From Gargnano to Garfagnana ...

OK, I'm posting this on Sunday the 6th from Barga - we finally made it on Friday afternoon safe and sound.

However, here are some pictures of the final part of our Odyssey ...

From Gargnano on Lake Garda, we crossed the Pianura Padana - the plain of the River Po - stopping overnight in the renaissance-era model town of Sabbioneta,  before ascending out of the region of Emilio-Romagna, over a pass in the Appenines, and into Tuscany.

We stopped for coffee at a small bakery where the padrona was baking these biscuits  ...

... but her pièce de resistance, was the Torta di Rosa - a delicious simple cake fashioned into the form of a bouquet of roses - a speciality of the area and absolutely delicious fresh from the oven.  

In Sabbioneta, our B&B gave us bikes, so we were able to have a good explore of the town

The sun sets on the octagonal church and the medieval town walls

This fantastic breakfast buffet awaited us next morning 

A mystery mountain looms in the distance in the Appenine chain on the Emilio-Romagna side of the pass

The sign proclaims the pass itself - and Barbara declaims that it's cold up there!

Just over the pass, the sun shines down on the Garfagnana, with the familiar contours of the Pania della Croce clearly visible in the distance

Marijke and Pietro were there to welcome us back to Barga

A magnificent sunset ends a very full day ...