Through the rain to Soave

 

Sunday 8th September 2024

We had a peaceful night's sleep parked up under the ramparts of Castello de Montebello in Bellinzona.

But by morning the forecast rain had begun and the skies were heavy with low cloud and end to end drab greyness.

Louis had to be almost dragged out of bed for his morning walkies during a lul in the rain, only for heavens to open again which saw him making a bee line back to the van, without a piddle in sight.

During another lul in the rain we tried again and managed to get the business done 😉

Given the awful weather, I decided we may as well get some motorway miles on the clock.

We set off south towards Milan, taking the autostrada motorways.

I find in Italy the difference in journey time between toll and non toll roads can be large

So sometimes it's worth paying to get to where you want to be, and tolls tend to be cheaper than in France.

Also north Italy has a lot of non descript industrial areas, unlike most of French non toll roads that go through beautiful countryside.

The motorway took us past Como, Sirmione, Pescheira del Garda, Varona, all places we might have been tempted by if the weather was better.

As it was we pressed on until we reached Soave, as small walled village beneath an impressive castle.

It's rained on and off all afternoon so we haven't really seen very much of the village.

I managed a quick walk into the village and got a few grey soggy photos.

The weather is forecast to be much better tomorrow, so I'll try again for some better ones but unfortunately the castle is closed on Mondays.

Soave walled village and the castle behind up on the hill

Louis seems to have almost fully recovered from his dodgy leg strain thankfully