Come sono dolci le terre fra Gavi e Dolcetto

A 40 km ring in the hills around Novi Ligure, between the vineyards of Gavi and Dolcetto. From the train station, take Via Girardengo, crossing the centre of Novi; at the end of the street, turn right into Via Paolo da Novi and, at the traffic light, cross the street, leaving the city in the direction of Gavi. We go up for about 1 km on a narrow and fairly busy road; we leave it turning left towards Monterotondo. After km.1,5 (km.3) we turn left taking the road Castellone, a panoramic path between estates and vineyards in the direction of Serravalle Scrivia. At the fork (km.6,5) we turn left towards Monterotondo, going down into the woods, we pass in front of the estate LA RAIA, and we climb steeply for about a kilometer to Monterotondo (km.10 - 315 m asl), home of famous wineries. We proceed to Gavi and after three kilometres of ups and downs we arrive at the level where we can see, on the top right, the imposing fort, until we cross the provincial road from Serravalle to Gavi (km.13). Turn right and enter Gavi. In addition to the Fort, the Romanesque church of San Giacomo and the medieval gate are worth a visit. We exit in the direction of San Cristoforo; turning left on the bridge over the Lemme, we can see, at the top, the sanctuary of the Madonna della Guardia. We descend gently along the valley and then we begin the climb that in km.1.5 and 100 meters of difference in height leads us to San Cristoforo (km.19 - m.300 asl). Before the end of the village we turn right in the direction of Novi Ligure and then immediately left on the beautiful road of Rondanino, along the coast among vineyards for about 5 km until we meet the road to Francavilla. We turn right and descend quickly; we cross the Lemme, enter Francavilla Bisio and take the road that goes up to the Castle and then, in three kilometers, takes us to Tassarolo (km.30). We turn back to the church of San Defendente and turn right towards Pasturana, on a dirt road that runs alongside the golf courses and that leads us to the road that, in two hairpin bends, goes up to the village, which preserves evidence of the Napoleonic era. At the exit of the village, in the direction of Novi, we stop at the ancient parish church of San Martino (7th century), drinking at the spring (km.35). We proceed along the provincial road and in three kilometres we return to Novi Ligure. In all, about 40 km.