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12 segments from The Long Circle South / 2026. Filter the full log with the same tag.
The route leaves the Amalfi Coast and commits early to the Cilento interior, trading coastal flow for sustained mountain engagement. Cirella marks the transition back to broader southern progression after a technical inland traverse.
The route leaves the coast early and follows Calabria’s inland spine, delivering sustained, technical riding through dense and irregular terrain. Tropea marks the return to open coastline after a long phase of contained mountain progression.
The stage transitions from mainland flow to Sicilian structure, crossing the Strait and moving quickly inland toward Etna. Arrival at Castelmola marks the return of elevation and technical riding above the eastern coast.
After days of rain, reroutes, and volcanic roads, the expedition slowed down along Sicily’s southern coast. By 14:00 the camp was set near Agrigento — finally back in the tent, feet in the sea, and the journey briefly running exactly as intended.
From Greek temples in Agrigento to the rough inland roads of Corleone and Camporeale, today became a ride through Sicily’s deeper layers of history and identity. After dust, detours, and disappearing roads, the expedition ended in Palermo with a family reunion beside the cathedral and UNESCO heart of the city.
After a sleepless night of heavy wind at Camping Lungomare, the expedition started early and temporarily abandoned the planned route to visit Craco and Matera. Craco delivered abandoned ghost-town atmosphere and raw southern Italian isolation, while Matera proved to be one of the most extraordinary places of the entire journey — ancient cave districts carved into stone and layered with thousands of years of history. Sometimes cheating the route is the right decision.
No riding today — only full immersion into Matera’s ancient stone city. A rare expedition day where the motorcycle disappeared into the background and the destination became the story.
Matera to the Adriatic coast: trulli villages, cliff towns, harbors, and sea roads instead of gravel and survival mode. The expedition slows down in Carovigno before the northern return begins.
Today’s loop pushed further south than planned: Lecce, Otranto and finally Santa Maria di Leuca — the southern edge of Puglia. A day of baroque cities, crusader symbols, fortress towns and Adriatic roads under clear skies.
Today began with some of the best inland riding of the expedition and ended in forced off-road detours after three major road closures destroyed the route toward San Marino. Exhausted, down half the electrical reserves after a power bank failure, the expedition retreated to the Adriatic coast where a simple campsite became the day’s final victory.
Today’s route crossed the overheated Po Delta at 32°C before winding through wetlands, Venetian villas, hidden castles, and finally some welcome hilly roads inland. The final approach flattened out once again, reminding the expedition that the long northbound extraction toward the Alps has fully begun.
Long Circle South closed where all great journeys eventually do: not at a destination, but on the road home. After almost 7000 kilometers across Italy, Sicily, the Dolomites and Stelvio, the greatest lesson was simple—keep moving, and the story will unfold.
