Fireworks, fruit, snowy passes, history and motorbikes in Northern Italy

The Moto Guzzi open days on Lake Como go off with a bang

As the marques faithful followers flock to Mandello de Lario.

From Trieste it was a winding road over passes both broad and narrow.

Lakes dotting the path

To Como the Lake of Dreams

Its early September on inthe villages the fruit on the trees ready to pick

As by the weekend end the first snow had started to fall

Dusting the Alps with white and adding a chill to the air in the passes.

Then there is the history of the area such as Bergamo it’s old and new city, home of Pope John xxiii and comrades of Garibaldi.

And the little village of Glorenza that time almost has passed by.

And is on the door steps of the Swiss Alps.

Trieste

Italy has a boot in the south and Trieste is it’s little finger hanging over the edge of the Adriatic Sea.

I visited there twice this trip.

Its had to capture the feel of a city in photos but let me tell you Trieste has a beautiful ambience.

The coast around the Miramare Castle north of the city centre is just beautiful

As are the cities major plazas that run down to the Adriatic.

And to make is extra special for me

The Irish literary legend James Joyce visited. Though I dont think Trieste was mentioned in Ulysses!

Just a beautiful city.

A Day in Venice

Its a three hour easy ride from Cortina d’Ampezzo south to Venezia.

Old Venezia with its labyrinth of walkways and waterways

Hot and humid at the end of a hot Europe July

And grand canals

Of course St Marks Square is the main attraction

But achitectural splendor is around every twist of a canal

Currently the Biennale is on which provides extra cultural stimulation

It was a hot and stricky day in busy Venice but well worth the visit.

Le Dolomiti

From my camp in Cipena near Bormio it was over Stelvio once again and onto Merano, a gateway to the Dolomites.

The high road from Merano leads to the Jaufenpass.

From there the amazing rock structures that are the Dolomites unfold

Campsites tucked under the monoliths give amazing mountain sunsets

Over the Passo Gardana, a favoured by bikers the way I took toward Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina is such a beautiful Alpine city.

The there is the back roads and villages. Little campsites where there is space and few people

In and around the village of Cimolais

Like all Alpine areas you have to sometime pay for the beauty with thunderstorms and a day of rain

Rain after the thunderstorm in Cortina. It’s a small price to pay.

Ciao bella Italia, Auf Wiedersehen sonnige Schweiz

There was much nostalga riding from Switzerland to Italy

The Fluelapass was the first Alpine pass I rode back in 2016

At the time I couldn’t imagine how I could come back again

And now Im on the 4th tour.

Truly addicted to the Alps

The Fluelapass links to the Ofen Pass and that to the Umbrial Pass which crosseS into Italy and leads to the beautiful city of Bormio.

The top of the Stelvio is a Circus of bicycles, motorbikes, cars, sausage Stalls hotels and shops .

From Bormio the valley opens up

With lovely camping grounds, with walkers, cyclists and bikers in summer. Skiers in winter.

Perfect for camping in the pretty village of Cepina.