From Pesaro to Rimini by e-bike along the scenic road of San Bartolo Park.

Route itinerary

Pesaro – Fiorenzuola di Focara (km 0 -> km 14)

Today we start the day by reaching Pesaro station by train and as always we wonder if whoever designed the train has ever tried to get on it with a bicycle. The space is for three bicycles, the pictogram even provides for them to be electric, but already with two bicycles the handlebars stick out dangerously towards the corridor… so we spend the journey watching that no one gets hurt by bumping into our bikes. And anyway we can consider ourselves lucky that the spaces aren’t occupied by suitcases or strollers as often happens.

Since we have to pass some time traveling, we decide to use it to discover who is behind the POP and ROCK models (today’s train) that we happen to use on regional routes. Just enough time to have a good laugh reading the press releases and it’s time to get off.

We get the bikes off the train and to exit the platform narrow elevators await us, definitely undersized for an ebike with bags. As often happens, the train part is the most difficult part of a bike trip.

Finally we’re outside Pesaro station ready to try the climb of Monte San Bartolo along the Panoramic Road that will take us from Pesaro to Fiorenzuola di Focara.

We cross Pesaro following the Bicipolitana (Red Line 1) towards the port, and we take advantage of the first supermarket we come across to buy a couple of sandwiches. Before reaching the port we turn left, at the bridge over the Foglia river. Right in front of us begins the climb of the Adriatic Panoramic Road.

The first pedal strokes are calm, almost a warm-up, then the road starts to climb, first gently, then with a gradient that makes itself felt. It’s a perfect asphalt snake that winds through the trees of the Monte San Bartolo Regional Park. Every switchback we tackle is a small victory. The effort starts to be felt, certainly, the leg muscles warm up, but the secret is to raise the battery by one notch and raise your gaze to the panorama that opens around us at every curve.

Below, you can see the entire Pesaro coast, the intense blue of the Adriatic Sea stretching to the horizon. Above us, the green trees protect us from the heat of the summer day.

Today the road is open to traffic (on Sundays car travel is prohibited) but the cars passing through are few, in return cyclists are everywhere each with their own pace. Road bikes, mountain bikes, cycle tourists, at every panoramic point there’s someone stopped to photograph the sea, to rest, to refresh themselves or fill water bottles. That’s what we do too.

After the main climb that brings you up to altitude you continue through ups and downs until Fiorenzuola di Focara.

The arrival at Fiorenzuola di Focara makes us immediately understand that we must stop here because the passing cyclists are all sitting outside the bar on the bend in the road. We park the bikes, on the right an arch opens with access to the medieval village, we venture in and climb on foot towards the tower where a small garden opens situated in a striking position overlooking the sea. It’s a peaceful place, ideal for stopping to eat and take a break.

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Fiorenzuola di Focara – Gabicce Monte (km 14 -> km 22)

After our break, we return to the Panoramic Road. The landscape now opens up: to the left, the intense green of the hills dotted with farmhouses; to the right, the cliffs plunging sheer into the Adriatic Sea, the blue of the water merging with the azure sky on the horizon.

After a couple of kilometers, we reach Casteldimezzo and enter the tiny village surrounded by a circular road. While we’re here, we discover that the paving in the historic center, where we’re riding our e-bikes, is still the original 16th-century paving, with hand-hewn cobblestones.

It’s early afternoon, it’s hot, and we stop in the shade to take some photos, drink, and fill our water bottles.

While we rest, we do some math, and it’s immediately clear that these roads have seen more hooves from horses and pack donkeys than the Bosch motors that power our Mustache Samedì 27 Xroads. It’s incredible how in Italy, even the smallest details can captivate you and make you feel part of history, and, for us, that’s always a feeling worth every effort we make on the pedals.

Then we set off again.

Every curve offers a view of the hidden coves and the Romagna coast that reveals itself meter by meter. We proceed without haste, we often stop to look at the sea, now there are far fewer cyclists and we enjoy a few kilometers in tranquility and silence, because we’re approaching the Romagna part of the route and we know that once we get there, we’ll find the rhythm of the riviera and the late August crowds.

The arrival at Gabicce Monte is in the ancient village nestled on the summit of the promontory. It offers a natural terrace from which the gaze embraces the entire Romagna Riviera.

It’s worth stopping for a while, so we sit on a bench and gaze at the beach stretching out below us, while Rimini can already be seen in the distance. We realize we’re only halfway there, but from here on, it’s all downhill and flat. More than the kilometers, we’re worried about the traffic we’ll encounter down there.

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Gabicce Monte – Rimini (km 22 -> km 46)

We leave Gabicce Monte behind us descending along the Panoramic road that leads towards Gabicce Mare. It’s a pleasant descent, immersed in greenery, but you can already sense the change of atmosphere while the car traffic increases. It’s surprising how you can go in a few kilometers from the silence of the hills to the chaos of the coast: it’s a change of pace compared to the quiet of Monte San Bartolo.

Here nature slowly gives way to the vitality of the Romagna beaches, to the color of the seaside resorts and to the bustle of summer.

As we descend, the breeze becomes warmer and salty. In a few minutes, we’re on the coast, in the heart of the Riviera Romagnola.

We pass through Gabicce Mare and then Cattolica, navigating the one-way streets, the traffic of tourists arriving and departing from the hotels, and the hustle and bustle of the waterfront. We aim to reach Portoverde, a small and charming tourist marina. Here, the atmosphere is relaxed: yachts moored, bars on the harbor, children eating ice cream. It’s the perfect time for a break in the shade of the trees in front of the fountain.

The seafront from Misano Adriatico to Riccione

As soon as we leave Portoverde, we stop to pump up our tires because we left this morning without checking the pressure. We do it at this Clorofilla pump, clearly visible next to the bike path. It’s a veritable mini-garage, equipped with all the tools needed for an emergency repair. It’s truly convenient for those who pass through here by bike, and we also owe our deepest gratitude to that enlightened city administrator who understood that sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a cyclist feel welcome and valued.

Then we take the bike path that connects all the seaside resorts along the coast. Misano, Riccione, then Rimini: it’s a single strip of sand and smiles.

In Riccione, the landscape changes again: the bike path passes neat beach resorts, endless rows of colorful loungers, and beach bars playing music. Here, the scent of piadina mingles with that of sunscreen.

The cycle path runs close to the beach but the traffic of bicycles and pedestrians is constant: families with rickshaws, kids on scooters, cycle tourists, all in movement, all walking on the cycle path. We slow down and pay attention, but it’s also the beauty of the journey: you feel part of something alive, dynamic, summery.

Arrival in Rimini

We pedal the last part of the seafront calmly, without haste. At Rivazzurra we allow ourselves a small detour to enjoy a granita at the Montebianco ice cream shop, we’ve pedaled all day on a very hot day and for about ten kilometers we’d been anticipating this stop which leaves us very satisfied.

We set off again and shortly we’re on the Rimini seafront almost without realizing it.

Rimini’s new, car-free seafront is wide and flowing, inviting you to stroll among the greenery, benches, fountains, and bars where you can stop for a drink.

We stop on the terrace of Piazzale Kennedy to admire the gardens and the beach from above, then we pedal the last stretch to the port of Rimini and we have arrived at our destination for today.

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Places we passed through

• Pesaro
• Monte di San Bartolo
• Fiorenzuola di Focara
• Casteldimezzo
• Gabicce Monte
• Gabicce Mare
• Cattolica
• Portoverde
• Misano Adriatico
• Miramare
• Rivazzurra
• Rimini