Forgot to say. Again from Naples south, the insects will take about half a pint of blood a day, which in metric is right around 10 fl/oz's.
Not sure why you suggest avoiding the Stelvio. It's a somewhat iconic pass, maybe a little technically challenging for the less experienced. However, it's one of those biking 'checkbox' things that's worthy of the effort IMHO. Have been over it three times now, last time in June. It was busy but not too busy, maybe avoid on weekends and national holidays (Italian and German). We were in the Dolomites, came via Bavaria and the Tyrol, then the Timmelsjoch. This was on a German national holiday weekend, that was a very busy route as a result. The Stelvio was on the first day of the homeward leg then onward via the Italian lakes and dipping into Switzerland (stayed on a mountain top above lake Lugano), Aosta valley before the Pte. St Bernard and into France.
We are setting off for the "Grande route des Alps" tomorrow...also quite an iconic route from Menton to Lake Geneva.
Cant see why you would use Mont Blanc tunnel tbh when you can cross via St Bernard Pass, from France or Switzerland (grand or petite) though I avoid the Nazis by avoiding Switzerland these days. Stelvio is a bucket list job, done it quite a few times. For me, I prefer the south side from Bormio. Wilder more/less work ( big boulders and varied road, but fewer hairpins). I find the hairpins on the North side a bit boring, though it is a good run up and worth doing at least once. Obviously you have decided heading down through Italy, because you want to see Italy. I would spend a few days in the Dolomites though. Giau pass is spectacular. Merano is classy Italian town, not too big and well located.That would give another route infrom Austria, where, if you wanted another pass, coukd fit in the https://www.silvretta-bielerhoehe.at/de/silvretta-hochalpenstrasse If per chance you go deeper in to Austria to cross over/come back, the Innsbruck to Vipiteno road is pretty decent, not the motorway, the one that runs next to it, and frequently under it. Enjoyed that one, loads of accommodation around Vipiteno also. Another, the Timmelsjoch is a very good pass, with a cool viewpiont. https://share.google/images/l6WFT9dC3Y2B1lwXithat So much choice and limited time. If you really want to travel deeper in to Italy, and who could blame you, just make sure your kit is not going to cook you too much.
Sometimes it just gets in the way enroute (dont know where your heading from.) entry through Switzerland: If you can stay off the throttle.. Davos, Fluella pass, Ofenpass. Stop at Glorenza (Glurns) in Italy. An old walled village/town. The road passes through anyway. Welcome to Italy!
Have done that numerous times North to South but not in the other directions. A fabulous two or three days of riding
The wilder south side of Stelvio. Sorry, I am still going. Then there is the Umbrail pass. Which I think is now all tarmac? And links to the Stelvio from Swizzland.
Switzerland... At one of the border crossings on our recent trip I crossed ahead of my two friends, best mate on 996 with full Termis was pulled over for a thorough going over, other mate covertly took this selfie as he waited... 996 was only allowed in, after some lengthy discussion/negotiation, due to the fact that the UK is no longer in the EU... Either that or they were being particularly awkward... Horary Brexit!?
Honestly, Nazis. I literally go out of my way normally to avoid the place. Such a shame, some stunning roads.
Can’t see what Swiss pocket Hitlers has to do with Brexit A lot of people avoid Switzerland like the plague due to over zealous officials. Particularly if you’re on a bike.
Quite possibly just an excuse. There were two of them, a bloke and a younger lady, he saying that if the bike had been from the EU it would have be refused entry but as it was from the UK and not from the EU tourist status would apply... I think it was quite possible he was exhibiting his puffed up authority to his younger, attractive colleague. This took quite a bit of discussion between my friend and the male border guard with my mate grabbing at straws of possible acceptance whilst remaining civil and calm. The bloke eventually relented when my mate agreed that Brexit was a disaster for the UK, the irony that Switzerland isn't in the EU didn't escape us. Hopefully the young lady was more impressed with my mate's calm demeanour rather than her colleague's demonstration of his power. When I passed though 4-5 minutes earlier I was stopped for a couple of minutes, a passport check and after his wander around my bike the bloke asked if I was riding alone; I replied that I had two friends following behind, don't think that made any difference. Shortly after the border station there was a T junction and looking for shade I followed the route by turning right and finally found some another 3km up the road. Waited and waited, not in comms range and no phone signal. Of course they, once they'd finally gotten though, turned left... So the border guard did get some unknown satisfaction in messing up our day. We didn't meetup until about 10 miles before reaching the day's destination. Yes, I rode carefully, kept my eyes peeled. Will avoid in future if I can. We only dipped in and out for two bits of the day including that night which was quite pleasant TBH. The view from our accommodation at the summit of Mt Brè overlooking lake Lagano that evening.
The Malojapass, downhill into Italy. Leaving St Moritz behind. Next stop the Moto Guzzi factory, Mandelo del Lario just south of Lake Como.
I have been down it twice but never up. It is very scenic but I never hear of it being mentioned .....
That sounds very discriminatory and possibly totally full of shit. Just saying… Some (many?) Swiss drivers in big cars drive like dicks on the French motorways. Like France is some kind of 3rd world place they can go and do what’s forbidden in their super clean and disciplined homeland. Which includes dumping their thrash on our side of the border so they don’t get taxed back home, for some of those who live near the border. Yeah, they tax thrash per kilo in Switzerland… This does not go unnoticed, mind you. They shouldn’t bet too hard on their « neutrality », in my humble opinion. They may have spoken German and Italian back in the Day, but they do not speak Russian…
