Ciclolonga (Ciclolonga Village)
Battipaglia's popular community bike ride, blending sport, music, and sustainability
About Ciclolonga
Half a century of cycling
The Ciclolonga was founded in 1976 by Mario Rossomando, Enzo Signoriello, and Aldo Apostolico. Over the years, it has been carried forward by Lucio Rossomando along with the editorial team of RCS75 - Radio Castelluccio, Battipaglia's historic radio station. Since then, the ride has never lost its original spirit: it is not a race or a time trial, but a collective bicycle ride that fills the streets of the Municipality of Battipaglia, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of Campania, with people every year.
Over fifty years, the event has become much more than a sporting appointment: it is a civic ritual that unites families, schools, associations, and curious onlookers alike. Those without a racing bike participate anyway, whether on a city bike, mountain bike, or their grandfather's old bicycle; children pedal alongside their parents, and groups of friends meet at dawn at the Villa Comunale.
The Ciclolonga Village
In 2026, to mark the fiftieth edition and the fiftieth anniversary of RCS75, the Ciclolonga transformed into a true widespread festival: the Ciclolonga Village, set up for three days at the Villa Comunale between Via Belvedere and Via Clarizia. The area is organized into themed villages, each with its own identity:
- Sports Village — free trials and activities for children and teenagers.
- Health Village — free screenings, prevention, and medical outreach.
- Food Village and Mediterranean Diet Salon — tastings, local producers, and talks on nutrition.
- Sustainability Village — soft mobility, plastic reduction, and environmental education.
- Children's Workshops and spaces dedicated to local schools.
The Sunday ride
The highlight remains Sunday morning. The gathering begins in the early hours, as the Villa Comunale fills with bicycles and colorful t-shirts; then, the long procession sets off through the city along an urban route that touches Via Piave, Via Roma, Via Rosa Jemma, Via Alfonso Menna, Viale Brodolini, Viale delle Industrie, and Viale della Libertà , concluding on Via Clarizia. Every year, the Municipality of Battipaglia issues a dedicated ordinance with parking bans and temporary traffic closures, returning the streets to cyclists for a few hours.
Radio, music, and talent
The bond with the radio is part of the event's DNA. The Ciclolonga Village hosts masterclasses and workshops on radio communication, meetings with well-known national voices, and live musical evenings, in addition to the Talenti Festival, a showcase that rewards figures from the worlds of culture, sports, information, and social commitment, with a special focus on younger audiences.
Concrete sustainability
The environmental dimension is not just for show: the fiftieth-anniversary edition was accompanied by a plastic waste reduction project carried out with the Corsair Group International, with a declared goal of recovering three thousand kilograms of plastic. A message consistent with the philosophy of Ciclolonga, which has always associated the bicycle with the idea of sustainable mobility and caring for the local area.
Battipaglia and the Piana del Sele
Battipaglia is the central hub of the Piana del Sele, one of the most productive agricultural areas in Campania, famous for its Buffalo Mozzarella DOP, artichokes, and vegetable crops. Participating in the Ciclolonga also means crossing this landscape of greenhouses, fields, and straight roads that stretch from the sea to the first slopes of the Picentini mountains. The city is just a few kilometers from Paestum, Salerno, and the Amalfi Coast: a June weekend can easily combine the bike ride with a visit to the temples or a day at the beach.
Who is it for?
The Ciclolonga is free and non-competitive: families with small children, amateur cyclists, sports groups, and people who only get on a bike once a year for this occasion all sign up. The pace is slow, the route is entirely urban and flat, and there is no shortage of refreshment points and entertainment along the way. It is probably the easiest and most cheerful way to get to know Battipaglia from the inside.
Ciclolonga — edition 2026
The fiftieth anniversary
2026 marked a double anniversary for Battipaglia: fifty years of Ciclolonga and fifty years of RCS75 - Radio Castelluccio, the station that has accompanied the event since 1976. To celebrate, the organizers created the Ciclolonga Village, a three-day hub at the Villa Comunale, between Via Belvedere and Via Clarizia, open to the city for free.
Three days of village life
From Friday to Sunday, the Villa Comunale transformed into a route of themed areas: the Sports Village with Giffoni Sport, the Health Village curated by the Verrengia Foundation with screenings and prevention activities, the Food Village with the Mediterranean Diet Salon and the National Handmade Pasta Championship, the Sustainability Village with Coldiretti and Legambiente, as well as workshops for children and activities aimed at local schools.
