DISCOVER PIEMONTE AND LIGURIA BY GRAVEL BIKE

Day 1

From Alessandria to Ponti
70 km route, difference in altitude 392 m asl, difficulty level: medium
• Participants meet at the railway station of Alessandria.
• Start the cycling route on pleasant secondary routes and gravel roads, touching the Municipalities of Alessandria, Sezzadio, Cassine.
• Stop for tasting session in an agriturismo along the way and depart for Ricaldone, Luigi Tenco’s birthplace.
• The outing continues for Castelrocchero, Acqui Terme and Ponti. One of the stages is Alice Bel Colle with its panoramic point, the Belvedere.
• Dinner at leisure.
• Overnight accommodation in agriturismo/B&B near Acqui/Ponti.

Day 2

From Ponti to Cairo Montenotte
57 km route, difference in altitude 380m asl, difficulty level: medium
• Breakfast in agriturismo/B&B.
• Depart Ponti in the direction of Monastero Bormida and visit the Castle.
• Continue for Denice, an authentic open-air museum with 63 works of art in ceramics installed along the streets and in the squares of the ancient medieval village..
• The next stage of the route is the magnificent village of Mombaldone, surrounded by a landscape full of magical and breathtaking views.
• Lunch at leisure.
• Continue for Spigno Monferrato crossing the landscapes of Gullies, the steep slopes along the Bormida, and the lavender fields..
• Arrival to Piana Crixia and stop to admire the famous “stone mushroom”. This geological monument is an enormous pyramid of selective erosion, which has worked within the Oligocene conglomerates of the Formation of Molare and stands 15.4 metres tall. Continue for Cairo Montenotte. • Dinner at leisure..
• Overnight accommodation in agriturismo or B&B near Cairo Montenotte.

Day 3

From Cairo Montenotte to Finale Ligure 52 km route, difference in altitude 1000m asl – difficulty level: challenging
• Breakfast in agriturismo or B&B.
• Departure towards Osiglia along a road that crosses a thick chestnut wood and leads to an artificial lake, one of the most impressive dams of Italy..
• Cycling the last 26 km of the hill of Melogno you reach Liguria.
In addition to the magnificent panoramas, the hill of Melogno is characterised by the presence of fortifications which face onto the surrounding valleys. Forte Tortagna, the tallest of those built in this area, is worth a visit.
• Dinner at leisure.
• Overnight accommodation in 3* hotel in Finale Ligure.

Day 4

Finale Ligure – Spotorno - Finale Ligure 26 km route – difficulty level: easy
• Breakfast in hotel.
• Cycle route along the via Aurelia: Finale Ligure, Capo San Donato, Varigotti, Capo Noli, Noli, Spotorno..
• Lunch at leisure in Spotorno.
• In the early afternoon, Kayak trip with private guide (duration of 2 hours) to discover the Marine Protected Area of Bergeggi. • At the end of the activity, return by bike to Finale Ligure, passing through Voze in the municipality of Noli and continuing along the SP45.
• Dinner at leisure in Finale Ligure.
• Overnight accommodation in 3* hotel in Finale Ligure.

Day 5

Finale Ligure – Savona
25 km route – difficulty level: easy
• Breakfast in hotel.
• Visit Finalborgo at leisure and depart for the street that leads to the Savona railway station.
• Return by train to Alessandria from Savona railway station.