geeteetravels

Because of the late night at the opera we decided to have another day here. Also when we first arrived 3 weeks ago it was cool and rainy and our luggage hadn’t arrived, so we were distracted. It was nice to have another go at Verona as there is much to see here.

We explored the Castelvecchio and the bridge beside it, the piazza Erbe and piazza Bra where the amphitheatre is, then climbed up on the other side of the river Adige to the other Castello, San Pietro, for the best view of Verona.

That’s all for this fabulous adventure, just an 18 hour two stopper to go and we’re home. Ciao tutti!

The Ponte Scaligero over the Adige

Piazza Bra with the amphitheatre at the very far end

The scene of La Traviata the night before

Going to the north side of the Adige. We had lunch in one of the backyard terraces you see here.

The view from the Castello San Pietro

The lovely Tara gets into the disassembly

As usual the first part of the trip getting out of the city was busy with traffic and lights. We were slowed by a flat tire on our riding buddies bike also. However once off the busy roads it was again quiet and scenic through smaller centres and vineyards. We rode through the Soave area and town, another castello and walled city there.

For our evening entertainment we attended the opera La Traviata by Verdi at the Verona roman amphitheatre. It was a memorable experience, very enjoyable.

Another shoulder shot coming in to Soave and a view of the castello

You’ve got to love Italy. The local wine for 3 euros a bottle.

Unexpected municipal hall building at Monteforte D’Alpeno

We stop for castellos

We made it! The return to the hotel Martini in Verona, a great base for us

Waiting for the show to begin. Note the rented cushions for the hard marble seats

One of the fantastic sets during La Traviata

Today we to rode up the hill from Vicenza to see Palladino’s rotunda, a classic building that was apparently his thesis study. It is a villa built for someone named Paolo Almerico in about 1560 and is built as a sphere on a square with columns. It has been copied many times since all over the world,  for example the White House.

Next we rode up higher to the Piazzale della Vittoria to see the best view of Vicenza, wow!  Also there was the Santuario di Monte Berico,  being renovated unfortunately,  but we were still able to see some of it. Inside there was a painting by Veronese that had been cut into 32 pieces during a war in 1848, now fully restored, something about St. Gregory.

Next, again a little higher up the hill, we visited a museum about the various wars in Italy starting about 1780. Excellent maps, photos, pictures, weapons, uniforms and propaganda. We were able to see the various stages of Italy ‘s  territorial history and how the country was shaped. Parts of it were French and Austrian at different times, the result of various wars and conquerors  such as Napoleon and Vittorio Emanuele. Unfortunately no English translation but still enjoyable. Also an excellent view of Vicenza and surrounding areas. Then we had a fun ride down the hill back to Vicenza.

After lunch we headed back into the centro storico area to see something about the Top Gear stars who were apparently going to be in the Piazza Signore at 3pm. We were there along with hundreds of others waiting for what… Eventually they arrived about 4:30 pm in 3 fancy cars and the crowd went wild, surrounding them, they couldn’t move. Anyway an interesting study of crowd culture, we didn’t see too much but enjoyed the experience in a beautiful setting.

Palladino’s Rotunda

The view over Vicenza including the Santuario from the back side

The view including us

The crowd as the top gear (former) boys roll in to piazza seignori

Today’s ride was easy, very flat, about 60 kms, not quite as scenic as the last several days in the hills that lead to the alps. However we found an interesting ancient area in Marostica with a castle and walled city. Once we got to Vicenza we did a bit of exploring before supper  strolling down the Corso Palladio. Much of the architecture in the ancient area of Vicenza was designed by Andrea Palladio who lived from 1508 – 1580.

Breakfast at the Melo in Fiori was magnifico!

More air, less care

Castello at Marostica was something unexpected

We ride up, we ride down, no pavement, no problem

Palladino with a piccione on his head, and an admirer

Today’s ride was a loop around this area. It involved some climbing through the hills here but the views were our reward. 

Our first stop was Asolo, just down the road from where we were staying. This town is considered a paradise by some and many famous writers and artists lived or visited there.  Robert Browning and his wife Elizabeth Barrett, both poets, lived there and his final work was titled Asolando. 

