According to the legend, the Medieval count Ghisallo was being attacked by bandits when he saw an image of Virgin Mary at a shrine. He ran to it and was saved from the robbers. The apparition became known as the Madonna del Ghisallo, and she became a patroness of local travellers. In later times, Madonna del Ghisallo (the hill) was made part of the Giro di Lombardia bicycle race and has often featured in the Giro d'Italia as well. There is a cycling museum beside the shrine.
Cycling museum magdala rosa jersey wall
According to the old guy in the cafe, Cadel was a frequent visitor and wears the medallion around his neck for luck. Lisa and I became minor celebrities when we showed up on a Guzzi from Australia.
As we were leaving an expatriate American guy invited us to his favourite restaurant for lunch. We followed him down a goat track to the cutest trattoria ever. We drank wine, ate wild bore stew and finished with grappas. We rode to Bellagio in torrential rain half cut afterwards. Turns out that fred from the USA was an amature endurance racer and raced with Dr John.. His first race bike was a guzzi mk3. Its a bloody small world. His other claim to fame was he was a mechanic on Paul Newmans race team.
We spent the arvo walking in Bellagio. What a wank it is.
Looking at mandello from across the lake
