After leaving Imperia, my next destination was Lago Garda and then Trento to see friend Cinzia, see the map below.  I retraced my bike ride [also going down hill] from Trento to Garda, then to Brescia and north into the mountains to connect with the Sentiero Valtellina and then to Lago Como.  Wow!  Beautiful mountains and lakes.  The from Como to Bergamo to visit friends, then Milano and then Cinque Terra.