Stage 21
Roma > Roma
Rome, a timeless stage for the grand finale of the Giro 2026
Rome
For the fourth consecutive year, Rome hosts the grand finale of the Giro d’Itali, yet another recognition of the beauty of the Eternal City, now more closely intertwined than ever with top-level cycling. The race starts in the late afternoon, leaving enough time to explore at least some of the wonders awaiting visitors to the capital.
A natural place to begin is St. Peter’s Basilica, the spiritual heart of the city, along with the adjacent Vatican Museums, home to an incomparable collection of artistic treasures and, above all, the Sistine Chapel. To reach St. Peter’s, visitors can also use the recently opened Monte Ciocci–San Pietro cycling and pedestrian path, which allows a safe and relaxing crossing of one of the city’s busiest areas.
Then comes the irresistible beauty of Rome itself - so abundant that choosing where to start is no easy task.
The Colosseum is the superstar of archaeological Rome and impossible to overlook before heading to the Imperial Fora, a unique architectural complex made up of monumental squares and buildings that served as the political center of ancient Rome, constructed between 46 BC and 113 AD.
Nearby lie the Baths of Caracalla, one of the largest and best-preserved thermal complexes of antiquity, built between 212 and 216 AD near the beginning of the Via Appia. Even in ancient times, this road was known as the Regina Viarum - the “Queen of Roads.” It can be explored on foot or by bicycle, passing some of the most remarkable monuments of Ancient Rome, including the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, the catacombs of San Callisto, San Sebastiano, and Domitilla, the Villa of the Quintilii, and the circular tomb of Casal Rotondo.
Among the landmarks, no first-time visitor should miss is the Trevi Fountain, Nicola Salvi’s baroque masterpiece. Not far away lies Piazza di Spagna, with its famous Spanish Steps, one of the city’s most elegant settings, surrounded by exclusive boutiques and historic cafés. Piazza Navona is equally essential, centered around Bernini’s dramatic Fountain of the Four Rivers.
And then there is Castel Sant’Angelo, one of Rome’s most famous and visited monuments, also brushed by the race route. From its terraces and walkways, visitors can enjoy some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the capital.
Rome is not only about monuments but also about beautiful green spaces. Villa Borghese, the city’s most famous park, is ideal for a stroll among gardens, fountains, and sculptures. Within it lies the Galleria Borghese, one of the world’s most prestigious museums, housing masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, and Titian.
Less known but equally remarkable is the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, Italy’s second-largest archaeological site after Pompeii, located near the race route that riders will tackle before entering the final circuit. It may well be the ideal destination for those wishing to discover an artistic gem while also watching the race pass by without diving into the city-center whirlwind. Yet in the Eternal City, whichever road you choose, it somehow always feels like the right one.
