La Piazza Blog & Stories
A Letter from Andrea
A Letter from Andrea
Belìn! You’ve got to learn the word, first things first
Greetings my active friends & fellow cyclists. I am writing to you from my little office overlooking the bay of Alassio, my gorgeous hometown in western Liguria. Not familiar with the locale? Great sign! It means this gem is still a best kept secret.
Europeans and Italians spend many a holiday in this deeply Mediterranean strip of land which runs from Tuscany to France, bordering lower Piedmont. Check out this link http://www.liguriaslow.it/en/. Our itinerary runs from Finale Ligure to Sanremo through Alassio and the valleys of Imperia.
My family is not native to this area, coming from Tyrol and Germany. Yet, I fell in love with Liguria’s quaint and significant heritage and especially a part called Ponente (sunset side).
I came to realize and understand the long history of its early inhabitants: the Roman domination, medieval centuries, and the terrible Saracens invasions. Then the transformation to modern times and becoming an active part in the political formation of Italy. Now the region’s flourishing tourism industry, of which my family was a strong local component.
All these dramatic changes led to a very interesting contrast of rural areas with pretty and unspoiled villages and castles, and a busy, modern and attractive coastline of resorts, spectacular beaches, cliff lines, capes, and bike paths.
Take a glimpse at this list of highlights:
Discover Finale Ligure, the “outdoor capital” and multifaceted medieval town & resort.
Quench your thirst with delicious micro-brewed beer next door to your hotel.
Visit a passionate farmer and sample fresh cow milk, yogurt, cheese and gelato producer in inland Bardineto.
Dine at good-old-friends Marcella and Andrea’s Agriturismo in Alassio, taste their honey, and see how they prepare “Stroscia,” a shortbread that is a specialty of this area.
Discover and taste a wide variety of local olive oil, including a special one by the active cooperative of Arnasco with its farming museum.
Perhaps join Andrea’s band for a great night of authentic Italian music on your free night in Alassio?
Ride and stop in 7 villages on the very special “Prettiest Hamlets of Italy” list.
Enjoy Alassio’s long and fine sandy beach, the intriguing Muretto signatures street wall, and stroll along the Budello, one of Europe’s longest shopping streets.
Cycle around Andora with local ex-pro Mirko Celestino, winner of Lumbardy Giro, and a recent day, highly decorated mountain bike leader.
Savor a majestic authentic and exquisite Ligurian dinner inside a restored olive oil mill.
Meet local Slow Food heroes through the passionate filter of the local chapter leader.
Ride the new supercool bike path on the long coastal train route to Sanremo.
Why would you fall in love with this area, you ask? Well, for the same reasons why am I still here after decades of traveling, 14 seasons and 80 tours as a Ciclismo Classico Tour Leader.
First of all… riding a bicycle! Haven’t I raved for the longest time about our weather here and the spectacular routes through olive groves, vineyards, little villages, palms, flowers? Then there’s the Focaccia, the multitude of small Piazzas, the funny dialect, the locals trying to lessen their “short arm” fame, the clean air, the super green and hardly developed inland part, excellent seafood cuisine, pesto, the Baci d’Alassio pastries and… what more do you need?
Starting September 22nd, this intermediate tour is a perfect week long vacation, 7 days and 6 nights with an extra option at the end. Let yourself go, take it slow and you’ll cherish a great memory of this little jewel nestled halfway between Genova, the French Cote D’Azur and Montecarlo (by the way, why not extend here, there, or Cinque Terre?). You can fully experience all the gastronomic, natural, art, musical and historical highlights of the most envied area by cyclists of all over Europe, from roadie followers of Trofeo Laigueglia and Milano-Sanremo, to mountain bikers who elevated these hills to the highest level of fame.
Follow me, as a collaborator of the local Slow Food chapter, in discovering good, fair and clean practices, Presidia, farmers, shepherds, recipes, this unique contrast of frontal sea delicacies with simple ingredients and produce from surrounding hills. And most important meet the people, fighters for a better and healthier world and wise witnesses of change while carriers of a wide heritage of acute and ancient proverbs and rhymes.
Take Columbus’s route in reverse, discover Liguria on your good and strong bicycle, and definitely come back any time you wish – and please and call our office at 800-866-7314; there’s too much to show and talk about in just one week!
