XTERRA Italy Lake Scanno 2026

Head to the magnificent and rugged region of the Abruzzo, on the shores of the magical Lake Scanno, world-famous for its surprising heart shape ❤️. The hearty menu features a formidable stop on the XTERRA World Tour.

The effort instantly propels you into a breathtaking adventure. Once you’ve hauled yourself out of the water, the bike course literally throws you onto the steep slopes of the Abruzzo National Park, kingdom of bears and wolves. You’ll have to tame hellish climbs on rocky tracks and tear down dizzying singletracks deep in the forest 🌲. The immersion turns historic and monumental on the run: your strides will take you up the countless flights of stairs in Scanno, ranked among the most beautiful villages in Italy, winding beneath ancient stone arches before plunging back down toward the resort’s ski slopes 🏰.

Adrenaline saturates the mountain air from the moment the big mass start is given on the small pebble beach 🌊. The wild atmosphere transforms into a true cauldron when you barrel through the historic center, out of breath. The locals, proud of their traditions, pack the balconies and narrow passageways to scream encouragement that echoes off the old stone walls, giving you an extra surge of spirit to conquer the cruelest gradients 📣.

Keep a solid lumberjack’s appetite to do justice to the generous local cuisine once you’ve crossed the finish line. Carry your dirt-covered body to a giant barbecue to devour the legendary Arrosticini and toast with a glass of powerful red Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 🍷. Then take your loved ones to explore Scanno’s maze, a stronghold of traditional goldsmithing, to buy the famous Presentosa jewel. If the call of the wild still rings out, drive thirty minutes to Villetta Barrea to witness a surreal spectacle: dozens of deer strolling majestically in complete freedom through the village streets 🦌. Lock out your suspension, tame the mountain, and come conquer the heart of Italy! 💥