A climb up to Colle di Langan and descent through the alleyways of Dolceacqua
This itinerary is fairly challenging and offers the chance to spend an entire day or week-end on mountain bike, enjoying some of the most beautiful villages in all of Liguria. The ideal season for this trail is Spring, but not near the holiday week-ends. In winter there is frequent snowfall on the Passo di Langan. A circuit completely on asphalt roads. The starting point is in the village of Taggia. Travel north, following the signs Triora/Colle di Langan, for 8 km until you reach Badalucco, an old rural village dating back to 1245 with Romanesque and eighteenth-century churches. From here the road begins a gentle ascent; continue for 15 km to Molini di Triora (altitude 481 metres); from here there is a final 5-km stretch to Triora (776 meters). To see: the Castle (12th century), The Church of San Dalmazio (13th century), and the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Graces) (12th century). A winding route leads back to Molini; take the road to the right for 10 km to the Passo di Langan (1127 m), on the other side of the pass there is a 14-km descent through pastures, woodlands and by old water mills, leading to Pigna, where you will find the ruins of the Romanesque Church of San Tommaso (St. Thomas) (12th century) and the Church of San Michele (St. Michael) (17th century) with a Canavesio Polyptych. Then back on your bike for the 13-km ride to Dolceacqua, another charming medieval village divided by a bridge made famous in a painting by Monet in 1884. The bridge divides ?Terra?, the old part of the town, dominated by the Doria Castle, from the ?Borgo?. The Medieval atmosphere is still very much alive here, with very picturesque corners where time seems to have stood still. The ride through the alleyways is difficult and technical, but even if you have to walk your bike, don?t miss taking a full tour of them, and a stop at Eugenio Andrighetto?s 3D Visionarium, where a beautiful and complete multi-vision slide show takes you through the villages of the Val Nervia and beyond. Another 9 km and you reach the Aurelia highroad; turn left and continue another 27 km to Taggia, back the starting point of the excursion.
A10 Genoa-Ventimiglia Motorway: exit at Arma di Taggia, then take Provincial Road 548 in the direction of Taggia, Badalucco/Triora.
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Length: 97 km
Difficulty: E
Altitude: min. 5m - max. 1127 m
Dirt road: no
Time necessary: 5 hours
Recommended season: late Spring
Ospitality in this area:
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