Best of Italy - BOI2501
Finally, arrival day is here! Some of our guest decided to beat the jetlag and arrived a little earlier. Only Patricia & Michal gathered the energy to jump on the guided city tour to get a glimpse of the long lasting history of Rome. A city where you can spend years without knowing it all. Roland had to show them of course the classic sights like the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum, Arch of Constantine, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Pantheon and the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. And yes, they all threw a coin into the fountain which means we can expect them to visit again and who can blame them? In the afternoon, while some soaked up the sunshine on the terrace with a cold drink, it was time to gather around and meeting the rest of the group. We did find a comfortable corner next to the bar to get an introduction into the things to come. Once the keys were handed out we made our way to the bikes and for sure by now everybody could feel the excitement to get on rolling tomorrow. We finished the day at a cosy dinner in the house restaurant where we talked about family, motorcycles, travels and the good life. And PS: Chapeau to Guy and Rob, who are able to transfer Celsius into Fahrenheit, know the difference between Metric, Imperial and British Standard and can handle a JIS screwdriver.
Good Bye Rome, welcome to Assisi The day kicks off in Rome – and it’s anything but quiet. Honking horns, buzzing scooters, total chaos! But we take it with a smile: the crazy traffic turns out to be the perfect warm-up. If you can handle this, you’re ready for anything! Once we escape the madness, we head toward Faleria for our first coffee stop. Absolutely necessary – we need to recover from that “training session!” With a boost of caffeine, we cruise on to Narni, perched high above the plains. The view? Simply stunning! And now, the fun really begins: one curve after another – the biker’s heart races with joy. We’re in motorcycle heaven! We roll into Montefalco and let the engines cool down. At “Il Coccorone,” we enjoy a delicious lunch that leaves nothing to be desired. Then we stroll through the charming old town, take in the views, snap some photos – and just like that, the adventure bug bites us again. Not far now to Assisi! We fill up the tanks and take in the breathtaking scenery. Assisi rises above us, majestic and deeply impressive. What a sight! To top it off, the town is celebrating spring this weekend – and of course, we join the festivities. After dinner, we call it a night. It’s been a big day, and we can’t wait for tomorrow. Good night – and let the dreams ride on!
We left Assisi in the morning through narrow streets and under blue skies. It couldn't have be any better, the temperature was just right and after a short ride over the motorway we did venture into the backcountry at Lago Trasimeno. We were greeted with windy roads and twisties on end which left us all with a big smile under our helmets. To experience a bit of "Under the Tuscan Sun" we had our first stop in Cortona, where the so named movie was mainly filmes as well. The medieval architecture invited some to explore the surroundings while others didn't make it past the gelato shop. It was a relaxing little intermezzo and great to watch the world go by. At lunch we opted for a charming little restaurant in the middle of nowhere, located at a motorcycle hotspot. So the place was filled with fellow enthusiasts. The food was absolutely fantastic, the winner was probably the homemade pasta. With heavy bellies we swung ourselves back onto the bikes and went northwards. The roads did not disappoint, they offered stunning ridge views, provided plenty of adventure on uneven ground and and the curves kept on coming! In the afternoon we couldn't go past Urbino, not only in it Valentino Rossi's birthplace, the town was also a major hub of the renaissance which can be witnessed at any corner of the town. An impressive place that was booming and attracting people such as Raphaello in its hay day. However the afternoon was fading and we still had to ride the last leg of the day towards San Marino. A new country, which felt no different from the surrounding countryside besides the different number plates and occasional flag. After a wonderful riding day, we met in the lounge to swap stories, our experiences and photos from the families back home, before we enjoyed yet another fantastic dinner with way to much food. All what is left, is to roll into bed and to look forward to the next day of riding fun!
