Thousands of years ago, people were already coming to the Piller saddle and were captivated by the "sheer view" and the fascinating vista of the Upper Inn Valley. In those times, traveling across the Alps on those demanding paths was hard work, but for us motorcyclists today this road up to the Piller saddle means just great riding fun.
The word "gach" was generally used as a synonym for "sudden". Here, in the Tyrolean Uplands, it also is used to replace "fast" (meaning sudden), "sheer", or "steep". And here at this point, the cliff indeed shows a drop of approx. 800 m (2,600 ft.)

Planned in 1818, this pass road was built within 5 years (1820-1825) by about 2,000 workers. Because of the horse-drawn vehicles of the time, the gradient was limited to a maximum of 11%. At an altitude of 2,758 m (9,048 ft), Passo dello Stelvio is the highest pass in Italy and the second-highest paved pass of the Alps. With its 48 tight switchbacks on the northern side, it is a tourist attraction famous all over Europe and a first-class attraction for European riders. You will love it, too!

Located on the northern shore of Lake Lugano, Lugano has a very comfortable Mediterranean climate. It is one of the three warmest places in Switzerland – and the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. The pedestrian-only old town and the promenade along the lake shore are perfect for a little walk. If you want to see the town and the lake from the top, you can take a side trip to one of Lugano’s mountains, Monte Salvatore or Monte Brè.

On July 13th, 1865, the locals saw seven climbers, four British accompanied by one guide from Chamonix and two locals, attacking the peak along the northeast ridge - the one that faces Zermatt. Being very lucky with the weather conditions, they reached the summit the next day and scored a victory over a party of climbers who, unaware of them, had set off to reach the summit from the Italian side.

This lake is one of the most beautiful areas in Italy and certainly in Europe. Lake Maggiore with its rugged shores is surrounded by the high rocky walls of the Lepontine Alps. Several provinces border the lake: The western shore belongs to Piedmont (the provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola), the eastern shore belongs to Lombardy (the province of Varese), and the northernmost part of Lake Maggiore extends thirteen kilometers into the Swiss canton of Ticino. There it reaches both its lowest point above sea level and the southernmost point of Switzerland.

Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and a very popular tourist attraction, which boasts many artistic and cultural gems, and is famous for its numerous villas and palaces. Many celebrities have or used to have homes on the shores of Lake Como, such as Matthew Bellamy, Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, Ronaldinho, Sylvester Stallone, and Ben Spies.

At 51 km (32 miles) long, up to 18 km (11 miles) wide and with a surface area of 143 square miles, Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake. This remnant of the last ice Age measures up to 350 m (1,150 ft) in depth. During WWI, even warships were patrolling the lake, bullet holes in the city walls of Limone are testimony to this chapter of history. The northern coast is rocky and rugged while in the south it is flat and smooth. The entire region is famous for its beauty and mild climate, making it possible to grow top-quality lemons, figs and olives. In the 19th century, Lake Garda was a popular destination for the rich and beautiful from all over northern Italy. Magnificent villas and other beautiful historic buildings date from that period.

The name Dolomites is derived from the name of the French geologist, Déodat de Dolomieu. He discovered that the limestone in this area is different in its chemical composition compared to that of the northern limestone area. Special sedimentary rocks form incredibly rough and beautiful formations like Marmolada, Sella, and the Tre Cime de Lavaredo. They are the most photographed mountains of the Dolomites. Historically, it is an interesting place. Belonging to the Austrian Monarchy during World War I, the frontline led right through the mountains. Fighting from 1916 to 1919, the soldiers had to stay in the mountains through summer as well as winter. A really tough life! Austria was one of the losers of the war. At the peace treaty of St. Germain in 1919, they agreed to hand Southern Tyrol over to Italy. That leads us to the explanation of the bilingual road signs and village names. You can very easily pick out the former border between Italy and Austria by looking at your map or by reading the signs. Don't be confused if you see village signs in three languages. The third one is Ladinish, spoken by a few people in a small area. Be prepared for an unbelievable ride in an incredible area!