Bici in Piana

A ride through the heart of the Valle del Dragone

Bici in Piana is the cycle-touring event of Volturara Irpina, a small town of just over three thousand inhabitants perched at an altitude of 697 meters in the Monti Picentini, in the province of Avellino, Campania. This is not a race: it is a bike ride open to everyone that traverses, as the official Estate Volturarese program states, "the natural landscapes of the Valle del Dragone." It is a simple and direct way to discover one of Irpinia's most unique landscapes, pedaling along roads with almost no traffic.

The Piana del Dragone, a plateau made for cycling

The event takes place on the Piana del Dragone, a vast flat basin of approximately 1,100 hectares lying at an altitude of 685 meters on the southern edge of the town. This karst plain, recognized as a Site of Community Importance, is famous for the Bocca del Dragone: a sinkhole at the foot of Monte Costa that, under normal conditions, absorbs about 900 liters of water per second, channeling the surface water network into the depths of the limestone mountain. In winter, when rains fill the lower areas, the basin transforms into the so-called "Lago Dragone," only to return to a stretch of meadows and farmland during the warmer seasons.

This geography explains why the plain has always been loved by cyclists in the province of Avellino: there are no challenging slopes, traffic is virtually non-existent, and the panorama is framed by the ridges of Monte Terminio. Runners and hikers also frequent the area year-round, and it is freely accessible without an entrance fee.

The origins: the first edition in 2023

The first documented edition of Bici in Piana dates back to August 5, 2023, when the event joined the town's summer program as a "bike ride with refreshments" through the Valle del Dragone, organized by the Polisportiva Terminio Accademy. The original concept—a route accessible to everyone, a refreshment point along the way, and a convivial rather than competitive spirit—still defines the event today.

A highlight of the Estate Volturarese

Bici in Piana is not an isolated event: it is part of the Estate Volturarese, a long calendar of events that the municipal administration, together with the Pro Loco, local associations, and festival committees, organizes from June to October. The program weaves together sports, nature, faith, music, and food and wine, including some of the town's most iconic events:

• the Festa del Fagiolo Quarantino, dedicated to the Slow Food Presidium legume grown right in the Piana del Dragone;
• Volturara Outdoor, a day of outdoor activities paired with the June Music Festival;
• the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua at the end of July, featuring processions, concerts, and fireworks;
• the departure of the Castellana di Zia Michelina towards the Sanctuary of Montevergine on August 14;
• the Feast of the Madonnina della Piana in August, and the Chestnut Festival that closes the season in October;
• the National Panda 4x4 Rally, another automotive event linked to the Valle del Dragone.

Volturara Irpina, the village at the foot of the Terminio

Visitors arriving for the ride will find a village that deserves a stop. At the highest point of the town, the ruins of the medieval castle from the Norman era remain; the historic center preserves examples of Gothic architecture and the Church of San Nicola di Bari, while the Sanctuary of San Michele commemorates the rule of the Carafa family. There is also an ethnographic museum that tells the story of local peasant culture. The local cuisine completes the picture with regional products: Montella chestnuts, caciocavallo podolico cheese, iurmano bread, and Volturara potatoes.

Who is it for?

The cycle-touring format makes Bici in Piana suitable for families, amateur cyclists, and curious visitors: no racing performance is required, just a well-maintained bicycle and the desire to spend a few hours in the open air. It is also an opportunity to get a close look at a fragile and fascinating natural environment, which the municipality has been promoting for years as its primary landscape asset.