With a tearful eye and yet a broad grin on our faces, we leave San Marino and return to Italy. As we exit San Marino, we head straight for the mountains, where small, winding, and deserted mountain roads await us, demanding all our skills. The views down into the valleys, of fortresses and small ancient villages perched on mountain peaks, take our breath away. After an extensive coffee break, we continue on, descending toward the plains, where the ride becomes more relaxed. Near Poppi, we can’t resist taking a few photos and doing a tour through the castle. It’s simply cool to feel like we’re in the Middle Ages for a while. Heading toward Passo della Consuma, we make a short stop to test our rain gear. It holds up! On we go to the pass, where a magnificent view awaits us. We don’t stay long — the call for adventure is stronger. Now we’re off toward Florence. And what can we say… beautiful hills covered with vineyards and olive trees as far as the eye can see. Beautiful, dreamy… we are left speechless. Just like when we finally arrive at our hotel after a long and exhausting day. “Hotel” doesn’t quite fit — it’s an estate from the 15th century. We feel like we’re in a fairy tale and, after a well-deserved and delicious dinner, we fall into our well-earned dreams under the soft moonlight.
Even so the beauty and history of Florence was very tempting nearly all riders decided to go on the proposed ride. Mary Ann & Pat thought it was time to get some souvenirs for the grandchildren and went into town. A little later than usually we started the bikes and were heading up north. First stop - the famous Mugello race circuit! Owned by Ferrari it is these days F1 test track and MotoGP venue. Expecting to only take a picture at the entrance, we were surprised and excited to learn that they had an open training day and for a small fee we could enter the holy ground! So we forgot all about the planned scheduled and spend some time exploring the area and watching the bikes fly by. The obligatory photo at the gate we did of course, too. What a buzz. From there we followed the original street circuit up north for a little while and went then into the backcountry of Florence. Very quickly the villages became smaller and smaller before we hardly saw any. Instead we were greeted with a road exciting and winding along the Apennine Mountains which form the backbone of Italy's landscape. We found a rustic little lunch sport with fresh pasta and cold cuts. It seems to become a running gag, that we are never allowed to park, where it is convenient. After again a hardy meal, we started the engines and made our way back to Florence. The road was an absolute plast, there was one corner followed by another. Left, right and left, right... all the way back to the lowlands and the city. Unfortunately, by this time the afternoon commuter traffic was kicking off, but we managed to avoid the worst choosing a route along the outskirts. Back in the hotel we were greeted by the remaining crowd and stories were already swapped on the car park in front. After a hot shower everybody gathered in the garden for more sharing of the experiences and than we head into town for a Florentine dinner. What a fantastic day!
After a well-deserved rest day, we're back in the saddle today – though a bit sluggish at first, thanks to yesterday's fantastic (and slightly exhausting) loop. But today, we're doing it Tuscany-style – relaxed, full of good vibes, and plenty of caffè stops. The scent of cypress and rosemary fills the air as we cruise through the rolling hills like Italian cowboys on two wheels. The first caffè break comes quickly, complete with a fun chat with the locals. And Rolly? He gets his espresso paid for by a stranger. What a legend! Before lunch – bam! – we're suddenly in the Middle Ages: San Gimignano, the "Manhattan of Tuscany." Towering buildings, ancient vibes, and the best gelato in the world. No joke. Photos? Of course – until the camera battery dies. Otherwise, we'd still be there snapping away. After a chill lunch with a view over San Gimignano, we head to Volterra. Just as beautiful, even older, and full of Etruscan history. The Porta all’Arco still stands tall as a gateway through time. Our hotel? Perfect. Dinner? Even better. And us? Happy, full, and ready for a good night’s sleep. Good night
This morning started promising.. sunny and with a lovely side road out of town, down the hill through orchards and olive groves. It was a picturesque start what would become a stunning day. If you want to experience the essence of tuscany this is probably a great start. Right in the centre in the famous Chianti wine region, so it was no surprise that wine dominated the landscape. However, that was sometimes hard to notice as the roads demanded all your focus, one corner followed the next and the bike just quickly fell into a rhythm. It simply can't get any better, what an amazing riding experience! First stop was Radda in Chianti an quaint village on the hilltop overlooking the nearby vineyards. Here, we sat down at the local patisserie, enjoyed some of the many sweet goodies on display and most importantly their excellent gelato, which was hard fought for as a school class of kids entered at the same time and their excitement was hardly contained. Thanks to Jurriaan we also had the pleasure to try the local strawberries, which he just bought from the local fruit and veg stall on the market square. We really took some time kick back and to let the world go by. Back at our bikes we saw the motorcycle parking getting really busy. A big organised scooter tour just arrived and it took some time and moving of scooters to get out. From Radda we went to Greve in Chianti and then via Dudda in a big loop to Meleto. The roads were just devine and the weather played along nicely. There was nothing stopping us. In Meleto we visited the local Osteria which was connected to the nearby winery. We took a shady spot on their terrace, kissed by the afternoon sun and surrounded by their grabe vines. It was an extended lunch with modern adaptations of regional dishes. We were all so comfortable, so it took some time before we got ourselves together and back on the bikes. The last stretch went in a breeze before we hit out stunning hotel Certosa di Pontignano on the foothills of Siena. In its past live it was a benedictine monastery and its richly decorated church is a witness to those hay days past. Also the well kept gardens invited for a wonder and in the end we all settled on the westwards facing gallery to enjoy the slowly descending evening sun. What better end to a glorious riding day!
