Nature walks along the Tiber – Tours for the whole family

The River Tiber (Fiume Tevere) is often associated with the bridges of Rome. Yet, its waters mainly flow through natural landscapes, where wildlife and peace abound.

In this Collection, I propose three Tours that will introduce you to the wildest and truest aspects of this famous river. The routes revolve around the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Regional Nature Reserve, about 60 kilometres (40 mi) north of Rome in the municipality of Torrita Tiberina.

The starting point for the routes is Poggio Mirteto station, served by the FL1 regional railway line connecting Orte to Fiumicino airport. The regional trains all have space for bicycles – but remember to buy a ticket for your bike.

These are easy routes, suitable for a day out with the family or those who want to pedal gently through nature. You’ll find several bakeries, restaurants and agritourisms in the area, where you can stop to taste local delicacies. If you prefer a picnic, there are plenty of great picnic spots along the river, some equipped with wooden tables, others wilder. You can also stay overnight at the agritourisms.

The terrain is unpaved but compact, and you can tackle it with any type of bicycle. The climbs are few and typically short. There’s almost no traffic: the first route is almost entirely pedestrian-cycling; the other two take roads are frequented only by farmers.

Any time of year is suitable for cycling these routes. Spring is the most beautiful time for observing flowering plants and animals. Judas trees colour the forest purple and water lilies provide patches of yellow in the river. In summer, brambles give succulent blackberries and in winter, bare trees allow glimpses of the many birds' nests.