Cycle Tour Canal des 2 mers - Mediterranean route - Cycle route Switzerland-Mediterranean

We had spontaneously changed the route and decided to take the ferry to the Isola San Giulio and to continue to Orta and then continue cycling on the eastern side of the lake.

The ferry boat started operating at 9:30 am with a few minutes delay and did not take course over Lagna. After five minutes we got out on Isola San Giulio, parked the bicycles in the shade of the trees and visited one by one the Romanesque basilica and the rest of the islet.

With the next ferry boat we went to Orta. Even it was still early in the morning the old town was already well visited by tourists. We pushed the wheels from the main square Piazza Mario Motta through the narrow main alley to the small church Oratorio di San Rocco.

Back across the main square we cycled out of town to the south and then up the hill to the main road. At the junction on the right is the Villa Crespi, a Moorish-style former industrialist's villa.

Then it went north on road SP229 with moderate traffic. From the street there were only a few beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding area. In Omegna we cycled once more to the lakeshore and then looked for the way back to the cycle track through the one-way streets of the village.

Up to Gravellona the traffic was predominantly high. But right behind the bridge over the Toce we turned on a side road and already a kilometer further on a beautifully landscaped, albeit quite a few years old bike path began. On the narrow asphalt lane we cycled through the forest, partly next to the Toce, to Candoglia.

On the narrow side road on the northwestern shore of the Toce we cycled up the valley with a slight incline and almost without coming upon a car. The railway line to Switzerland was our constant companion.

In Prata we found next to the church a small rest area with benches in the shade. Here we stopped for the last rest of this cycle tour. We had the opportunity to look at a neighboring house, with its roof artfully covered with granite slabs.

After five kilometers we moved to Villadossola onto the left bank of the Toce. Shortly thereafter, we also got back again on the bike path, which we followed to Domodossola.

In our B&B near the old town a 60 square meter apartment awaited us. The bicycles came into a garage.

Domodossola with its 18,000 inhabitants has a 2000-year history. The small medieval town center is excellently prepared and is vividly accepted by the people.