Dove fare il bagno al Trebbia (arrivando con i mezzi pubblici)

 

Nelle giornate più calde dell’estate, le freschissime e purissime acque turchesi del Trebbia sono il sogno di chiunque sia rimasto in città.

Ottima alternativa al binomio mare-montagna, un rinfrescante bagno al fiume è il pretesto ideale per una gita nell’entroterra ligure e piacentino, alla scoperta di fantastici panorami, prodotti locali e località tranquille dove staccare la spina.

E per rilassarsi al meglio, che ne dici di lasciare la macchina a casa e raggiungere i paesi dell’Alta Val Trebbia con la corriera da Piacenza, Genova o Pavia? Oltre a fare un favore all’ambiente, senza dover cercare parcheggio risparmierai anche tempo prezioso, che potrai passare a mollo.

Ecco qualche idea sui posti dove fare il bagno in Trebbia, facilmente raggiungibili con i mezzi pubblici.

Direzione di marcia: da Genova verso Piacenza

Da Piazza della Vittoria a Genova, prendi una delle corriere ATP per le località Due Ponti, Ottone, Gorreto, Loco, Rovegno, Isola o Montebruno.

 

Immagine ATP

Partendo da Genova, la prima località interessante sono i Due Ponti, dove in corrispondenza dell’omonimo hotel ristorante trovi una parte del fiume perfetta per fare il bagno e persino alcune rocce da cui tuffarti.

Foto: Hoteldueponti.it

Proseguendo, la seconda fermata utile a cui scendere è Montebruno, un delizioso paesino con un pittoresco ponte e il bellissimo Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montebruno (da non perdere il chiostro). Sotto il ponte l’acqua è profonda a sufficienza per rinfrescarsi i piedi, ma è possibile scendere anche alla fermata prima del centro (in corrispondenza del bivio per Canale) e cercare un sentiero che porti al fiume.

A Loco di Rovegno puoi accedere facilmente alla spiaggia della Giaia, zona che a luglio ospita l’Expo Alta Val Trebbia e diversi altri eventi. Dal Bosco della Giaia puoi fare una breve passeggiata attraversando il ponte sospeso sul Trebbia e visitare da fuori anche la centrale idroelettrica in stile liberty o proseguire per la Località Carchelli, dove trovi una spiaggetta molto tranquilla. Per raggiungerla, attraversa il paesino e scendi sulla sinistra verso i campi (o chiedi alla gente del posto).

Foto: Google Maps

A Rovegno, puoi scendere sul fiume in corrispondenza del ponte del monumento a Bisagno, una zona poco frequentata dove l’acqua è abbastanza profonda per nuotare (non esiste un vero e proprio sentiero di accesso, in quanto la vegetazione è molto selvaggia), oppure proseguire fino a Isola di Rovegno.

A Gorreto trovi una piccola cascata artificiale all’ingresso del paese e, proseguendo lungo la SS45, puoi raggiungere il fiume tramite diversi sentieri fino alla località Rocca dei Corvi, dove in prossimità del ristorante trovi una spiaggia più ampia con acqua più profonda e scogli da cui tuffarsi.

La spiaggia sotto il ponte di Ottone è una delle più facilmente accessibili e frequentate, ma vale sicuramente la pena visitarla ed è perfetta anche per i bambini. Prima di arrivare al bivio del paese, trovi altre due sentieri che scendono al fiume, facilmente accessibili dalla strada.

A Ottone puoi fare il cambio di corriera (e di regione) e prendere i mezzi SETA che collegano la parte ligure a quella emiliana dell’Alta Val Trebbia, dove trovi fantastici posti per fare il bagno a San Salvatore, Marsaglia, Brugnello e Bobbio.  Trovi la mappa delle fermate qui.

Infine, una sosta imperdibile è Ponte Organasco, dove in corrispondenza del ponte appena dopo la Gelateria La Fragolina (un must per chiunque passi da qui) trovi un paesaggio fantastico, scogli da cui fare tuffi e tanto spazio per rilassarti.

Ricorda di controllare bene gli orari delle corriere o di chiedere alla gente del posto se non sai con sicurezza quale sentiero prendere.

Per vivere al meglio il bellissimo fiume Trebbia, perché non prenotare un week-end nella valle e scoprire con calma tutte le località più belle? In Alta Val Trebbia trovi molti agriturismi, bed & breakfast e appartamenti privati dove soggiornare, per esempio cercando su Booking.com o Airbnb.

Immagine di copertina del post: Tripadvisor

Outdoor activities for active holidays in Alta Val Trebbia

Alta Val Trebbia is a great destination for all seasons. Italians tend to visit mostly during summer, with the central two weeks of August being the absolute peak season (15th of August is a popular bank holiday in Italy, with most businesses being closed and most Italians escaping from the cities to reach seaside or mountain destinations to cool off).

