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Thonon Trieste: Fred Singla cc 5173

Day 4: de Campodolcino in Livigno

106 km - 2455 m of den+, 3 passes including 2 > 2000

It was raining this morning when we had breakfast. But by the time we set off, the rain has stopped and will be absent all day.
On a wet road, the 10 km descent is approached carefully.

800 m downhill later, we're in Chiavenna. There's a vending machine where we can buy milk, yoghurt and cheese. But we don't need them, having had a great breakfast at the hotel...

We soon left Italy and crossed back into Switzerland. We come across a few cows. What would Switzerland be without its cows! And yet we saw very few of them. In fact, there are a lot more ... crazy bikers.

We quickly attacked the magnificent Passo de Maloja, which I automatically put in my top 10. It's so beautiful!

At the end of the climb, we reach a superb high plateau. It begins with a huge lake and ends 16 km further on in Saint Moritz. 

We are in the Engandine valley between the Maloja and Bernina passes. In Saint Moritz is the Grand Hôtel des Bains ... where I have not booked.

Then comes the ascent of the Passo del Bernina, the highest pass in the Swiss Alps, open all year round. Here we pass the Bernina Express, which links Chur (Graubünden) to Tirano (Lombardy) via 195 bridges and 55 tunnels. It's surprising to see a train at this altitude that isn't rack-and-pinion. Maximum gradient of 7%, otherwise it won't go through! Railway standard obligatory.
Before reaching the pass, we pass a beautiful lake. And we're lucky enough to come across the Bernina Express.

On the way down the Bernina, a few more cows. Some have square bells, others round.

We still have to climb back up to Forcala di Livigno, at 2313 m, in 3 km at an average speed of 9%. We pass a lot of fuel tankers. We'll understand why when we learn that Livigno is a free zone. And that's where we'll be filling up with diesel at €1.15 a litre. Compared with €1.60 everywhere else in Italy.
At the end of a long descent, we arrive in Livigno, where there must be strict town planning regulations. Most of the flowers on the balconies are identical in colour.

Livignio is therefore a free zone, thanks to its isolation. So there's very little tax ... and lots of tourists.

We're enjoying the comfort of our gîte after 106 km, 2455 m of ascent and 3 magnificent passes, including 2 "2000".