22 Lug. - 08 Ago 2011 Italia Slovenia Austria on the road. Photos

[charlyno]

REPORT
22/07/2011 - Palermo-Civitavecchia (via ship) - Finally we go! After delays and indecision came the big moment. To 18.00 after the final preparations to the bike with my wife Laura leave home. With the unbearable heat we cross the short distance leading to the port. We embark immediately and placed the luggage in the cabin we go on deck to say goodbye to Sicily. Fortunately, a gentle breeze cools the air. The ship slowly leaving the harbor on our faces and the enthusiasm of a vacation just started.
23/07/2011 - Civitavecchia-Assisi-Spoleto-Vetralla (km 183) - A gray sky threatening and welcoming our arrival in the port of Civitavecchia. Disembark immediately and saw that the weather does not promise anything good rain wear immediately. A few miles and it begins to rain. The scenery along the road is really nice, unfortunately the rain did not allow us to appreciate it fully. In short we come in Vetralla where we have an appointment with his friend Fred is waiting for us in front of the bar of the country. We have met in Sicily, but since he lives nearby has decided to join us for a coffee. We are a good half hour chatting with him about this and that and the course of our travel destinations. The weather is still acting up and a light drizzle makes us the company to the entrance of the town of Spoleto, where we stop for a photo on the beautiful view of the city. At last the sun began to peep through the clouds and it is time to put aside the rain. In short, we arrive at our destination today, the city of Assisi. We booked a room at the Hotel La guida di Assisi per il pellegrino, il turista, il viaggiatore. Cosa vedere ad Assisi in mezza giornata, una giornata od in piu giorni. Rocca Hotel la Rocca Assisi, hotels Assisi, Two-star hotels in central Assisi in a quiet location a short walk from the Cathedral of San Rufino and complete with a garage for motion. Just enough time to place your luggage in the room and we are already way to immerse ourselves in the unique historic center. Every corner, square or alley is a masterpiece of art. Our tour starts right from the beautiful Cathedral of San Rufino. After running the length and breadth finally we reach the most important monument to the Basilica of San Francesco. We are literally kidnapped by the colors of the magnificent frescoes inside. Even more surprisingly, the Lower Basilica, which houses the mortal remains from the 1230 San Francisco, attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.




After the visit, including the museum inside it, a brief snack nearby. We have seen almost everything there was to see, except for the ancient castle, La Rocca Maggiore was built in 1367.



The superb views of Assisi and the surrounding area pays for the hard hike to get here. Meanwhile phone you decide on a place of encounter with Gabriel and his wife, whom I know only of Gubbio motorcyclists on the web and with Michelangelo di Prato, met in 2004 on the ship to Tallinn in Estonia and found by accident that I was surfing on my website . The meeting in front of the Cathedral of San Rufino is like that between friends who have known each other long, friendly, affectionate, playful.
What better way to celebrate the meeting with a good dinner of local delicacies at Osteria Pozzo della Mensa ristorante, osteria, Pozzo della Mensa, Ristorante Assisi, mangiare Assisi, Assisi, piatti tipici, cucina, risrorante centro assisi. The evening passes pleasantly in conversation, laughter and a good glass of red, Villa Fidelia Spartoletti very popular in the area and also by us! After dinner a digestive stroll through the historic center to the Basilica.
Greeted the friends back at the hotel.
24/07/2011 - Assisi-Gubbio-Gorges-Urbino-Furlo Montesoffio-Peglio Paganico-Pieve di Carpegna Fratte-Catholic-Forli (km 269) The day is not bad, indeed at times the sun's . We have breakfast in the hotel bar and we start taking the bike in the direction of Gubbio by SS444. The road is very beautiful, surrounded by greenery and along the way we pass many small villages truly amazing. The weather has deteriorated and does not promise anything good. We come soon to Gubbio Principali Monumenti - Gubbio - Turismo e Cultura - 40 Martyrs Square in the lower part of the city, where we park the bike right in front of the arcade shooters of the Lodges.
Greeted the friends back at the hotel.Gabriel and his wife live here met the day before Assisi, and that today there will be the guide for a brief visit to the city. With an elevator going up at the top to reach the Piazza Grande with the splendid Palazzo dei Consoli. A few steps from the meeting with Gabriel and Valeria in their garage intent to prepare the bike for their next trip to the North Cape in Norway. From there we get their company up to the magnificent Duomo and the Palazzo Ducale. Unfortunately the time available is not much. We descend back into the lower part of the city through beautiful streets and alleys of the old town, until reaching the ruins of the Roman Theatre. Just the time to look and starts to pour. We take the opportunity to eat something good at the Trattoria Antico Frantoio Ristorante Pizzeria All'Antico Frantoio continues to rain, so wear the rain and greeted friends Gabriel and Valeria we move on. Following their advice we pass from Furlo Gorge, a canyon located along the original route of the Via Flaminia, where this tract along the river Candigliano in the province of Pesaro-Urbino. The road is very beautiful and the lake formed by the construction of the dam makes it all the way more picturesque. We go from Urbino, just a photo stop at the walls and go to San Leo. The navigation system as if to show me the most beautiful places in the area, continues to tell a series of roads through beautiful landscapes.
The weather has improved greatly and returned to the sun to shine. Through small remote countries, Montesoffio Peglio Paganico, Pieve di Carpegna, just to name a few up to lick the Republic of San Marino. The short time available to us to desist from reaching St. Leo, recommended by Gabriel, we expect to arrive at Forli, where there is the cousin Octavius ​​and his family have not seen for many years. So we returned to the coast from the highway up Catholic in Forlì. Here we will be guests of Octavius, whom I thank warmly for their hospitality and for letting us spend some pleasant moments in their company. After a good dinner, a walk by night for the digestive center of the city.

Today was a very full day, it's time to sleep!
to be continued