Ride the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the spectacular village of Bellagio.
Lake Como, Belaggio and Cyclists Shrine With the Giro d’Italia race taking a rest today and some big climbs ahead of us, we can enjoy a leisurely day on the bike before transferring to our next hotel. After a big breakfast we’ll ride to the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the …
Lake Como, Belaggio and Cyclists Shrine
With the Giro d’Italia race taking a rest today and some big climbs ahead of us, we can enjoy a leisurely day on the bike before transferring to our next hotel. After a big breakfast we’ll ride to the shores of Lake Como and follow its shoreline to the spectacular village of Bellagio. Boutique shops, delicious “pasticeri” sweet biscuits, gelati and of course coffee, we’ll make a stop and wander through the stone pedestrian alleys.
We leave Bellagio and ascend another of Italy’s famous climbs to Madonna del Ghisallo, a small chapel which holds the shrine to cyclists. Only in Italy could anything like this be found! The Beata Vergine Maria Del Ghisallo was made the patron saint of Italian cyclists by Pope Pious XII in 1949 and her chapel is a shrine to cycling’s past and present greats. Within the chapel is the bike Fausto Coppi rode to victory in the 1949 Giro Italia and the machine used by Moser for the hour record in 1984. Also, in a separate building, there is a large modern cycling museum dedicated to the bikes and the people that have made the sport famous.
Our next three nights are spent in Bormio, close to the Swiss border, in a charming family-run hotel near the town centre. Due to its thermal baths, Bormio has been a popular town since the time when the Roman aristocracy travelled to Bormio in order to enjoy warm baths in the mountainous scenery. Bormio is centred around the medieval town, but for cyclists, it is a popular destination being close to the famous climb of Passo del Stelvio. Tonight, you are free to explore Bormio and have dinner in the village.
TODAY IN THE GIRO D’ITALIA RACE
Rest Day 2