(PS if you tap our photos you will get a short caption/description.)

As we were planning our longest cycle day so far - 80 km - we worked towards an earlier start. As our hostel didn’t provide breakfast we packed and cycled into the main square for a pasticciera and coffee in the sun. We left at 9:30 am and rejoined the excellent tarmac cycle route along Po. We made good progress and stopped for lunch after 55km. A proper sit down lunch with fixed price menu with three courses including coffee and wine for just 13 Euro! However we only had the first course and skipped the carafe of wine each. At 75km we had a beer having just crossed to the southern/right bank on a long and somewhat scary bridge. Final push to our luxury hotel along the riverside. The whole day spent under blue skies and sunny conditions and a cool temperature. The air was clear and we could see the snow-covered alpine peaks on the horizon. A fantastic day’s cycling.

Gualtieri is classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Its main square is described by an architectural historian as being “almost perfect” and “one of the most beautiful in Italy”. 😍.