Hans and Elizabetta write in from their agriturismo/B&B, Lavanda Blu, in the beautiful Le Marche region. Hans, cyclist, speedskater, carpenter and construction project manager is from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 2006, after several years of searching for a beautiful spot in Le Marche he found Lavanda Blu (purple lavender in Italian)which had been abandoned for 17 years. Using his skills, he carefully restored the farmhouse, retaining its clean lines and country charm. Hans organizes the cycling itineraries for guests. Elizabetta is from the USA, but was raised mostly in Rome. She is a chef and an interior architect. Passionate about food, its history, cultivation, nutrition and a member of the Italian Slow Food Organization, Elizabetta offers meals and cooking courses at the farm.
Hans writes, "Whether you prefer riding along the coast next to the beautiful blue-green Adriatic or taking a ride over the rolling hills through fields of sunflowers and beautiful medieval towns, Le Marche is the ideal place for cyclists. There is a strong cycling culture here, and because of that it’s even possible to rent bikes if you can’t bring your own. Each time I go cycling, I meet new locals, from coffee bar owners to fellow cycling aficionados to guests at our agriturismo. But the most interesting cycling trip I’ve taken was a ride I took with some guests at the agriturismo, from the coastal town of Porto Sant’Elpidio to Loreto, legendary home of the Virgin Mary which was supposedly carried by angels from Nazareth to Loreto when the house was threatened with destruction by the invading Turks in 1291. When my cycling troupe arrived in Loreto, we were surprised to find the piazza bustling with families, a stark contrast to the usual quiet quaintness of the town. Then Pope Benedict XVI came out from the main church and blessed us all! The best thing about living in here is that there are surprises around every corner—whether you get to meet the pope or merely get breathtaking views of the sea and the mountains, every ride is sure to be worthwhile."
Website: http://www.lavandablu.com/
Photos: Hans and Elizabetta, their agriturismo, view of surrrounding hills from the agriturismo, Sirolo beach, , Mary's House, guest cyclist, view from a ridge
Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.
Hans writes, "Whether you prefer riding along the coast next to the beautiful blue-green Adriatic or taking a ride over the rolling hills through fields of sunflowers and beautiful medieval towns, Le Marche is the ideal place for cyclists. There is a strong cycling culture here, and because of that it’s even possible to rent bikes if you can’t bring your own. Each time I go cycling, I meet new locals, from coffee bar owners to fellow cycling aficionados to guests at our agriturismo. But the most interesting cycling trip I’ve taken was a ride I took with some guests at the agriturismo, from the coastal town of Porto Sant’Elpidio to Loreto, legendary home of the Virgin Mary which was supposedly carried by angels from Nazareth to Loreto when the house was threatened with destruction by the invading Turks in 1291. When my cycling troupe arrived in Loreto, we were surprised to find the piazza bustling with families, a stark contrast to the usual quiet quaintness of the town. Then Pope Benedict XVI came out from the main church and blessed us all! The best thing about living in here is that there are surprises around every corner—whether you get to meet the pope or merely get breathtaking views of the sea and the mountains, every ride is sure to be worthwhile."
Website: http://www.lavandablu.com/
Photos: Hans and Elizabetta, their agriturismo, view of surrrounding hills from the agriturismo, Sirolo beach, , Mary's House, guest cyclist, view from a ridge
Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.
Posts
