Acqui Terme, il benessere tra arte e paesaggio

Acqui Terme has many options for sports tourism. Not necessarily for the more competitive type! Wellness in motion can begin with this route, whether on a road bike or even with an e-bike. It begins in the town center of Acqui Terme. For those arriving by train, it starts in the square in front of the train station. For those arriving by car, an excellent starting point is the parking lot (camper area) located near the Carlo Alberto Bridge over the Bormida River (Bagni area).
It will be a beautiful journey through art, history, and landscape. Leaving the town in the direction of Savona, follow the long Corso Divisione Acqui and then cross State Road 30. After a few hundred meters on a busy road, turn right towards Terzo Stazione.
Passing through the village, head towards Terzo Paese, covering about 2 km of easy climbing. Once you reach the village, turn right towards Montabone. After an initial flat stretch of about 1 km, the road climbs gently for about 5 km until reaching the top of the hill where the village of Montabone is located.
After visiting the historic center, we continue towards Rocchetta Palafea. An initial steep climb, only a few hundred meters, leads us to the crest of the hill. Once there, a succession of gentle ups and downs offers a magnificent view of the Monferrato hills.
Once you reach Rocchetta Palafea, a stop on the panoramic terrace near the cemetery is a must. Once you've regained your energy, we set off again towards Castel Boglione, turning right a few meters before entering the small village square.
The road gently descends into the valley until reaching the junction with the provincial road connecting Acqui Terme to Nizza Monferrato. At the intersection, turn left towards Nizza Monferrato (be careful), continuing uphill for a few hundred meters until you reach a chapel on the right side of the road. Here, at the chapel, turn right again towards Castel Rocchero.
You'll face a fairly challenging uphill stretch of about 3 km on a secondary road with little traffic before reaching the top of the hill and continuing, leaving the town of Castel Rocchero on your right. The downhill stretch towards Acqui Terme begins, and just past the Cantina Sociale, still on the right side of our direction of travel, turn immediately left towards Alice Belcolle.
The narrow, winding road winds through colorful vineyards, making this the most evocative and captivating stretch of the entire itinerary. After passing the small town of Alice Belcolle, head towards Ricaldone and then, before entering the town, turn right towards Acqui Terme. The final stretch, completely downhill, will take us about two kilometers from the center of the spa town. A relaxing city tour with a visit to the Bollente hot spring and the historic center will complete our tour of the Monferrato hills. By Giuseppe Rossi

Acqui Terme: Old town centre, La bollente (natural thermal spring), the castle of the paleologists, Roman Arches, Thermal baths

Terzo d'Acqui: Medieval Tower

Montabone: Old town centre and the parish church of S. Antonio Abate which is home to several canvases attributed to Guglielmo Caccia, the famous painter from this town, known as Il Moncalvo.

Rocchetta Palafea: Walls and Medieval Tower

NB

Dedicated signage; none. At the crossroads, follow the directions for the places listed on the route description. It is always recommended to rely on a skilled guide from the area, who is updated on any changes to the conditions of the routes, which can vary compared with the time that Piemontebike.eu verified and updated them.

Advice:

Always use a helmet, even when it is not compulsory. Before starting off, always advise someone of your itinerary. If you can, take a GPS and a mobile phone with you, a drinking bottle always full of water; if the distance is demanding take an extra snack/bar. Dress suitably, better in layers, and keep a wind and rainproof cape in your jersey pocket. Always use padded cycling shorts. Comfort is essential to have fun and enjoy the fascinating journey,