Eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023: from Terni to Fossombrone

Here we are in Terni, for one of the longest fractions of the Giro d'Italia 2023, with an extension of 207 kilometers and a difference in height of 2500 meters. The city, also called "City of Steel" or "Italian Manchester", thanks to the numerous steel mills, is crossed by the Nera River and the Serra River and lies in a basin surrounded by verdant hills. Founded by the Umbrian-Sabinian population in 672 BC, it was then conquered by the Romans who made it an important municipality with the name of Interamna Nahars, land between two rivers. Remains of the Faustus Amphitheater of the first century AD, close to the city walls, remain as evidence of that historical period. 

Do not miss the thirteenth-century Church of San Francesco, with the majestic fresco of the Paradisi chapel depicting scenes from the Last Judgment,  the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo di Terni), an imposing building of primitive origins rebuilt in the seventeenth century on the project of Bernini, the various museums on the industrial history of the city, the obelisk of Arnaldo Tomodoro at the end of the course of the People, the Hyperion of Agapito Miniucchi in the square of Steel, and the mammoth monument of the Great Press in Piazza Dante Alieriigh. 

When we talk about Terni we cannot fail to mention the nearby Nera River Park, characterized by the extraordinary Marmore Waterfall, the highest artificial waterfall in Europe and among the highest in the world, being able to count on a total height difference of 165 m divided into three jumps. The creation of the waterfall dates back to 271 BC, while we owe the current structure to the Renaissance. The area offers walking trails for suggestive excursions, including caving, thanks to the natural caves that open on the cliff of the waterfall, as well as the possibility of rafting, canyoning, hydrospeed and kayaking.

The ternana area is also famous for a deep-rooted gastronomic tradition: the specialties to try are genuine and tasty, always accompanied by the excellent oil produced in the area. Certainly to taste the strangozzi - or ciriole -, fresh homemade pasta (usually seasoned with garlic, oil and chilli or with local mushrooms and asparagus), Terni bread, known throughout Italy, and excellent wines typical of the territory (in the province of Terni there are five of the Doc of the region).

The Giro then crosses the nearby Spoleto, a town with a beating heart, where history and art overlook every corner. But what immediately captures the view is the splendid Rocca Albornoziana, an imposing fortress that dominates the Sant'Elia hill, a place that offers magnificent views. Not to be missed are the Duomo, the Ponte delle Torri, the Roman Theatre and the Archaeological Museum, as well as the many noble palaces, churches and squares.

Leaving Umbria, the riders of the Giro enter the Marche region for the last stage, heading towards Fossombrone, a charming village on the banks of the Metauro river, surrounded by history and nature. 

The town, a Roman municipality in the first century BC, suffered conquests and devastation by the Goths, Byzantines, and Lombards and was then donated to Pope Sylvester II by the Frankish king Pepin the Short. 

The historic center preserves buildings from the 1400s and 1500s, as well as Renaissance and six-eighteenth-century neighborhoods . One of the first monuments to be found walking along the course is the Church of San Filippo Neri. Do not be betrayed by the simple façade, because once you have crossed the threshold the Baroque style that characterizes the interior will surprise you with the rich golden decorations and the large white statues that frame the apse.

Another symbol of Fossombrone is the Bridge of Concord on the Metauro River, which attracts visitors throughout the year. Its reflection, which is reflected in the water, creates the optical illusion of a portal or an eye, to frame a fairytale glimpse. From here the excursions, on foot or by kayak, to the Giant's Mittens, very high gorges with emerald waters of the river that, in some sections, form small waterfalls where you can swim.

The gastronomic culture of the place has predominantly peasant origin and is characterized by the products that are cultivated in the territory bathed by the river, flourishing of raw materials.