The 50th-anniversary ride
On Sunday, June 7th, the gathering began in the early morning at the Villa Comunale on Via Belvedere; the start was given at 9:00 AM, and the procession of bicycles crossed the city until arriving on Via Clarizia around 1:00 PM. The Municipality of Battipaglia had issued an ordinance with parking bans from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM on over twenty streets and traffic closures along the entire route.
A commitment to the environment
The edition was accompanied by a collaboration with the Corsair Group International, as part of a CSR plastic credit program, with the stated goal of recovering three thousand kilograms of plastic waste.
Programme Ciclolonga 2026
Friday, June 5th
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the Ciclolonga Village at the Villa Comunale, with live coverage on RCS75 and Zona RCS TV (channel 111).
- 6:00 PM — Official ribbon-cutting and activation of the themed villages.
- In the evening — Theatrical show «Scugnizzi - The Revival» by the Attori per caso company, directed by Luca Landi.
Saturday, June 6th
- All day — Themed villages open: Sports Village (with Giffoni Sport), Health Village (Verrengia Foundation, screenings and prevention), Food Village and Mediterranean Diet Salon, National Handmade Pasta Championship, Sustainability Village (Coldiretti, Legambiente), children's workshops.
- Radio Day 50 — Masterclasses and workshops on radio communication for students and enthusiasts.
- In the evening — A major event dedicated to the world of radio and entertainment, with national radio voices and musical guests.
Sunday, June 7th
- From 7:00 AM — Gathering of participants at the Villa Comunale on Via Belvedere.
- 9:00 AM — Start of the 50th Ciclolonga along Via Piave, Via Roma, Via Rosa Jemma, Via Alfonso Menna, Viale Brodolini, Viale delle Industrie, and Viale della Libertà .
- Around 1:00 PM — Arrival on Via Clarizia and progressive reopening of the streets.
- 7:00 PM — Talenti Festival, 5th edition: talks, meetings, and awards for personalities in culture, media, sports, institutions, and civil commitment, focusing on sustainability.
- 9:00 PM — Urban-pop talk show powered by 4quarti Magazine, featuring an interview with singer-songwriter Gabriele Esposito.
Announced guests for the three days include radio voices Umberto Labozzetta, Julian Borghesan, Pippo Pelo, Gianni Simioli, and Gianfranco Valenti; on the musical side, Anastasio, Tommaso Primo, Vincenzo Comunale, and Gabriele Esposito.
Highlights Ciclolonga 2026
- The 50th edition of the Ciclolonga, Sunday, June 7th, starting at 9:00 AM from the Villa Comunale on Via Belvedere.
- The birth of the Ciclolonga Village: three days of themed villages at the Villa Comunale.
- Radio Day 50, masterclasses and workshops for the 50th anniversary of RCS75 - Radio Castelluccio.
- The Mediterranean Diet Salon and the National Handmade Pasta Championship.
- The Talenti Festival, 5th edition, Sunday evening at 7:00 PM.
- The theatrical show «Scugnizzi - The Revival» at the opening, Friday evening.
Prices Ciclolonga 2026
Practical information — Ciclolonga
How to get there
By train: Battipaglia station is an important hub on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria line and the route to Potenza; from the station, the Villa Comunale can be reached on foot in a few minutes. By car: Take the Battipaglia exit on the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway, then follow signs for the city center. By plane: Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi Airport is about twenty kilometers away; alternatively, use Naples-Capodichino.
Registration and costs
Participation in the bike ride is free, with registration via the official website of RCS75 - Radio Castelluccio. Entry to the Ciclolonga Village at the Villa Comunale is free.
Practical tips
- Arrive at the meeting point well in advance: the Villa Comunale fills up quickly.
- Helmets are recommended, especially for children; ensure your bicycle is in good working order and carry a spare inner tube.
- Bring water and a hat: in June, the Piana del Sele can already be very hot by mid-morning.
- Those arriving by car should take into account the parking bans and traffic closures provided by the municipal ordinance along the entire route.
Where to stay
Battipaglia has hotels and bed and breakfasts along the main road and in the center; many visitors choose to stay in Pontecagnano, Eboli, or the coastal area of Paestum, a short drive away.
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Where does it take place — Ciclolonga
Villa Comunale di via Belvedere
Villa Comunale, via Belvedere, 84091 Battipaglia