Italy is an extraordinary country, whose historical, artistic and naturalistic heritage makes it a favourite destination for the summer of 2020. Liguria is one of the most fascinating regions, nestled like a jewel between the mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea: there are many ways to travel to discover Liguria, but the bike is the perfect way for those who love contact with nature for an absolutely green experience.
A recommended route to discover the beauties of Liguria can be the one that brings the tourist to know the richness of the west coast, from Finale Ligure to Diano Marina: in this case it is a must to have a camera to capture the many views that this route offers cycling up and down among the most beautiful villages of Liguria.
The starting point of this route to discover Liguria starts from a hamlet of Finale Ligure, Finalborgo, dominated by the 17th century Fortress of San Giovanni. The historic centre, which reveals the various periods lived, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, is entered through the Porta Reale, one of the four entrances that open into the 15th century walls that surround the village. The heart of Finalborgo is Piazza San Biagio, overlooked by the Collegiate Church of the same name: inside the church there is an altar by Bocciardo that seems to be covered by a fabric mantle, revealing itself completely in marble.
From Finalborgo the tour begins along the Via Aurelia for 3 km to Borgio Verezzi: it is divided into Borgio, the flat area, and Verezzi, perched on a hill with spectacular views of the Riviera di Ponente. In Verezzi there is the beautiful Piazza di Sant’Agostino made of pinkish stone and home every summer of the Festival Teatrale. Borgio Verezzi is also known for its homonymous caves born from the centuries-old erosion of water: a stop in this natural hypogeum reveals crystalline lakes and kaleidoscopic stalactites, whose colours shade from red to yellow to white.
Back in the saddle on the bike, the next stop is Pietra Ligure, where you can ride along the Giovanni Bado promenade or along Blue Flag beaches near the Park.
Botanist, located at the foot of Mount Trabocchetto.
A stone’s throw away is Loano, also famous for its beaches (in particular Marina Piccola which also has a pier) but also perfect for resting while walking through the gut, the oldest part of the town.
Crossing the Varatella and Borghetto Santo Spirito streams and returning to the Aurelia road, you reach Albenga defined as “the city of a hundred towers”, even if today there are only about twenty of them left. Cycling through the picturesque old town centre you can easily reach the Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo, of which the 14th century late Gothic bell tower stands out with its triple lancet windows, mullioned windows and the lovely majolica dome. Next to the church is the 5th century octagonal Baptistery, while not far away stands the beautiful Piazza dei Leoni. Leaving the bicycle for a moment, the tourist who loves diving can discover in the seabed, between the coast of Albenga and the Gallinara Island, a Roman ship that apparently carried thousands of amphorae, now preserved in the Roman Naval Museum of Abenga.Â
The next stop on the route to discover Liguria is Alassio, a very famous town in western Liguria, famous for that little wall made with coloured stones and tiles, bearing the signatures of famous people like Ernest Hemingway. The promenade of Alassio invites you to enjoy gentle rides with a view of the sea, and then to enter the gutter among the typical focaccerie and famous boutiques. A stop in the shady gardens of Villa della Pergola offers the most beautiful view of the bay and Gallinara Island.
The route continues towards Diano Marina, passing the Bay of the Sun, Capo Mele with its lighthouse and passing through Cervo, one of the most beautiful villages in Liguria, home of the Premio Strega award and the International Chamber Music Festival.
The final stop is Diano Marina, with its beaches bordered on one side by the Gulf of Diano and on the other by Mediterranean scrub and palm trees. The village, which hosts the Infiorata every summer on the occasion of the Corpus Domini Festival, is located at the foot of Capo Berta, on top of which there are the military structures of Forte Sant’Elmo and the Torre dell’Alpicello, dating back to the period between the 14th and 15th centuries.
