction by stating that “the certification of the cycle path of the parks of Calabria is a fundamental step for our region. With the entry of this cycle path into the Eurovelo network, Calabria is confirmed as a territory of excellence for cycle tourism, ready to welcome cyclists from all over Europe and the world. This recognition offers us the opportunity to promote our natural assets more incisively, with positive and cultural effects for economic terms all the local communities involved “.
The Pollino National Park, one of the most important and protected natural areas of our country, plays the role of leader of the entire “Ciclovia of the Parks of Calabria” project. The commissioner of the Pollino National ParkLuigi Lirangi, Also on behalf of the parks of the Sila, the greenhouses and the Aspromonte, he underlined: “The Eurovelo certification of the cycle path of the parks of Calabria is great news for the Pollino National Park and for the whole region. Our park, with its extraordinary biodiversity and natural beauty, will now be a point of reference for cycle tourism, offering visitors a unique experience immersed in nature. Eurovelo enhances our territory and contributes to strengthening our mission of protection and promotion of the environment.
The process of certification of the cycle path of the parks of Calabria will follow a precise timing that will extend for six months. In the first three months, Fiab will collect and evaluate the data along the entire track, and then proceed to a phase of analysis by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF). If the required requirements are met, the certification will be issued, confirming the quality of the path and its compliance with European standards. The certification will be valid for five years, with the possibility of renewal.
This certification is not only a recognition of the quality of the cycle infrastructures of the region, but also marks a starting point for a future full of opportunities. Calabria, thanks to this new international visibility, will be able to further strengthen its position in the panorama of European cycle tourism, contributing to the well -being of local communities and to the enhancement of its immense natural heritage.