Two nights in Peschiera del Garda  

Overlooking the port at Peschiera del Garda, where we spent two nights.

Peschiera is surrounded by a gorgeous moat.

Traditional Lake Garda rowing boats - it looks like hard work!

!

We had great meal in this cave restaurant.

We took took a bus to the charming town of Sirmione on a narrow peninsular protruding into Lake Garda.  This is the beautiful thirteenth century castle - Rocca Scaligera. 

Overlooking the castle's moat and inner boat harbour.

View of Sirmione from the castle.

The walk to Grotte di Catullo a complex of villas, baths and shops built as a resort for wealthy Romans from the first century BC.

The ruins of a Roman villa, Grotte di Catullo, beautifully positioned at the tip of the peninsular. 

Trento to Peschiera on Lake Garda               

First stop, a biker cafe (BiciGrill) for morning tea.

Beautiful coloured marble in a church in Sacco.

Leaving the Adige River behind, we commenced the climb over the San Giovanni Pass towards Lake Garda.

From the top we had a magnificent view of Torbole and Riva del Garda, on Lake Garda.

We were all so thrilled to be there.

A very steep ride down took us to Torbole on Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

The ferry to take us on a four hour trip to Peschiera Del Garda on the southern shores of  Lake Garda.

Ciao Riva del Garda!

Castle along the lake shores.

Mountains rising up from the lake.

Relaxing in the late afternoon sun on the ferry.

One of the many resort towns along the route.

                     Bolzano to Trento             21/9/2011

Leaving Bolzano through the forest.

Egna, the charming town of arcades.

Under the arcades.

Still riding along the Adige river with the Dolomite Mountains towering over us.

Salorno

The northern part of Italy was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire but was annexed to Italy at the end  of  WW1.  So far our ride has taken us through areas where there has been more German than Italian spoken and the cuisine is both German and Italian.  Hence the Salorno town hall is called both the Municipio (Italian) and the Rathaus (German).  

San Michele all'Adige.

Entering  the lovely town of Trento.

Foyer of the Grand Hotel Trento, our "home" for the night.

View from our hotel room.

The Duomo.

Many of the buildings in Trento are decorated.

Debbie and Dan in the Piazza.

            From Merano to Bolzano        

A church roof typical of the area.

Time for lunch!

Castle along the way.

Many grape vines grow on trellises like this to allow air circulation and light, and for easy picking.

Approaching Bolzano.

Our second Bolzano hotel - Hotel Scala

                           Off to Merano 

We were delighted to wake up to snow on the peaks.  By the time we had major repairs on our bikes completed (7 out of 8  brakes changed - well done Girolibero!), the rain had disappeared and we headed off on our merry way. 

Enjoying the snowy peaks and the apple orchards.

 A roadside shrine.

Back along the Adige River - the bike paths are beautiful.

A little folly (wind vane) at our lunch stop in Kastelbell.

The magnificent downhill run into Merano.

A covered bridge just outside Merano.

Our hotel in Merano.

The Kurhaus (concert hall) in Art Nouveau style, or Liberty as the Italians call it, in the lovely spa town of Merano.

Shopping street, Merano.