2- Grand bicycle tour in Italy from 2011 (Ferrara)

Day 1 - Porto Garibaldi - Ferrara It's time to go. I come across a very lovely flower.

It's so hot outside. I am sweating profusely.

Soon I have to stop to eat something I bought from a supermercato. It's some delicioius ham and cheese and a crunchy baguette.

I carry on cycling on SP1, a nice road wuth light traffic and lined by shady trees.

Soon I get to Ferrara, "citta delle biciclette"

This is an fantastic medieval town with many buildings dating back to 14th century when the town was governed by d'Este Family. First I go to admire Este Castle.

Quite imposing indeed!

In the town center there are many interesting temples and churches.

Ferrara is a paradise for cyclists. It has about 135 000 inhabitants.

The cathedral is magnificent, too.

The medieval architecture is astonishing, indeed.

I find many narrow streets.

I enter the museum of Casa Romei where I can gaze at an old painting.

I simply adore the cobbled streets and the medieval atmosphere present here so often.

Inside the fortified town there are many one-way streets.

On some ancient houses I run into many memorial plaques with moving messages.

I also come across a lion's statue that reminds me of Venice.

Not far from here I see a gipsy romanian woman begging for money.

Some lavish palaces are endowed even with caryatids.

In Ferrara was born the famous Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola who was an Christian preacher, reformer and martyr, renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and a corrupt clergy. Here I come across the house where he was born.

He is very appreciated here in Ferrara and has a nice statue in a an old square.

Upon the old houses dating back to 15th century I can admire wonderful works of art.

1- Grand bicycle tour in Italy from 2011

Protagonist - Claudiu Moga, 32 years old cycling freak in love with nature and arts

Means of transportation - the old and genuine Magdalena, the bicycle who enjoyed Italy and France, thy mighty Alps!

After so many years of tribulations God took pity on me and send me a friend who offered me a tour till my beloved Italy, the best country from the entire world. It's 20th of May, here I am in Porto Garibaldi near Comacchio, with tears rolling down my face I bid farewell to my friends and benefactors and receiving 20EUR, an old bicycle and some gear but no tent, I start my journey westward, aiming to get to Ferrara first. A huge adventure is in store for me. Will I fulfill my dreams of touring the marvelous Italy, the gem of Europe or will I pass away in a stupid accident or die of hunger? God will show my way and protect me from the evil. I started cycling on SP1, a secondary road, my destination for the 1st day being Ferrara. First I crossed a plain region with plenty of cultivated fields. Near Ostellato I made my first break in order to visit an ancient sanctuario, as italians say.

It looked so tiny and misterious.

Next to it in the garden i saw plenty of old farming tools or I don't know how to call them.

Upon the church's wall I could admire a small bas-relief.

But also a green heart of leaves.

A huge stone wheel was here, too.

I could also read some moving and exciting texts.

Another touching bas-relief.

The heroes from the 1st world war were commemorated on some metallic memorial plaques.

I entered shyly the church to pay my respects ti the heroes. Here I feasted my eyes on wonderful stained glass windows.

The ceiling was pretty nice, too.

Then, I uttered a prayer in front of the altar, thanking God dearly for allowing me to fulfill my dream of cycling in my beloved Italy.

Oh, How I love the peace of mind that invades me in places like this! I admire some more coloured glass windows.