Italian Riviera

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Any locations along this coast to recommend

There is a return train from Alessandria which opens this area as a destination.


The various Ligure locations look good.

Or - is it all too tourist and should be avoided like the plague

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Nobody been here then

 

[bisbee]

Nope
Nearest I've been was a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

 

[stolzy]

A favorite old stamping ground of mine, though I have to say it is very crowded these days in the summer.

Santa Margherite Ligure is nice, as is Portofino. The latter likely to be inaccessible by car during peak summer months and crowded if you can get there. San Frittoso is the gem, but only accessible by foot or boat.

Further south the villages of the Cinque Terre are spectacular, but inevitably busy in the summer.

We often went at the end of September - weather still OK, but not so many visitors.

 

[adventuredon]

Any locations along this coast to recommend

There is a return train from Alessandria which opens this area as a destination.


The various Ligure locations look good.

Or - is it all too tourist and should be avoided like the plague

Read a bit into this. http://www.free-me.com/4countries.htm

 

[RosieP]

Imperia is a nice location not far fron San Remo..but nicer, try this B&B www.ilfilodiariannabb.it

 

[Simon W]

I've only passed through that region briefly: best (okay, only) ride was a loop inland from Imperia to Albenga on the SS28 and the Colle San Bernardo (SP582). Still, it's a ride I'd say is worth repeating.

I have ridden further down the Tuscan coast - there's some good riding inland between Sienna and Cecina. If you go out to Porto San Stefan, there are good views out over Giglio – though last time I was there, someone had wedged a cruise ship on its side down there... little bit sombre.

Mind you, if you're going to Alessandria, heading west will take you into the Piedmonte and the Alps. There's spectacular riding on the French side around Sospel – easy enough for a daytrip to the coast (in Italy or France) but municipal camping in Sospel is ultra cheap, the town's nice, and it's on the Turini and Col de Braus. If you want real, wild, challenging GS-is-best type tiny mountain roads, there are some awesome places between Cueno and the French border (including the Colle dei Morti – my personal favourite!). Head out to Sampeyre and go crazy!