After a heavenly quiet night at the monastery (spoiler: I’m still not becoming a monk – one dose of silence is quite enough), we’re off again with engines roaring. We’re taking the impressions of this special place with us – but the call of the road is louder! And today, the biker universe is on our side: barely any traffic, curves like something out of a painting – it almost feels like surfing on asphalt. A few roadblocks (the recent rain has taken its toll on the roads) slow our flow briefly, but hey – we wouldn’t be us if we didn’t have a few alternative routes up our sleeves. Things get a little tense just before lunchtime: are we even going the right way? Does Rolly actually know where he’s going? Doubt flares up – but tadaaa! Franzi appears like a picnic angel with a Tuscan dream of antipasti and love. Culinary Champions League. Onward to Montalcino – a must-stop for wine lovers. The Brunello goes into the saddlebags and our day’s destination calls: Pienza – la Città ideale! Perched on a hill, overlooking the Val d’Orcia like something from a storybook. Pope Pius II had big plans – sadly missed out, but we’re catching up. A stroll through the alleys, sunset, a cold beer – what more could you ask for? We almost miss dinner, but the day ends perfectly: full, content, tired – off to bed with a smile.
Our last riding day had sadly arrived. For the last time we met in the morning for the briefing and then got ready to leave Pienza behind us. Unfortunately, Pat and Mike had to call it an early end as Mike still felt unwell. We would meet them both later in the hotel again. Even so, we were scheduled for Rome, we didn't have to say goodbye to the fantastic countryside or winding backroads yet. The morning took us to Orvieto and its mind-blowing cathedral. The devil lays in the detail and this house of god is richly decorated. The impressive facade is contrived of millions of tiny mosaic stones, set in perfection and creating a detailed story of christian faith. Built over multiple decades and decorated and perfected over 300 centuries! It is amazing what human beings can achieve, when they work together for a common goal and vision. We were nearly ready to roll, when we bumped into Jure, another Edelweiss-Guide, who had just finished and E-bike tour through Tuscany and had spotted us. We exchanged a couple of stories and were finally on our way. Next stop was Civita di Bagnoregio, this fainting jewel is attracting many visitors for its crumbling beauty. The picturesque village is perched on a small hilltop overlooking the lush surrounding landscape. A single island in a green sea. But it's existing is on loaned time, erosion is shipping away slowly on the soft rocky foundation and with time more and more will be lost. For now visitors can still enjoy a visit, entering the chanted space via the only access a pedestrian bridge. We were content with a photo from a fare as we still had to cover some distance to Rome. And we could feel that settlement became more frequent, still we were riding through some scenic country and at beautiful Largo di Bracciano Martignano we stopped for lunch. The lakeside restaurant spoiled us with a great view over the deep blue lake and some fabulous seafood dishes. With full bellies we now had to face the last leg of our journey. Shall we say the glorious conquest of anarchic urban traffic in the Italian capital! Riding in a group for a week, it was clear that we had formed a strong pack mentality. We looked out for each other, were very capable riders and after some mastered challenges on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle, we were ready to take Rome's rush hour in a stride! What a welcoming surprise awaited us at the hotel, Rolly had prepared a little boot beer for us and it came at the perfect time. All of us still buzzing from the exciting ride in, we cracked open a refreshing cold beer and exchanged colorful battle stories. What a fantastic finish to an absolute unforgettable journey. Thanks for all the laughter, perfect riding days and human connections. We hope to see you all again on board of another motorcycle trip. Franzi and Rolly