From Albenga to Alassio by bike, on a 2000-year-old road
The Roman Road between Albenga and Alassio offers the starting point for an interesting historical itinerary, perfect any time of the year and easy enough for everyone that follows one of the oldest roads in Italy, the Via Julia Augusta. A route that runs parallel to the Via Aurelia, on which we find monuments and Roman constructions as we pedal along many stretches on the original pavement from those times. The point of reference for our starting point is Piazza del Popolo, in Albenga. We follow Via Pia, crossing the Centa river, and turn right on Via Ruffini where, after about 200 metres, we go up to the left towards the archaeological area, the Via Julia Augusta (80 m.). A steep two-hundredmetre ride brings us to the entrance to the road, marked by a sign indicating points of historical interest. After the first paved stretch, the road is unpaved. We pass by Roman ruins which, according to experts, are funerary monuments from the 2nd century A.D. When you come to an asphalt road, turn right and follow it, and then immediately leave it to go down to the left on a road, which after a short distance becomes a mule track which at this point shows the original roadbed, over 2000 years old, complete with parapets and constructions for channelling water. When you reach the vicinity of a camp ground (50 m), the road crosses an asphalted street, the right side of which leads to Sant?Anna (70 m). The historical section ends here and the route continues, following the main asphalt road until a crossroads is reached. At this point, we have two choices. The first is very easy; detour to the left and go to the Aurelia to quickly return to Albenga. The second choice is to turn right and go uphill to the Church at Solva (120 m), then continue on for about 100 m., until a large open area is reached. From here we take the road that goes off to the right and make a hairpin curve; after about 200 m. there is a mule track which goes up to the right and leads to Mt. Bignone, shortly thereafter it leads back on the road. Turn right but, in the vicinity of a new hairpin curve, we once again leave the road to take the mule track to the right that leads up to the summit. This is the most difficult stretch, which we follow until we reach the small saddle (440 m) below. From here, continue along the airy, panoramic crest, which in a little more than 2 km crosses a small road which goes up from Albenga and quickly leads to the starting point of the route.
A10 Genoa - Ventimiglia Motorway, exit at Albenga. The itinerary starts from Piazza del Popolo, in the centre of the city.
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Length: 14,5 km
Difficulty: T
Altitude: max. 520 m
Dirt road: yes
Time necessary: 1.30 hours
Recommended season: all
Ospitality in this area:
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