Belforte Monferrato – Monastero Bormida: pedalling from the castles to the "Gothic Road"

Day 1

Arrive to Ovada and walk through the characteristic historic centre with a typical Genoese look of narrow roads and colourful houses.
In the afternoon, shopping in the centre. Stop off at the "Regional Wine shop of Ovada and Monferrato" to taste top wines such as the Dolcetto Ovada DOCG accompanied by local products. Dinner in osteria with tasting of typical farinata, specialty based on chickpea flour and baked in a wood-fired oven.

Day 2

Breakfast in hotel and departure from Belforte Monferrato for the cycle stage.
From Ovada in the direction of Cremolino to Acqui Terme, the quintessential spa city, (the sulphur-rich water bubbles out n the city centre at a temperature of 75 degrees), already known since Roman times for the important therapeutic properties of its water. The city is a full-fledged open-air museum, and its centre is full of wine bars and shops that offer excellent wines and products.
Continue to Bistagno to reach Monastero Bormida, founded in 1050 by Benedictine Monks and important wine-growing and agricultural centre of Alta Langa. After crossing the picturesque Romanesque bridge over the Bormida, through the gate of the ancient walls you access the centre of the castle. On the square we find the parish church named after Saint Julia and the Literary Benches featuring verses of Augusto Monti, Cesare Pavese, Beppe Fenoglio. Stop for refreshments with local produce including Robiola di Roccaverano DOP cheese and Piemonte IGP hazelnuts.
Before returning, souvenir photo at the Panchina del Cuore (Giant heart bench). To return to Ovada we suggest an alternative route passing through Rivalta Bormida and Trisobbio, along the Dolcetto road.
Dinner in trattoria in the centre.

LENGTH - 37 KM
DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE - 403 M
MINIMUM ALTITUDE - 136 M
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE - 400 M
BIKES: ROAD - GRAVEL

Day 3

After breakfast, a short transfer to visit a craft brewery: the beers are produced exclusively with barley grown directly without the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides. At the Tap Room inside the farm, it will be possible to taste the beer with a charming view of the surrounding vineyards.