The Preliminary Plan

December 21, 2025

Everything is always preliminary until flights are booked

I've been dreaming about this trip for years, as I've read stories of similar trips by other CycleBlazers. Some of the routes I've lifted from their journals while others are my own "that looks scenic/interesting" ideas. I've been thinking about Italy too for distraction as I ride less scenic roads, though to be honest, I mostly think about Italian food.

So here's the plan: fly to Naples, ferry to Sorrento, then ride down the coast until it's time to turn away from the Tyrrhenian Sea and climb into Pollino National Park. Stops in Gravina in Puglia and Matera to be followed by a loop around the heel and up and around Gargano, then into the mountains of Abruzzo until finding a train to Rome (probably from Sulmona but maybe Sora) or back to Naples from Vairano-Caianello. There might or might not be an excursion to the Tremiti Islands if the ferry is running from Rodi Garganico or Vieste (which would replace the ride from Rodi to Termoli).

The start will be early April, but after Easter (April 5 in 2026), and my planning spreadsheet shows 54 days. I've already warned Al that he might need to be away for 8 weeks.

The screenshot below includes some alternative routes and a few day ride ideas. The routes are also at this link but I expect they will evolve as the tour plan develops.

Why Torricelli Twist, you might ask? I was going to call it "Southern Italy" but that's rather boring, so I thought I'd come up with a title that honoured another Italian mathematician and "twist"? Why not?

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	10
Comment on this entry	Comment	17

Steve Miller/GrampiesLooks very interesting. Steve and I have been dreaming of a tour in Southern Italy for some time, but never seem to have actually done it. We will follow your route with keen interest.
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Steve Miller/GrampiesAs usual for us, there will be some big climbs. All the better to work up an appetite for dinner!
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Susan CarpenterLots of variety accompanied by fantastic food and some remarkable history. Should be great fun - I look forward to following along.
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesBy the way, assuming that you have eight total Italian trips in you, Google suggests from oldest to latest that these are your mathematicians:

Leonardo Fibonacci (c. 1170–1250): Introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to Europe, revolutionizing Western mathematics.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519): A true polymath, his mathematical insights informed his engineering, art, and scientific studies.

Galileo Galilei (1564–1642): A pivotal figure in the Scientific Revolution, applying mathematics to physics and astronomy.

Gerolamo Cardano (1501–1576): A major figure in algebra, also contributing to probability theory.

Niccolò Tartaglia (c. 1500–1557): Known for his work on cubic equations and artillery.

Evangelista Torricelli (1608–1647): Known for his work in geometry and physics, discovering the principle behind the barometer.

Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718–1799): A pioneering woman mathematician and philosopher, author of an influential calculus textbook.

Joseph-Louis Lagrange (1736–1813): A giant in analysis, number theory, and mechanics, though often associated with France, he was born in Turin, Italy.

So by rights, this trip belongs to Da Vinci?
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Steve Miller/GrampiesPossibly, but I was trying to find one from the area we’ll be riding through. Torricelli is from Rome and is the closest to our route as far as my quick search could tell. Perhaps I should have gone with artists? Or chefs?
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Scott AndersonLooks like an itinerary to be envied, and one I recognize for the most part. We've never made it up to Abruzzo though, so I'll be especially keen to see that.
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Scott AndersonI think it was your 2019 trip that got me started (https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/palermo2019/). This time I also copied from the Mathers and Susan Carpenter (and maybe Lyle and Kirsten).
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Suzanne GibsonSounds fabulous!
I got Torricelli confused with tarallucci and your title made perfect sense to me. Tarallucci are little twisted cracker-like things served with your aperitivo. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see a picture. https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/2006apulia/brindisi-to-ostuni/
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Suzanne GibsonI think I remember enjoying those on one of our previous trips to Italy, though I didn’t know the name. One of the reasons I love to travel is the food and one of the reasons I like travelling by bicycle is the excuse to eat lots of it!
Reply to this comment
1 month ago

Lyle McLeodTo Suzanne GibsonIt was’t until well after we got home from our 2019 trip that we learned the correct name for Taralluci (or Taralli as we learned of them). They are ubiquitous in Puglia and we took to referring to them as ‘dog biscuits’ - so typical for us! I think we hit on that name due to the crunchy texture, not for the taste. I realize that this just raises all sorts of other questions so I’ll stop here. They are great with a post ride beer!
Reply to this comment
4 weeks ago

Mark BinghamLooks like a fantastic route, and I’m looking forward to reading about it.
Reply to this comment
4 weeks ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Lyle McLeodTasty dog biscuits! My younger son used to take dog biscuits to school and dare his friends to eat them. He demonstrated, of course. We will have to bring some home for him.
Reply to this comment
4 weeks ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Mark BinghamAnd I’m looking forward to riding it. Now to get into some sort of shape!
Reply to this comment
4 weeks ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Lyle McLeodDog biscuits...lol! They do taste better than dog biscuits, I know.
Reply to this comment
4 weeks ago

Lyle McLeodTo Suzanne GibsonOMG, this looks like it’s developing into a new Forum thread … “Who has, or has not, eaten dog biscuits” … LOL!

…and Jacquie, you’ll have to bring some home for your son so he can relive his days of adolescent glory! Does he have young kids of his own? This would be classic ‘dad stuff’ to do with them!

Notwithstanding (am I allowed to write that coming from Alberta???) the fun factor, they are a tasty and long lived snack to have on hand. They probably would retain their texture a lot longer here though than in Vancouver.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Lyle McLeodI must admit, I haven't had any dog biuscuits since I was a kid when we had a Dalmatian. That was a long time ago. They might be even better today.

Shall we move over to the forum? JK
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Lyle McLeodHe was in Grade 2 or so at the time. He turned out okay, though, and is a musician in Montreal now. He's an uncle, not a dad, as yet.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago