Planned Route Notes
This stage begins with the ferry crossing from Messina back to mainland Italy, re-entering the continent at its southernmost edge. Instead of following the coast, the route turns inland into the remote mountain ranges of Calabria, where narrow roads climb through dense forest, isolated villages, and high ridgelines far removed from transit corridors. The terrain here is slower, more technical, and deliberately chosen for isolation. The stage gradually descends toward the Ionian side near Soverato, marking the transition to the eastern coastline and the beginning of the sustained northbound return along Italy’s Adriatic axis.
Italy