Cycling through history on ancient roads past necropolises and villages with traditions dating back thousands of years – that's what you'll discover, and much more, on the Via Clodia. This ancient trade route pre-dates Roman times, as it was built on ancient Etruscan traces between the Via Aurelia and the Via Cassia.

This Collection will reveal the charming stone bridges, cobbled roads and necropolises of the Via Clodia. Between Italy's capital Rome and Grosseto, the finishing town, you’ll cross Lazio, Tuscia, Maremma and southern Tuscany.

Today, the Via Clodia no longer exists. Instead, the route follows a reconstruction that was not easy to trace. Associations and adventure-hungry cyclists have revived the route. The result is remarkable: villages clinging to the heights, hilly countryside rich in woods and pastures, Etruscan quarry roads (the 'tagliate'), thermal baths and necropolises.

The best bike for this route is a gravel bike with agile gears and tyres with decent tread. In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into four into four moderately demanding stages, but you can adjust the route to suit your preferences. Each stage ends somewhere with accommodation, which I recommend you book in advance, especially in the small villages. You can reach the start and finish by public transport.

Starting from Rome, you’ll explore places along the Via Clodia that have remained intact, such as Forum Clodi, Oriolo, Vejano and Barbarano Romano and their paved roads, Blera and its Etruscan necropolis; then Norchia, a spectacular testimony to the past, Tuscania, Canino and Castro. Finally, Sovana and Pitigliano, a beautiful town and village with strong Etruscan roots and exciting necropolis, Saturnia, Scansano and Roselle.

Get ready for a journey through history on the Via Clodia!