Samstag, 22. September 2018 | RAY / Ursula Peter | Europa / Italien
Another beautiful morning. We started out for another great riding day over the Passo di Muraglione.
The beaches of Gabicce Mare and Pesaro connected by the Strada Panoramica high above the Adriatic coast offer great views and awesome riding. Marco Simoncelli`s hometown Coriano, with his memorial and museum is on our way as well as the race track of Misano.
Our lunch place is located high above the Adriatic Sea. We will stop in Tavullia, Valentino Rossi’s Italian hometown, at the "caffe dello sport" to take a picture from his "ranch" and to drink a cappuccino topped with the "46".
we headed out today with sunshine in the valley. After a short ride on the highway we climbed high above Lake Trasimeno. Twisty roads brought us to Cortona. Lunch in "Il Grillo" was an experience. After a coffee in the Renaissance town of Urbino we headed to the oldest and tiniest republic in Europe - San Marino.
Experience the beauty of the Monte Sibillini "Tibet of Italy". Monte Vettore - the highest peak in Monti Sibillini - stands at 2476 m. In May and June, infinite expanses of wildflowers blanket the Piano Grande - the great plain surrounding Castelluccio. A day filled with curves and highlights.
a coffee in Norcia and some shopping to support the people at least a little bit
This is a riding day at its best! Hopefully you are well rested. We leave Siena with a lot of new impressions. Only a few miles down the road we are overwhelmed by new ones. To the average Italian tourist, an itinerary that includes Siena, Montalcino, Assisi sounds like a cultural overkill. Tonight these names will have a different meaning to us. The riding is spectacular here!
Through the Crete Senese we touch the Via Cassia, a former Roman North/South main road. We turn east to the thermal spa of Bagno Vignoni. The water of this health resort has been well-known since the Etruscs.
The spot is perfect for an “Edelweiss picnics” with all the Italian specialities in the middle of the impressing Tuscan nature, high above d`Orcia Valley.
It is - or it was - the only tour of Edelweiss were we stay 2 nights in every hotel. This offers a lot of possibilities. One would be to stroll around town - it is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Italy. Sit down at the Campo, the square, and live the Italian way of life with an espresso. There are vast shopping opportunities as well as sights to be admired.
For those wanting to ride, the area around Siena is ideal to be explored by bike. If you like, go back to the Chianti region, or try the south. This part is called Crete, a wonderful landscape, formed by erosion.
Our destination for today is Siena - the town on three hills, famous for its annual horse race the “Palio” in the city center. It’s time to enjoy the sunset with a glass of original Chianti wine.
We leave busy Florence behind, and start to enjoy riding the winding roads of the Chianti area. This region seems like it was made for motorcyclists, with its small villages inviting you for a coffee break along the way.
Welcome to Bella Italia!
Jeff and Debbi came with us on the guided city tour. Florence the cradle of Renaissance, the pearl on the Arno river has a lot to offer. Here some impressions...
no queues at San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel. The tombs are originals from Michelangelo - the Dawn and the Dusk, the Morning and the Evening
Ghiberti`s "Gates to Paradise" at the Baptistery next to the Duomo
Jeff and Debbi in front of this amazing cathedral
awesome lunch, awesome location
Mr. David - maybe the most well-known statue on this planet
Ponte Vecchio
Santa Maria Novella