THE FASCINATING MARCHESATO OF SALUZZO-DE LUXE-BY BIKE / 8 days

Abbeys and ancient chapels, orchards and castles: a small, enchanting territory full of treasures.

In this fertile land kissed by the sun and bathed by the streams that descend from the six surrounding alpine valleys, in the twelfth century a small independent kingdom was born which remained so, despite the proximity of powerful France, for four centuries: fourteen marquises alternated in the government of little happy state. In the delightful setting of the Alps we proceed in gentle ups and downs to discover castles, abbeys, small villages, chapels that preserve frescoes of late Gothic flavor; all around the green of the hills covered with vineyards and the splendor of the orchards and cultivated fields in the sign of a love for the land and traditions that have never failed here. A dream staying in an authentic noble residence surrounded by the greenery of a vast park on the hills of Costigliole Saluzzo and equipped with a swimming pool and wellness center.

The path is easy, but not completely flat, every day you have to face with some (really) small difference in height, a little more pronounced near Cuneo and Fossano and to go to the Ciciu Park, a protected natural area of Piedmont, located in Costa Pragamonti, near the town of Villar San Costanzo; you ride on secondary roads that are partly dirt roads.

The planned tours can obviously be done in a different order, bearing in mind that the Arpa museum is closed on Saturdays and is also open on Sundays in the months until May, and from Monday to Friday from June onwards.

The hotel is located in an ancient castle dating back to the 1400s which, after centuries, has come back to life to offer, in the flavor of history, moments of peace in harmony with nature, includes a wellness center with swimming pool, is far from the noise and pollution and is the ideal place to spend a pleasant holiday. 

 THE PROGRAMME

In Dronero, the spectacular bridge called "del diavolo" awaits us at the entrance to Val Maira; in Villar San Costanzo the park where the "Ciciu" are found, curious "mushrooms" made of clay and quartz that arise in the middle of the woods; finally, in Busca, many churches including the chapel of S. Sebastiano with late-Gothic frescoes.

Today we head towards the Varaita valley, one of the greenest and most beautiful in the region. The villages we pass through are a typical example of mountain life in this area. In Piasco you can visit the harp museum, the only one in Italy (open from Monday to Friday). We arrive in Brossasco, the capital of mountain furniture with the wood museum, then on our return we find Venasca, a medieval town, an important reference market since 1400 and Rossana with its Gothic church

A beautiful route that will make us discover two of the most important towns in the province: Fossano and Savigliano. Both cities retain most of the medieval houses with typical arcades. In Fossano you can visit the Acaja castle, the historic center and the park with a beautiful view over the valley of the Stura stream and in Savigliano take a refreshing stop in Piazza Santarosa, with the surrounding medieval buildings and seventeenth-century palaces; finally, the beautiful castle of Lagnasco deserves a stop.

Today's destination is the provincial capital: Cuneo. The city, located overhanging two rivers, owes its name to the wedge shape, squeezed between the Gesso stream and the Stura river. The city is full of monuments and museums, such as the Archaeological Museum, and beautiful squares and promenades, such as Piazza Galimberti and the elegant and very green Viale degli Angeli. Small villages (San Chiaffredo, San Pietro del Gallo, Passatore) are scattered on the round trip route. You also ride partly through the orchards.

Saluzzo, full of splendid medieval palaces and Manta with its frescoed castle, an ancient Piedmont residence that seems to have come out of a chivalrous poem, are the villages to visit in the morning, and then head towards Castellar, famous for the open-air museum of scarecrows , dedicated to those who - with good reason - are the "sentinels of the fields", which can be seen all over the country and then head towards the famous Staffarda abbey, one of the largest medieval monuments in Piedmont.

MAIN POINTS

 -trip type: individual;

 -Departures minimum 1 person; every day from March to October

 -Duration of the trip : 7 days / 6 nights;

 - Difficulty: aasy level with some small differences in height per day;

 -total km 265/275;

 -Type of bike: city bike or touring bike

 -Luggage transport: no

 -Information meeting / briefing in the first hotel: no

 -Bike rental only: yes

 -Luggage transport only: no

 -Travel customization: yes

 -Possibility of transformation into a trip with a guide yes (minimum 10 people)

 

 -Overnight stays in a **** hotel with buffet breakfast

 -Free access to the swimming pool

 -Information material, maps and itinerary description, GPS tracks

 -24 hour medical / baggage insurance/FO

 -Emergency telephone support

 -Entry fee

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

 - The return trip to Costigliole Saluzzo

 -Lunches and dinners

 -Drinks with meals

 -Visits and entrances

 -Tips

 -The extras usually of a personal nature

 -Anything not specified under "the fee includes"

To book, fill in and send the registration form to info@aemmeviaggi.it;

pay 30% of the foreseen cost, provide for the balance 6 weeks before departure.