I can't answer your question directly, but can confirm the E35 motorway is the boringest road in all of Europe.
I think it had something to do with the romans, miles and miles of straight motorway, boring as hell.
I did the South coast of France, into Italy and round to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Florence then up to Bologna, Then Milan to Komo. I thought Florence was beautiful (almost as good as Rome).
I did Nice to Florence in a day and Florence to Komo in a day, Comfortably is the wrong word, but that is a 'do-able' distance, if that helps you.
Brett
Sounds similar to the trip we did last year. We also did from just west of Nice to Florence in one day, including a (late) lunch break at Pisa. We did Florence to just beyond Riva del Garda in two days, Riva to Ramsau am Dachstein in Austria in one day, and I don't remember any of those being particularly short days, though we did avoid motorways and tolls (er, mostly
)
From the Italian lakes, let's say, to Rome, I'm willing to hack boring roads, as long as it doesn't take too long, as it's the destinations that I'm keen on.
I loved Florence. I loved Italy tbh. Great scenery, friendly people, good roads (where we went, anyway), good food, fascinating and beautiful architecture, good weather (on the whole) - what more could you ask of a country?
Why I chose Col de la Bonette is that from where I'm camping I can include it in a day out loop as it's sort of on the doorstep.
I get the feeling that the B500 isn't worth putting myself out for, as once north of Gap it would be all motorway in order to get there in a day.
Ceri, if you still have a record of the route you took, could you maybe pm me when you have a moment please.
Fair enough robbo. I've really only chosen the B500 as it makes a reasonable route to Switzerland, which is my main destination, and I don't really want to hang about
too much getting there. Bonette is worth the detour, I'd say.
Ceri, likewise
(for the Italy bit).