It was a short and easy ride today.  Only 53.4 kilometres with an elevation gain of 161 meters.  However it was a day of dramatically changing geography.  We rode for about 10 kilometres to get to the Italian boarder.  

During that time we continued to ride in the deep valleys typical of Slovenia.  As we got further into Italy opened up and eventually became quite flat by the time that we reached Udine.  Also gone was the rich black soil of Germany and Austria.  The light brown rocky soil of Italy is distinctly different.

Udine is a large (approximately 100,000 residents) and very old city.  It is distinctly not tourist oriented.  It is a industrial and economic centre for the region.  None the less it has some amazing architecture. For example this Venetian Villa on the main town square.

Tomorrow is another easy day across the flat countryside, but distinctly longer at over 80 kilometers.