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Rides Menu Giro D'Italy, NY Quick Links
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Il Giro D’Italy, New Yorkby Louis Rossi, from Cycling Along The Canals of New York State (2006 edition.) 34 miles
Finalmente: “Il Giro D’Italy, New York”As noted earlier, this part of New York has many similarities with the Italian countryside. Here is an interesting thirty-four mile loop ride that while not involving canals (the starting point, Penn Yan is at the summit of the Crooked Lake Canal) makes you feel like you’re on a European vacation. I call it New York’s “Giro d’Italia.” Yes it’s a “giro” or loop, through the village and town of Italy, New York. Italian immigrants were important to the early wine industry and many local spots carry Italian names. You could start and stop anywhere on this loop (“giro”), but making Penn Yan, the Yates County seat, one’s base allows you to visit the Yates County Visitor’s Center on NY 14A in Penn Yan for the latest tourism information and advice. Depart Penn Yan on NY 54A and in eight miles arrive in Branchport. You’ll be riding alongside Keuka Lake, another of New York’s glacial Finger Lakes. Keuka has an unusual “Y-shape” caused by the merging of two glaciers. The only other glacial lake with this feature is Lago di Como in Italy. At Branchport, go straight ahead (“diritto”) onto CR 32 Italy Hill Road. This is a long climb. Along this road, you’ll enter the town of Italy. Continue straight. At the junction of Italy Friend Road go left and soon you will cycle through the small hamlet of Italy Hill. Immediately turn right onto CR 34, Italy Turnpike. After a big descent, turn right on CR 18, Italy Valley Road. Just four miles from the hamlet of Italy Hill, you’ll come to the town’s center, a total of sixteen miles from the start in Penn Yan. There is a small town hall and historical center. Continue straight through the on CR 18. Along this road you’ll leave the town of Italy and come to NY 364, after a total ride of twenty-six miles. Turn right and you’ll go back to Penn Yan, in a total of thirty-four miles or so. Molto Bene.
The historic Italy Town Hall is 16 miles from Penn Yan on Il Giro D’Italy, NY loop. While the Erie Canal is recognized worldwide as a political and engineering triumph, the network of New York canals that was based upon the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and extended through the Finger Lakes Region is another very impressive accomplishment. It is one of the prettiest parts of New York State and great for an on-road cycling tourist. This chapter has described some tours that will quickly guide you to all the important sites along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal as well as to its entire extensive feeder network. If you rush, you can see it all in about five days, but there is so much to see — not just canal history, but magnificent glacial scenery, over fifty great vineyards, countless pretty towns and cities, and much more. There are so many high-quality state and local roads that the cycling opportunities here are almost limitless.
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