Day 9 Citta di Castello to Villagrande 63 Miles

 “Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Albert Einstein

To see route click on link -  Interactive google map

This will open a new window where you can zoom in and also click on parts of overall route to view different days.

Our residence for the night, 15th century accommodation for the church officiates. 

 Breakfast was in the cathedral square, Caffé Magi.

 Fabulously chic.

 Caffe latte, molto caldo

Weird coffee mug - hot milk with expresso coffee on the side.

 Time to chill before heading out.

 Their menu featured the resident staff posing!

A discussion over the best cream for the undercarriage - minty and tingling made by Assos?

 Preparing for the morning briefing.

 Nigel ascends to speak from the balcony.

But in the end chooses the more modest railings below.

This is Umbria. Fewer vineyards and, similar to Tuscany, mostly wheat and other crops. Very little livestock.

It was fine in morning but rain is forecast for later.

 Wild flowers are abundant.

 A massive briar rose.

A cacophany of birdsong in the woodlands including the cuckoo.

Amazing view from the top of Anghiari.

Each July, Anghiari is host to the Anghiari Festival featuring classical music, chamber music, choral works and opera.

 The resident orchestra is Southbank Sinfonia of London.

Italian children skip to school.

Storm clouds loom. 

This prequel to a storm produces an eerie ligt.

We stop for our morning brew stop overlooking a reservoir.

 Rain is certain...

 ...so we done wet gear.

 It's chilly...

Arm warmers are clever, sort of removable sleeves whilst on the move.

 It rains heavily, but briefly. We grab whatever shelter we can find.

 We see the same castle village from multiple vantage points as we make our second massive climb of the day.

Close to the top there's a fountain. These are prominent and the water seems really pure.

Final ascent, tired after todays big climbs.