Italy

Last summer, I completed a cycling journey from Naples to Tuscany, which gave me a glimpse of what to expect while cycling through Italy. As I planned my return, one thing I was eagerly looking forward to was the delectable Italian cuisine.

A significant part of my adventure involved conquering one of the legendary climbs in the Alps – the Passo dello Stelvio. Spanning 21.3 km, this climb boasts an average gradient of 7.1% and features 27 hairpin bends on the way up and 48 on the way down.

Despite the challenges, I persevered and completed the ascent in 3 hours, rewarded with an awe-inspiring view from the top and an exhilarating descent of over 2000m elevation loss for the rest of the day. The struggle of hauling my bike to the top was well worth the experience.

Continuing my journey through Italy, I decided to stick to flat terrains and cover around 140km a day. This allowed me guilt-free indulgence in the country’s delectable foods – family-sized tiramisu, pizzas, gelato, an array of hams, cheeses, and my own rendition of risotto (though the Italians might not call it that!).

Heading south out of the Alps and then the Dolomites, I primarily stuck to the main roads to cover more ground with ease. Finding suitable places to camp proved surprisingly easy, and one memorable night I settled at Magredi del Cellina – a dried-up riverbed surrounded by vast grasslands.

I also had the pleasure of swimming/having a wash in the refreshing waters of Lago di Caldonazzo, a fantastic lake and park equipped with toilets, showers, and free electric sockets (designed for e-bike charging).

On my fourth and final day in Italy, I reached the Adriatic Sea, where a much-needed swim awaited after a scorching day of cycling.

The weather had considerably warmed up since crossing the Alps, and I hadn’t needed my outer layer for my tent – until a sudden thunderstorm at 2 am on the final night, that is!

Exploring a different region of Italy that I hadn’t visited before has been an enriching experience and there’s still so much of the country I’ve yet to explore. I’m looking forward to the next part of my journey mostly following the coast down the Adriatic Sea.