Stage 12
Imperia > Novi Ligure
Discover a city that knows how to captivate its visitors.
Imperia
Imperia – Novi Ligure
The stage start in Imperia offers the chance to discover a city that, although slightly off the main tourist routes, knows how to captivate its visitors. It does so through its seaside districts such as Borgo Marina, Borgo Foce, and Prino, or in the Parasio quarter - a maze of medieval alleys, arches, small squares, and panoramic sea views, including the scenic Passeggiata degli Innamorati, a walkway overlooking the coast. The city also boasts a rich cultural network, with museums such as Villa Grock – Museum of the Clown, Villa Faravelli with its Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Naval Museum, which tells the story of the area’s maritime tradition. From here runs the Riviera dei Fiori Cycle Path, linking Imperia to nearby coastal towns, but the riders will begin the stage inland, passing through the charming medieval village of Pieve di Teco. The route then returns to the sea at Albenga, a surprisingly rich city of art. A brief journey into its past begins at the Church of Santa Maria in Fontibus, with its remarkable Gothic portal. The Cathedral of San Michele, built on an earlier early-Christian structure, preserves 11th-century elements in the lower façade and 12th-century features in the upper sections, sides, and apse. Right next to it stands the Baptistery (5th century), with its decagonal plan, considered the most important early-Christian monument in Liguria. Not to be missed are at least two museums that tell distant stories: the Roman Naval Museum and Magiche Trasparenze, which displays glass artifacts from a nearby necropolis. Along the roadside, vast greenhouses produce the flowers that have made this area an internationally renowned horticultural hub, appreciated for both the variety and quality of its cultivation.
Novi Ligure
Loano, Finale Ligure, Varigotti, and Noli dot the coastline, attracting visitors year-round thanks to their mild climate and relaxed atmosphere. Just beyond Savona - symbolically protected by the 16th-century Priamar Fortress - the route leaves the Ligurian Sea and heads toward the hills that define the second half of the stage. Piemonte welcomes the race with the charming town of Ovada, gateway to the so-called “Land of the Champions”. Here the roads are steeped in cycling history, having nurtured legends such as Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi. Their legacy is celebrated at the Museo dei Campionissimi in Novi Ligure, which celebrates the story of the bicycle’s evolution through rare pieces while honoring the great champions of the sport. After this almost pilgrimage-like visit to a temple of cycling, it’s time to explore a town that is not only sporty but also indulgent. Novi Ligure has a long-standing love affair with chocolate and the city offers countless places to refuel with a sweet boost of “energy” before the next adventures.
