18 October 2025 - Battaglia Terme - Il giorno della festa

The day of the party dawned, but there was plenty of time before any of the celebrations would start. Breakfast was 2 cornetti (croissants) each in a local pasticceria, and as ever we were given a disbelieving look.  It is not done to have more than 1.


The need for exercise then took over, and while walking we bumped into Chris and some of the Italian family doing the same thing. There was a footpath / cycleway along side the canal and away from the road which seemed ideal, although it was necessary to keep a close watch on the cyclists, especially with 4 or 5 young children in the group. During this walk, we gained our first glimpse of the villa where the party was going to be later in the day.  The villa sits on an isolated hill and must be visible for miles. Eventually the call of the children's playground became too much, and so the route was reversed back into town.

Tricia and I needed more steps, so we carried on to an area of national park.  Before starting the climb we saw notices about the wild boar that are found locally, but believing that this was not a time of day for them to be active, we ontimued.  Having reached the summit, we heard the noise of some sort of animal, although our opinions differed about what it was.  Retreat was in order, but we had not got far before we heard something large crashing through the undergrowth and heading down and across the hillside.  We had only the merest glimpse of a shape, not enough to recognised what it was, but enough to make us hurry back, and look over our shoulders frequently.


While we walked with Giorgia's family

The villa of the party in the distance

Then is was time to prepare for the festivities. The setting for the party was truly magnificent. As ever with events in Italy, the food was plentiful,  far more than we could eat.  It was great to mix with the wider circle of family and friends, and eventually dance the night away.






Distance today -            0 miles

Distance this year - 1748 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 

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