Valerio

Day 1 – From the airplane to the road, in the rain
The journey began with a flight from Milan to Lamezia Terme. The forecast had predicted it for days: rain. And sure enough, almost as if to welcome me, shortly after landing at 2:00 PM, it began pouring. Angelo from the Ducati Undicigradi store was waiting for me at the airport and escorted me to the bike. The Multistrada V4 Rally I would be riding was already marked by the journey: signatures of those who had preceded me on the tank, stickers on the bags, top case, and fairing. Tangible signs of an adventure that had been ongoing for months.
After quickly adjusting the bags, I set off. The heavy rain didn’t relent as I reached the entrance to the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway. The Tyrrhenian Sea flowed beside me on the left, and then the road started to climb, with the temperature dropping. The snow-capped peaks of the mountains left no doubt: Southern Italy always manages to surprise.
Leaving the highway at Sibari, I headed east to enter Basilicata and reach Taranto. Now, it was the Ionian Sea that accompanied me on the right, and for a moment, the rain took a break. But it was an illusion. As I resumed the expressway towards Brindisi and Lecce, the rain returned, heavier than before. In less than four hours, I had covered about 400 km, crossed three regions, seen three seas, and snow on the mountains. A decidedly rich start.
Day 2 – The off-season Salento
The Multistrada had already surpassed the 60,000 km planned for the project; my goal was to stay around 2,000 km for this final stage. With the distance between Calabria and Borgo Panigale already covering a good portion of the journey, I decided to spend a few days exploring Salento, discovering it in its most authentic form.
The day was relaxed: a quick stop in Brindisi to greet a friend and then back to Lecce. The joy of traveling by motorcycle without hurry, just for the pleasure of it.
Day 3 – The Adriatic coast and a touch of art
On Monday, I decided to focus on the Adriatic coast. I headed towards Castro, driving along the coastal road. Here, the landscape offered incredible views of the sea, with waves crashing against the rocks under a sky still heavy with clouds. Heading towards Otranto, I had to stop at Punta Palascia, the easternmost point of Italy. I would have liked to find a sticker of this symbolic place, but all the shops were closed. However, luck had it that I met a local painter, passionate about motorcycles, who offered to paint the lighthouse directly onto the left side pannier. A unique mark of this journey.
Day 4 – The Ionian coast and the allure of speed
I dedicated this day to the Ionian coast. After a stop in Novoli and Veglie, I headed towards Nardò, where I couldn’t resist the temptation to visit the circuit where some of Europe’s fastest and most fascinating vehicles are tested. Observing the structures of such an iconic facility made the experience even more special, imagining the speed trials that take place on that tarmac. After this detour, I continued along some of the most famous beaches of the area until Porto Cesareo, immersing myself in the winter landscapes of Salento. On my way back to Lecce, I took a detour to explore the countryside around Leverano and Monteroni, with their stretches of olive trees and dry stone walls.
Day 5 – Final kilometers in Salento
The last day in the heel of Italy. I took the opportunity to venture as far as Fasano before returning to Lecce for the journey north.
Day 6 – The long ride north
It was time to head straight to Bologna. The day began by taking the Adriatic highway, then onto the motorway towards Barletta. From there, I turned onto the A16 towards Naples, with its constant climbs and descents, while the temperature dropped again, nearing zero. Leaving Lecce at 8:58 AM, I arrived in Prato at 5:20 PM, where I stayed overnight.
Day 7 – Through the Apennines
The last part of the trip involved crossing the Apennines, and I chose one of the most classic routes: Barberino, Passo della Futa, with a stop at the Chalet della Raticosa. It’s no coincidence that this road was one of the testing grounds for the Multistrada V4 Rally. Snow still lined the road at the pass, creating a wintery and evocative atmosphere. After lunch, I set off again, passing through Firenzuola and Riolo Terme, concluding the day in Imola.
Day 8 – Arrival at Borgo Panigale
On the final morning, with 2,000 km already far surpassed, I allowed myself one last detour. Instead of heading directly to Bologna, I took the highway in the opposite direction, exiting at Faenza before reentering. A small extra, just for the pleasure of riding a bit longer. By 10:00 AM, I was at Ducati’s headquarters, right on time. In the end, the total mileage was less than 100 km away from 70,000, an incredible milestone for this bike.
As the final mark of this experience, I too had the privilege of leaving my signature on the Multistrada V4 Rally’s tank, joining all those who contributed to this extraordinary adventure.