We stopped and looked in a few of the sites:the Asolo duomo with famous paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Jacopo da Ponte inside, the castle on the hill above Asolo, a classical temple in the style of the Parthenon (Tempio Canoviano), and the Villa Barbera with allegorical frescoes and trompe l’oeil. 

Asolo hills from the backside

Fountain in the center of Asolo

Well kept sanctuary in the wall

Pantheon and Parthenon in one temple at Possagno

Look to the skys

This was yet another scenic ride through wine country. Every hill we climbed and every bend in the road opened up onto a vista of beautiful green valley. Here we are in the prosecco producing area but there are also other wines made here. We also see many fruit and olive trees growing. We rode through several important towns today but one in particular that most people who drink wine have heard of is Valdobbiadene. The terrain is quite hilly as it leads into the Dolomite Mountains. 

In Maser we are staying in another agriturismo but this one is not far from the city. We had supper in a restaurant where there was only Italian spoken and the menu wasn’t straight forward so we made good use of Google translate. We managed a good meal anyway and our host at the B&B drove us the 4 kms there and the restauranteur’s son drove us home. 

I found a selfie stick! (one time use only)

With the help of Rita at the B&B we planned a loop around this area. We rode to places nestled in the hills and grape orchards, also a few lakes along the way. It seemed like we did a lot more climbing than downhill but it probably was equal. We had a lovely lunch of pasta in a small trattoria in Resera. They were expecting us to order wine and several courses I think but we didn’t indulge as we did have a good distance to go yet. 

A lovely scenic ride. 

The Althe’a agriturismo spot we stayed in, fabulous!

Corduroy grape vines

The landscape plus two

We rode along the strada del prosecco route, fabulous even without the wine tasting

A bit more rain in this wine growing region makes for green green country

Our trip today started with a 20 minute ride to the other end of the Lido and onto yet another ferry that took us past Venice to Mestre where cars and bikes are allowed again to travel away from Venice. I preferred sailing past St. Mark’s square and all the people today, a much better view. Mestre is a densely populated area of Italy, we never really left the city it seemed. Traffic was heavy so not the most relaxing ride until we got through Conegliano and started the climb up to the agriturismo where we were staying. It was a dramatic contrast there as we were on small roads through orchards and vineyards. Unfortunately it started to rain heavily at that point with only about 5kms left but since  we were climbing it was not so fast. In fact it was just long enough for us to get thoroughly soaked. But we made it anyway and got everything hung up to start drying. 

This is a beautiful spot! It’s very green, hilly and full of grape vines. Our B&B is also wonderful with a great restaurant. Aah… 

Waiting with the other large vehicles for the ferry to the far side of Venice

Piazza San Marco one more time

Getting the full soak just before arriving

Now that’s better. This place has its own branded prosecco!

Today we endured throngs of tourists after making our way over the lagoon to Venice. I must admit it’s a beautiful and unique place but after only about 30 minutes I had had my fill of too much of everything. (Perhaps I shouldn’t speak for both of us though) We have gotten spoiled by touring smaller less visited places where there aren’t lineups and crowds. Anyway we did manage to buy a few gifts and see a few sights.

For the afternoon we went to the beach on the other side of the Lido where we swam in the warm Adriatic ocean. Sandy beach and space, what could be better.

Going by ferry from the Lido where we stayed to Venezia

The wonderful nautical madness of the venice lagoon

With the throngs heading to Piazza San Marco

Gondolas picking up passengers

More f***ing gondolas! (apologies, it’s a Monty Python thing, can’t help it)

A record distance today, 105 kms, plus two ferry boat rides. It took about 7 hours to get here, we were all tired. However again not a difficult ride, just a bit long. Most of the day was on small back roads through farming areas or on the water front of two small island strips across from Venice. Our boat rides were from Porto Chioggia to Pellestrina and then to Alberoni. 

The Lido is kind of a quiet place, many homes but not too many hotels and restaurants. I guess people stay and live here but go to Venice for work and tourism. There are beaches galore on the south side though, we’ll take that in tomorrow. 

Made it to Chioggia, two boats and 20km to go

The first ferry where the captain made a point of saying we were a problem with these long bikes

Alongside the water by Pellestrina

Waiting for boat number two

Multi-coloured houses are a thing here