Riding in Rieti

While one of my children was away on a school trip and the other was busy with a long day at school, I decided to take a short escape of my own. I headed to Rieti, a small city about an hour and a half from Rome, with a simple plan: ride a 21 km bike loop.

After loading my mountain bike into the car, I drove north and parked easily and for free at the Centro Commerciale Perseo, across from a Conad supermarket (Google Map). From there, I set off, weaving through local streets until I reached the start of the route: the Ciclabile della Conca Reatina.

Almost immediately, the city began to fall away. The route led into quieter residential areas and then opened into countryside. One of the first landmarks was the former Snia Viscosa industrial site—a striking reminder of Rieti’s industrial past. Beyond it, the landscape softened into fields, small villages, and rural churches, with open views of rolling hills and grazing land. In the distance, faint snow-capped peaks still clung to winter.

The loop continued through a changing mix of farmland, riverbanks, and forest edges, following sections near the Velino and Turano rivers. Occasionally, the path shared space with quiet local roads before returning to dedicated cycle sections.

As the route curved south, it gradually led back toward the city, passing under bridges and running alongside the Rieti–Terni Railway corridor.

The day itself was bright and clear—one of those March days where spring feels close but not quite here yet, pushing against the last traces of winter. I felt lucky to catch it, knowing that just a week later the weather would turn cold and rainy again.

It was a simple ride, but exactly the kind that clears the mind. I covered the 21 km leisurely in about two hours, returning to where I started feeling reset.