Europe : Southern Europe Motorcycle Ride

In the morning, bikes are issued and your Southern Europe motorcycle tour begins by riding out to Nimes in the afternoon; a distance of about 400 km. Nîmes, a city in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, was an important outpost of the Roman Empire. It’s known for well-preserved monuments, such as the Arena of Nîmes, a double-tiered circa-70 AD amphitheater still in use for concerts and bullfights. Both the Maison Carrée white limestone Roman temple and Pont du Gard tri-level aqueduct, which are around 2,000 years old, are worth a visit. You would like the simplicity of this place.

Our Southern Europe motorcycle tour starts early today, as we have a lot to cover, including Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo is host to the Circuit de Monaco, on which the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix takes place. It also hosts the European Poker Tour, fashion shows and other events. After having lunch at Monaco, we move towards Genoa, our destination for the day, through some breathtaking costal views on the tunnel route. Genoa (Genova) is a port city and capital of the Liguria region in northwest Italy. It's known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries.

This is another long day with lots of riding and sightseeing. We ride out of Genoa and begin to move towards the world famous city of Pisa in Italy's Tuscany region, best known for its iconic Leaning Tower. Already tilting when it was completed in 1372, the 56m white-marble cylinder is the bell tower of the Roman, striped-marble cathedral that rises next to it in the Piazza de Miracoli. Also in the piazza is the Baptistry, whose renowned acoustics are demonstrated by amateur singers daily. Enjoy walking the street with some great local cuisine. A quick bite and we are off towards Rome some 350 km away through local country roads.

Time to take a break from motorcycle tours of Europe – have a relaxed day filled with sightseeing and a city tour of Italy’s capital, a sprawling cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Another early start for motorbike tours of Europe, we ride towards Bologna some 430 km away, through some beautiful countryside and en route pay homage to Indian soldiers at the war memorial in Forli. After that, we ride on to the home of Ducati, Bologna. Bologna is home to numerous prestigious cultural, economic and political institutions, as well as one of the most impressive trade fair districts in Europe. In 2000 it was declared the European capital of culture and, in 2006, a UNESCO “city of music”. In addition to housing many prestigious names of auto industry – eg Ducati, Ferarri, Maserati etc. – Bologna is also one of the wealthiest cities in Italy, often ranking as one of the top cities in terms of quality of life in the country.

We have a relaxed day today, with a visit to the Ducati factory and the museum and then a short ride of 170km to Venice. This allows us to, visit the factory stores of the hallowed marques of Ferrari and Ducati.

Another day filled with exploration of European culture and history, take a break from European bike tours to check out the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs. We can also visit the Island of Murano, an island in the Venetian Lagoon where glass has been made for more than 700 years.

A comparatively short ride (for motorcycle tours in Europe) of 270 km to the home of global fashion and design, Milan, metropolis in Italy's northern Lombardy region. It’s a financial hub also known for its high-end restaurants and shops. The Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral and the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, housing Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper,” testify to centuries of art and culture. The grand Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, lies at the geographical heart of this one-time Imperial Roman capital, and expresses the love of beauty and power that still drives the city today. Unparalleled shopping, sparkling nightlife are the other highlights of the city.

We exit towards the Mandello del Lario, for Moto Guzzi fans and shall be passing through the Moto Guzzi museum and the towards the Lukmariner pass along the lake Como, followed by one of the big six the Oberalp Pass before we head to Interlaken our destination for the day.

This is a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland, located between the emerald-colored waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and three mighty mountains (Jungfrau, Eiger and Moench). Interlaken well deserves its titles of most enchanting city in the Alps. Among the main attractions is a sequence of connecting mountain railways, giving access to the Jungfraujoch, a col (3,450 m (11,320 ft)) between the Jungfrau and the Mönch, which is the highest point in Europe reachable by train. It has numerous adventure activities such as skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing.

Moving from Interlaken to Grenoble, you will pass through some beautiful Swiss countryside and beautiful cities of Bern and Geneva. We stop for lunch at lakeside Geneva, which offers some dramatic views of Mont Blanc and the 100 ft water fountain. Or, for the more adventurous types, the route can be through the Bulle pass on to Geneva. After passing Geneva, a two hours drive on the excellent French highways gets you to Grenoble, a city in the historical Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It's known for winter sports and for its museums, universities and research centers. Spherical cable cars called “Les Bulles” (Bubbles) connect the town to the summit of La Bastille hill, named for the 18th-century fortress on its slopes. Known as the 'Capital of the Alps', Grenoble boasts excellent dining, effervescent nightlife.

On the final day of our Europe motorcycle tour, we have a very early start and a long drive back towards Barcelona, a distance of 650 km. On reaching Barcelona, we return the bikes and then move to hotel, and that is where we end this beautiful and one of a kind experience.