It was market day in Paesana so we bought some ciabatta and cheese for a picnic lunch. We retraced our cycling steps downhill to Saluzzo after a fond farewell to the two brothers who ran our hotel. Downhill in warm weather with just a light top - disposed of after a few km. Coffee in Saluzzo then set off across the "pianura" the Po plain. Flat as far as the eye can see. Silage bales are high points on the horizon. It was really easy fast cycling in warm weather with no wind.

We cycled on tarmac farm roads past large complexes of farm buildings - called a "cascina" - which consists of a large courtyard building accessed through a monumental gateway. Two or three stories high, maybe a tower, maybe a chapel. Plus barns, outbuildings. Almost a small village in itself. Intended for the whole farming workforce to live and work. These are dotted across the countryside.

We popped into a few lovely towns - lunch at Moretta (castle), coffee at Villafranca (pretty main square), ice cream at Pancalieri (Water wheel). Ending up in Moncalieri on the outskirts off Turin. This has a royal castle and a (closed) royal boarding school (think Windsor and Eton). This was one of the homes of the Savoy Royal Family. A World Heritage site too!

So after freshening up, we set out to the town centre for an aperitivo in the main square.