South Italy Greenways Roadshow:
a unique cycling journey that showcases
the great national parks of Southern Italy

An epic cycling roadshow covering a route of over 7,000 km from North Cape to Reggio Calabria, following the EuroVelo 7, the Sun Cycle Route.

A promotional tour led by two exceptional cyclists, aimed at raising awareness of the green routes through the four major parks of Southern Italy through an authentic, dynamic and engaging travel narrative.

From August to October 2026, Simona Pergola and Simona Ridolfi will cycle through Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy, meeting communities, cycle tourists, organisations and enthusiasts along the way.

The journey will be documented by Francesco Vigliotti, an experienced reporter, supported by a communications team that will provide daily updates on the stages of the journey, encounters, landscapes and other content via dedicated social media channels.

Promoting Southern Italy as a cycle tourism destination

This integrated communications project aims to highlight the potential of Southern Italy’s nature-based destinations, capitalising on the growing interest in slow, sustainable and outdoor tourism. The real-time account of the journey aims to inspire new travellers, boost word-of-mouth and position the parks’ greenways as ideal destinations for the 2027 season.

An invitation to discover Southern Italy’s greenways

Through their first-hand account of the journey, the South Italy Greenways ambassadors invite cycle tourists, travellers and local communities to discover an authentic Southern Italy, criss-crossed by green routes, protected landscapes, villages, encounters and local cultures. This direct communication initiative is designed to inspire, encourage participation and create new opportunities for sustainable development in the regions involved.

Sharing the experience, disseminating the results

Key outputs of the project include: the production of a video/documentary about the journey (landscapes, encounters, events, impressions); a photographic reportage; ongoing promotion via dedicated web and social media channels; four events in the participating parks to present the project’s outcomes to the public and local communities; articles, interviews, feature pieces and reports in specialist publications, platforms and media; and the presentation of the results at major national and international events dedicated to tourism, the outdoors and cycle tourism between late 2026 and 2027.

To find out more

Route

Departure: North Cape (Norway)

Arrival: Reggio Calabria (Italy)

Countries travelled through: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy.

Nature parks travelled through: 22

Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, Puez-Odle Nature Park, Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, Monte Corno Nature Park, Adamello Brenta Nature Park, Monte Baldo Local Nature Park, Mincio Regional Park, Po Delta Regional Park, Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park, Maremma Nature Park, Monti Lucretili Regional Nature Park, Circeo National Park, Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, Monti Aurunci Regional Park, Roccamonfina-Foce Garigliano Regional Park, Monti Picentini Regional Park, Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, Lucanian Apennines Val d’Agri-Lagonegrese National Park, Pollino National Park, Sila National Park, Serre Regional Nature Park, Aspromonte-Geopark National Park.

Main cities visited: Tornio (Finland); Haparanda, Malmö (Sweden); Copenhagen (Denmark); Rostock, Berlin, Dresden (Germany); Prague (Czech Republic); Linz, Salzburg and Lienz (Austria); Bolzano, Mantua, Ferrara, Florence, Rome, Naples, Reggio Calabria (Italy).

Ambassador

Simona Pergola | Bike Travel Specialist and cycle tour guide, she designs bespoke trips in central and southern Italy, supporting travellers and operators in creating sustainable, authentic cycle tourism experiences that support local economies. She is actively involved in the Via Silente project, developing travel packages, promotional activities and liaising with accommodation providers and local operators. With over twenty years’ experience in the tourism sector, she specialises in cycle tourism, itinerary planning and the promotion of local areas through slow travel.

Between 2014 and 2020, she cycled across three continents and 35 countries as part of the BeCycling.net project, producing photographic reports and editorial content dedicated to local cultures, landscapes and communities.

From 2020 to 2022, she cycled across Italy along cycle routes and independent itineraries, helping to promote inland areas and lesser-known routes. Since 2024, she has also been working as a freelance editor with Komoot.

Simona Ridolfi | Born in Vallo della Lucania, she remains deeply attached to her roots and lives in the heart of Cilento. She teaches Chemistry and Biology at a school specialising in languages and classical studies, but outside school her true passion is slow travel. A cycle traveller for many years, she has explored Europe and various parts of the world, developing her own unique way of experiencing travel on two wheels. This passion gave rise to the Via Silente, a circular route that crosses the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. More than just an itinerary, it is a project designed to raise awareness of and protect the area, promoting nature conservation and sustainable tourism. From the very beginning, she has led and co-ordinated the association behind the project, with the aim of forging a genuine connection between travellers and the Cilento region.

Team

Francesco Vigliotti, reporter | An Italian freelance naturalist, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker deeply committed to climate and social issues. He has documented the impact of climate change in Madagascar and has collaborated with leading national and international organisations, including the Pollino National Park, the Sila National Park, the Lucanian Apennines Val d’Agri Lagonegrese National Park, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Legambiente, the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria, Ediciclo Editore and the International Italo-Latin American Organisation. He is co-author of the travelling exhibition and the photographic catalogue produced to mark the 30th anniversary of the Pollino National Park in 2023. His photographs have been published in cycle tourism guides, such as La Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria (2023), Anello dei Parchi lucani in bicicletta and Ring cycle route of Lucanian Parks (Ediciclo, 2024 and 2025), as well as in publications including National Geographic, Natural Style, Dove, Corriere dello Sport and BC Magazine.

Palmarosa Fuccella, project manager & creative director | A communications designer and copywriter, she has developed place branding, marketing and tourism development projects for numerous Italian public bodies. A lecturer at the University of Basilicata, she has numerous publications to her name. Outdoor destination specialist, she edited the book Itinerari nei paesaggi d’autore for APT Basilicata and authored the Communication Plan for the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria, along with its official guide (2023); she is particularly responsible for the web platform and regional marketing initiatives for this project. He conceived the cycle tourism route through the Lucanian Parks, publishing the guides L’Anello dei Parchi lucani in bicicletta and Ring cycle route of Lucanian Parks (Ediciclo, 2024 and 2025). She designed the Ciclovia Meridiana (2nd prize – Oscar Cicloturismo 2025) and the Cammino dei Cinti for the Lucanian Apennines National Park, and conceived “Bike link Sud”, an integrated promotional platform for cycle routes in southern Italy. www.palmarosa.it

Maria Livia Di Leo, social media | Content creator, has gained solid experience over the years in the development and management of web and social media content, as well as in team coordination. She has collaborated with cooperatives and institutional organisations, handling the drafting and publication of original content for websites and social media channels, whilst overseeing copywriting, SEO optimisation and editorial management. Among her most significant experiences is the coordination of digital communications for the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). She has also contributed to the drafting and implementation of web content for parconazionalepollino.it and appenninolucanoexperience.it, handling copywriting, information architecture and SEOoptimisation. She authored the texts for Arpa Basilicata’s toolkit ‘Io sono un filo d’erba’ (STES, 2025).

Slow Italy S.r.l., organisation | A Basilicata-based company led by Michele Cappiello, it is a leader in promoting slow and eco-friendly tourism and in showcasing the inland areas of Southern Italy. As a tour operator specialising in active holidays, its philosophy is to guide travellers in discovering some of the most beautiful places in Southern Italy through itineraries that bring them into contact with nature, culture and tradition.

It guarantees expertise and professionalism, the result of over 20 years’ experience in outdoor activities. It offers a wide range of options: cultural tours, walking and cycling excursions, a bike hire service — through the Ferula Bike Shop, which has over 250 bikes of all types — food and wine tours, cookery courses and tours to discover one’s roots.

Credits