ALESSANDRIA | PIEDMONT

Discover Alexandria

The province of Alexandria is full of historical features, farming traditions and even spas.

People have been taking spa water cures at Acqui Terme since Roman times. Dominating Acqui Terme is its castle on the hill, the Romanesque cathedral and the 18th-century buildings with their courtyards. The heart of the city is the 19th-century Piazza Italia with its water lily fountain. In Acqui Terme you can buy the best nougat in Piedmont.
Gavi borders Liguria, from which it takes its way of speaking and some of its traditions. It lies to the north of the Giovi Pass with the waters of the torrents Lemme, Scrivia and Borbera running through it. Its fortress dominates from an isolated spur. Gavi has become a prestigious town, not only for its history, but also for its production of Gavi or Cortese di Gavi wines, and its amaretti (macaroon) biscuits. 
Of international fame is the Gavi international Music & Cinema Festival held in September.
Higher up the Lemme valley, 9 km from Gavi, is Voltaggio, which leads to the Regional Nature Park delle Capanne di Marcarolo. The park, which has few inhabitants, covers an area of 8200 hectares, where the landscape alternates between mountains, meadows and artificial lakes that bring water to Genoa. It offers many hiking trails to follow on horseback or by bicycle.

Novi Ligure has many sophisticated shops and splendid 17th-century palazzi with painted facades. The best-known tradition of Novi Ligure is its art of the chocolate bar and its baci di dama biscuits.
Castelletto D'Orba, in a panoramic position on the hills of Castlelletto, is famous for its spring mineral water and its excellent D.O.C. wine.  34 km from Alexandria is Ovada, a town that lies where the rivers Orba and Stura meet. Ovada’s structure is more Ligurian than Piedmontese, and among the oldest buildings are the parish church of S. Sebastiano from 1200 and the Oratory of S. Giovanni Battista with its frescoes.
At Ovada you can taste the excellent, dry, bread-based biscuits. In Alto Monferrato visit Tagliolo Monferrato, with beautiful landscapes for hiking, such as the ancient “Salt Route”.