For the whole itinerary please click here!
See you in Liguria!
Andrea Marchesini
Greetings my active friends & fellow cyclists. I am writing to you from my little office overlooking the bay of Alassio, my gorgeous hometown in western Liguria. Not familiar with the locale? Great sign! It means this gem is still a best kept secret.
Europeans and Italians spend many a holiday in this deeply Mediterranean strip of land which runs from Tuscany to France, bordering lower Piedmont. Check out this link http://www.liguriaslow.it/en/. Our itinerary runs from Finale Ligure to Sanremo through Alassio and the valleys of Imperia.
My family is not native to this area, coming from Tyrol and Germany. Yet, I fell in love with Liguria’s quaint and significant heritage and especially a part called Ponente (sunset side).
I came to realize and understand the long history of its early inhabitants: the Roman domination, medieval centuries, and the terrible Saracens invasions. Then the transformation to modern times and becoming an active part in the political formation of Italy. Now the region’s flourishing tourism industry, of which my family was a strong local component.
All these dramatic changes led to a very interesting contrast of rural areas with pretty and unspoiled villages and castles, and a busy, modern and attractive coastline of resorts, spectacular beaches, cliff lines, capes, and bike paths.
Take a glimpse at this list of highlights:
Discover Finale Ligure, the “outdoor capital” and multifaceted medieval town & resort.
Quench your thirst with delicious micro-brewed beer next door to your hotel.
Visit a passionate farmer and sample fresh cow milk, yogurt, cheese and gelato producer in inland Bardineto.
Dine at good-old-friends Marcella and Andrea’s Agriturismo in Alassio, taste their honey, and see how they prepare “Stroscia,” a shortbread that is a specialty of this area.
Discover and taste a wide variety of local olive oil, including a special one by the active cooperative of Arnasco with its farming museum.
Perhaps join Andrea’s band for a great night of authentic Italian music on your free night in Alassio?
Ride and stop in 7 villages on the very special “Prettiest Hamlets of Italy” list.
Enjoy Alassio’s long and fine sandy beach, the intriguing Muretto signatures street wall, and stroll along the Budello, one of Europe’s longest shopping streets.
Cycle around Andora with local ex-pro Mirko Celestino, winner of Lumbardy Giro, and a recent day, highly decorated mountain bike leader.
Savor a majestic authentic and exquisite Ligurian dinner inside a restored olive oil mill.
Meet local Slow Food heroes through the passionate filter of the local chapter leader.
Ride the new supercool bike path on the long coastal train route to Sanremo.
Why would you fall in love with this area, you ask? Well, for the same reasons why am I still here after decades of traveling, 14 seasons and 80 tours as a Ciclismo Classico Tour Leader.
First of all… riding a bicycle! Haven’t I raved for the longest time about our weather here and the spectacular routes through olive groves, vineyards, little villages, palms, flowers? Then there’s the Focaccia, the multitude of small Piazzas, the funny dialect, the locals trying to lessen their “short arm” fame, the clean air, the super green and hardly developed inland part, excellent seafood cuisine, pesto, the Baci d’Alassio pastries and… what more do you need?
Starting September 22nd, this intermediate tour is a perfect week long vacation, 7 days and 6 nights with an extra option at the end. Let yourself go, take it slow and you’ll cherish a great memory of this little jewel nestled halfway between Genova, the French Cote D’Azur and Montecarlo (by the way, why not extend here, there, or Cinque Terre?). You can fully experience all the gastronomic, natural, art, musical and historical highlights of the most envied area by cyclists of all over Europe, from roadie followers of Trofeo Laigueglia and Milano-Sanremo, to mountain bikers who elevated these hills to the highest level of fame.
Follow me, as a collaborator of the local Slow Food chapter, in discovering good, fair and clean practices, Presidia, farmers, shepherds, recipes, this unique contrast of frontal sea delicacies with simple ingredients and produce from surrounding hills. And most important meet the people, fighters for a better and healthier world and wise witnesses of change while carriers of a wide heritage of acute and ancient proverbs and rhymes.
Take Columbus’s route in reverse, discover Liguria on your good and strong bicycle, and definitely come back any time you wish – and please and call our office at 800-866-7314; there’s too much to show and talk about in just one week!
For the whole itinerary please click here!
See you in Liguria!
Andrea Marchesini
