Experience a fantastic adventure suitable for all cycling enthusiasts, eager to have an active and dynamic experience, discovering wonderful places.
The first day leads to the discovery of Finalborgo, with its beautiful historic centre, its shops and many monuments to admire. Next, the route leads towards Perti, passing through olive groves and following the old Beretta road where you can enjoy magnificent views. Then a descent into the valley to reach Verezzi, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Pedalling to discover magical places and hidden corners, along the characteristic cobbled streets of Liguria, one can admire votive aedicules along paths rich in history and suggestive views of the Ligurian coast. Descending towards Borgio Verezzi, we recommend a visit to the magnificent Grotte (caves), which feature large halls in shades of yellow, white and red, due to the high concentrations of minerals. Return to Finale to end the first day with a visit to an oil mill, tasting local products.
The second day of the tour starts in Finalmarina, with its Baroque basilica and many testimonies of the local ancient history. Then on to the village of Finalpia, where you can admire the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Pia and the adjacent Benedictine Monastery. The itinerary follows the ancient Via Julia Augusta and leads to the Manie plateau, an enchantment of beauty and magical suggestions amidst the scents and colours of the Mediterranean maquis. Descending a stretch of the scenic Isasco Road, one comes to the locality of the same name, where a necropolis from the Imperial age was discovered, consisting of around 40 tombs. Beyond Isasco, descending towards the sea, one can admire the villages of Kien, Pino and Pietragrossa: clusters of stone huts, almost all with flat roofs, probably reminiscent of Muslim architecture, overlooking the sea and the village below. The tour then continues to Noli, a flourishing centre of antiquity that participated in the First Crusade with its naval fleet. The towers still bear witness to the rich past of this seaside resort, where you can also admire the remains of the medieval castle of Monte Ursino. Some of the paths on this tour are part of a Dantesque Itinerary, in honour of the Supreme Poet who visited these places, also mentioned in the Divine Comedy. We then continue in the direction of beautiful Varigotti, passing through stretches of wild nature with breathtaking views and vertical rock walls hundreds of metres high. Climbing along cobbled streets, you can visit the church of S. Lorenzo overlooking the beautiful Baia dei Saraceni, an ancient Roman port. Return to Finale with a visit to a pasta factory for a gourmet stop to discover the local gastronomy.
The third day is dedicated to the discovery of natural beauty. We start with a shuttle bus transfer to the Colle del Melogno, at about 1,000m above sea level, from where we cross the impressive Barbottina Forest, the largest beech forest in Europe. The tour follows part of theAlta Via dei Monti Liguri, along a dirt track that follows the mountain ridge of Liguria. This ancient road network was also crossed by Napoleon’ s troops during clashes with Austro-Piedmontese soldiers. They will visit the Melogno Fortress and some of the symbolic sites of the wars of conquest conducted by Bonaparte. This is followed by a descent towards the coast, admiring the nature and enjoying the panoramic views which, on clear days, allow the sighting of Corsica and range from the island of Gallinara and Capo Mele in the west to Genoa in the east. Passing through the town of Bardineto, an ancient crossroads for trade between Liguria and Piedmont, we continue towards the sea to meet the charming village of Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, surmounted by an imposing castle. To conclude, a stop in Zuccarello, also a place of trade between the coast and the hinterland, rich in perfectly preserved medieval bridges and characterised by the typical Piedmontese-style architecture of its palazzi in the centre with their typical loggias and arcades, testifying to the fusion of cultures and traditions typical of these places. The itinerary ends with the arrival in Albenga, ‘City of a Hundred Towers‘, an important and flourishing centre since its foundation in Roman times. Noteworthy is the fruit and vegetable production of the Albenga plain, which, thanks to an ideal microclimate, boasts numerous delicacies and Slow Food presidia, such as the Albenga violet asparagus. The tour ends with a tasting of typical local wines, such as Pigato, Rossese and Vermentino, at a local winery.
Reservations and a minimum level of familiarity with the bike are required for participation.
10% discount reserved for Tourist Card holders.
MTB Guide Finale: Piazza Garibaldi 15, 17024 Finale Ligure
