Brescia Sightseeing

A day relaxing after your flight and before riding to visits the sights of Brescia

There is much to see within walking distance of our 4 star hotel in Brescia; historic squares, Churches, Museums, interesting back lanes, Roman ruins including a partially reconstructed Temple etc. The Roman name for Brescia was called Brixia and the Gaul settlement pre dates the Roman period and so you will find much of historical interest in the city.

Naturally there are an abundance of shops and not far from the city you will find vineyards that offer tours and wine sampling.

You can of course just relax with a coffee in one of the city squares and watch the world go by.

Mantua, Vicenza, Verona, Lake Garda (190 miles)

This first day is very much a cultural journey with many interesting historical sites to see along our route. We also recognise that some riders will be more familiar with riding on the left and so we begin our trip partly using dual carriage ways because this helps acquaint the rider with Italian driving whilst also keeping the group relatively safe. In a stark contrast to the twisty alpine roads we will encounter on other days of this tour the journey to our first visit stop at Mantua cuts through the flat farmlands of northern Italy and at times along one of those roads that the Romans are famed for that runs straight as a die. Mantua is set on three lakes; Superiore, Mezzo and Inferiore, and the city is a world heritage site due to its collection of art and artefacts, architectural treasures and elegant palaces. We leave Mantua heading east to Montagnana and then north to Vicenza where we stop at Villa Almerico Capra (La Rotunda) another World Heritage Site by renowned architect Andrea Palladio. Our third stop of the day is at the Amphitheatre in Verona. Dating from 30AD and still a venue for modern day Opera and Theatre. We end the day with a rote back to Brescia along the southern shore of Lake Garda. About 190 miles with 7 hours riding.

Pisogne (Lake Iseo), Castione della Presolana, Lake Idro (165 miles)

Today we make our first trip into the mountains by heading north out of Brescia rising into the Alps and following the course of the Fiume Mella. Travelling along minor roads which are tarred but broken in areas so take care as you discover some fantastic twisty roads. These twists and turns will continues throughout the day. When we descend to Lake Iseo you will catch views of the lake through the trees before reaching the lakes northern shore town Pisogne where we stop for morning coffee. On our departure we take a circuit around Lake Endine, one of the minor lakes in the region, then continue our assent passing through alpine villages until we reach the largest ski resort in the area, Castione della Presolana, where we break for lunch. The return leg brings us across to Lake Idro where we grab a coffee at the camp site before completing our circuit back to Brescia. About 165 miles with 6 hours in the saddle.

Riva del Garda, Trento, Malcesine (200 miles)

We begin our day with a leisurely ride up the western shore of Lake Garda, the largest of the Italian lakes, stopping a Riva del Garda for morning Coffee. We leave Riva heading north passing Lake Tenno then taking the road around to Trento passing more of the minor lakes (Toblino, Santa Massenza and Terlago) . After lunch we leave Trento heading east to Lake Caldonazzo before cutting back over to Lake Garda which we re-join at Tarbole the head south down the eastern side of the lake to Malcesine where we break for a coffee. We complete our day heading to the southern shores of Lake Garda and then west back to Brescia. About 200 miles 6 and a half hours riding

Sorisole, Lecco, Colico, Como (206 miles)

This day takes as off to the east with a morning coffee stop at Sorisole a small town to the north of Bergamo. We continue east to Lecco and then travel north up the eastern shore of Lake Como to Colico where we break for lunch. On the return journey we take the western shore of the lake all the way to its south westerly point at the town of Como were we take a short break before passing lakes Alserio, Pusiano, Annone and the south eastern end of Lake Como. We then continue east back to our base at Brescia. About 206 miles and 7 hours riding.

Brescia, San Giovanni Bianco, Sondrio, Capo di Monte (195 miles)

We rarely use motorways but occasionally the serve a purpose in delivering a means to quickly get to more interesting roads and to avoid city centre areas. This day is one of those occasions. As we head west towards Bergamo we hop onto the A4/E64 before departing the highway to head north into San Pellegrino Terme and onwards to the Alps. Our first stop for the day is at the town of San Giovanni Bianca which sits about 1000ft above sea level and where the Brembo river narrows. After morning coffee we continue our journey north over the mountains and down to Valtellina Valley close to the Swiss border to the town of Morbegao where we turn to the East to Sondrio once the capital of the Lombardi Kingdom and the site of an ancient Roman fort. We stop here for lunch. We continue east through the valley to Edolo where change direction to the south stopping at Capo di Monte for afternoon tea before completing our journey along the Eastern Shore of Lake Iseo and back to base at Brescia

Brescia, Crone, Cles, Tione di Trento, Brescia (230 miles)

We begin this day heading towards Lake Garda which we briefly ride along the south western shore of. Just before Gargnamo we head up the mountain passing Lake Valvestino and onwards to Crone which lies on the south eastern shore of Lake Idro where we break for morning coffee. As we reach the northern end of the lake we deviate back across the mountain passing Lake Ledro before we rejoin Garda at its northern end. We pass through Riva and Arco and lakes Cavedine and Malveno as we head north to Lake Santa Giustina where we stop for lunch. The return leg takes us back south to Tione di Trento where we take another brief stop before completing our day back in Brescia.

Brescia, Casalmaggiore, Pelligrino Parmense, Piacenza (190 miles)

Today we head south to the Apennines but first we cross the farming country to our first stop at Casalmaggiore, a small town set on the bank of the River Po which flows from Lake Maggiorie from which the town takes its name. After a short break we continue south to Parma which we pass through but will not stop other than for those wanting to take pictures. Leaving Parma we deviate to the west rising all the time to the village of Pelligrino Parmense. There is not a lot to note about the village at this time of year although it is the location of a Rock festival in August and in October the town have another festival. The village has a petrol station and where we dine you will get some good wholesome rustic Italian food. After lunch the continue to the west to one of the smaller lakes, Lake Miginano and from there we begin our journey back to the north next stopping at Piacenza which is also on the banks of the river Po where we take another short break before continuing north meandering through farmland to return to Brescia