Introduction to the Region

Liguria, otherwise known as the Italian Riviera or the Riviera Dei Firoi (Coast of Flowers), is home to the famous cities and beach resorts of San Remo, Imperia and Genova as well as neighbour to the French Riviera and Monaco. From the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan resorts and beaches lies the true gem of this region, the tranquillity of the Maritime and Ligurian Alps. Liguria is one of the most mountainous and forested regions of Italy.

Rivierabike is based on the foothills of the Maritime Alps, in the Argentina Valley, and yet is only 10km from the sea and 20km from the French border. As our guest you will be in the unique  position of experiencing three different regions, two countries and a principality!

The Three Main Regions

Rivierabike operates in 3 main regions, each of which is described below.

Imperia & Argentina Valley

France: Val Roya

Finale Ligure

Province of Imperia and the Argentina Valley

From the coast you will travel up a deep valley formed by the Argentina torrente (an alpine river), which opens up as a curved furrow through a variety of different landscapes.  From the dry rocky hills above the coast, to the rows of terraces and olive trees in the near hinterland, thereafter meeting up with the forested valleys and eventually to the lime stone cliffs. Mt. Saccarello is the highest peak in Liguria and at 2200m it dominates the valley.   Dotted along the steep hillsides are many medieval villages.  The first being Badalucco which although has retained its charm with its narrow cobbled passageways and ornate churches is also a bustling town.  Nestled on a hill just past Badalucco is Montalto Ligure. Here the alleys and passageways get even steeper and narrower and we don’t know of anyone that hasn’t got lost in this wonderful maze. After passing a number of other hillside villages we reach our base Molini di Triora, a delightful little village with twenty-three watermills along the banks of the Argentina and Capriolo rivers.  Many of our downhill trails finish here so it is an ideal base and there are a selection of bars, restaurants. You will meet many friendly local folk always ready with a friendly Ciao or Salve. Above Molini are the neighbouring hamlets of Andagna and Corte.  Triora a mountain ridge village just above Molini is located on the foothills Mt. Saccarello and is also known as the Ville della Streghe (Town of Witches). Here in the early 1500’s the final inquisition of witches was held in Italy and Triora now has a museum to commemorate. . Throughout the seasons each villages has a festa, which involves a lot of eating, drinking and dancing, festas are great fun and a great way to get to know the locals.  Every year Molini di Triora hosts the "sagra delle lumache" (the snail festival) and Triora hosts the gastronomic “sagra degli funghi” (mushroom festival) to name but a few. There are many more villages along the Val Argentina as well as the surrounding valleys and hills far too many to list) and you will be introduced to them during your stay.

Our base - MOLINI DI TRIORA A Typical Village Street Badalucco Corte with Triora and Molini in the distance

France: Val Roya Nearby is the French border which along the ridge from Mt Saccarello to the coastal town of Ventigmilia (soon to be a 50km downhill trail!!). Here is the Val della Roya, which is at the heart of the Maritime Alps and the National Park of Mercantour. Here the mountains become larger and this is where the ski resorts are located. Unlike the Val Argentina which has tree lined steep sides, the terrain here is much more alpine with many rocky peaks and cliffs. The abundance of crags and cliffs also make it a good place for climbing, via ferratta and many other outdoor sports. It is also the home to DH world champion Nicholas Voulios and he even has a DH track there named after him!! From the Coast of Monte Carlo and Menton, the Val della Roya boasts some beautiful towns and villages such as Peille, Sospel, La Brigue and Tende to name but a few.

Finale Ligure

50km east towards Genova lies the beach resort of Finale Ligure and is home of IMBA Italy. Finale is very well known for its excellent climbing and is fast gaining popularity in the mountain bike world ( MBR, MBUK and Singletrack magazines have featured Finale) where you can find over 500km of waymarked trails.

The terrain around Finale is not as steep as those found further west, and is covered with terraces and olive trees, and further up the valleys you find many forested areas. Again there are many beautiful medieval villages dotted around the countryside.

There is plenty to keep the family entertained with its beautiful beaches and enough boutiques to stretch that credit card to the limit. In Finale you will find the walled village of Finalborgo with its pizzerias and gelaterias. Here you will find good bike and climbing shops and is often where the cyclists hang out.