The beautiful and clean river Trebbia is a true gem in summer, with fresh turquoise waters attracting many swimmers from the main gateway cities. Swimming is mostly safe, but some spots might have cold currents that can prove dangerous: if you are in doubt, always ask advice to the locals before diving in.  The valley remains a very quiet escape also during the most visited weeks, but if you want to have it almost all for yourself you might prefer travelling there in September or in spring.

Autumn is a beautiful season too, with the woods changing colour, foliage at its best and a sense of peace surrounding the landscape, while winter is the season for you if you want to experience total stillness and silence. Outside of summer, temperatures are normally pleasant and cool during mid-seasons, but can drop a lot in winter, with ice covering the roads and snow capping the mountains.

To help you make the most of your travel, below you can find some ideas for tours and activities.

Water activities

Wildswimming is a must during summer and most of the time to understand where you can find a suitable spot you just need to see where most cars are parked along the road Statale 45. Paths to reach the river are mostly unmarked and very tiny (usually they look like the paths used by wild animals to reach the water, and many times that’s exactly what they are). Be careful where you put your feet and hands as the odd snake might be lazing around or under a rock: in the valley there are two main types of snakes, one being poisonous (viper) and the other not poisonous (biscia or orbetto). Many locals carry a stick with them while out walking in nature, in case it is needed as defense: however, most of the times snakes will sense you are approaching and leave (but caution is never too much). In many swimming spots you will see kids jumping into the water from rocks above the river: feel free to try it too, but just make sure the water is deep enough where you want to dive in.

Kayaking: in Marsaglia you will find a hostel by the river offering kayak equipment and courses. Kayaking is allowed on the river in general, so you can stop at any suitable location.

Fishing: regulated fishing is allowed and in Gorreto you will find a fishing reserve for trout fishing. You can buy equipment and a licence at Hotel Miramonti, where you also find a restaurant and accommodation. Lago del Brugneto is an artificial lake in the Antola Natural Park are where carp fishing is allowed. Swimming is not allowed as the lake if formed by a dam, and navigation can only be allowed by Iren (the water company responsible for the lake), so you won’t be able to sail your own canoe or kayak outside of the approved days and areas. Check the FB page of Proloco Torriglia or contact the Antola Natural Park to know more about navigation options.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkGIWUjgPEV/?tagged=trebbia

Horseback riding: in Torriglia you can arrange guided horseback trekking excursion through Rifugio e Centro Equestre Mulino del Lupo to explore the Antola Park from a different perspective.

Hiking and trekking: the whole valley is a trail through nature, but if you choose to hike along the main Statale 45, just stick to the side of the road and beware of cars and motorbikes (especially in spring and summer). You will see many secondary roads departing from SS 45 and reaching smaller villages. Signposts will tell you in which direction you are heading to and how many kilometers separate you from the closest village. If you venture out in the woods, you might find a few marked itineraries, although most will be unmarked so make sure you bring a phone with you to check your positions on GPS or to contact your host or local authorities in case of need (emergency number 112). Getting lost in the woods is not an unlikely occurrence, as the nature is very wild and it could be a bit disorienting for those not so familiar with it. If unsure, stick to the main paths or ask the locals for easy hikes. It might sound obvious but if you do get lost, walk downhill and you might eventually come across a village or a the main road. For some inspiration on easy hikes around the valley, visit the Parco Antola website: in the Italian outdoor section you can find some interesting itineraries and also purchase a map. Sentiero del Brugneto, Anello di Fontanarossa e Pian della Cavalla, Anello di Pentema, Anello del Rifugio, Monte Antola and Anello di Caprile are all hikes with great views that will take you through wonderful natural landscapes.

Mountain biking: Antola Bike Area is a new initiative offering MTB trails and pick up services in the area close to Torriglia. In Gorreto you can find mountain bikes at Hotel Miramonti.

Motorcycle trips: Alta Val Trebbia is a great destination for bikers thanks to the many curves and bends offered by the super panoramic route of Statale 45 connecting Genova to Piacenza. Besides breathtaking scenery and panoramic points, along the way you’ll find plenty of places to stop for a drink and a bite, a few petrol stations (Torriglia, Montebruno, Loco, Ottone, Marsaglia, Bobbio). Be careful when taking over cars or other bikers, as visibility is reduced in many spots and remember that roads can get very icy in winter or that stones might fall from the side of the mountains through the safety nets during heavy rain.

Mushroom harvesting: regulated mushroom harvesting is allowed during specific seasons (usually spring summer and autumn), but you will need a licence (licenza per la raccolta funghi). You can usually request it at local municipalities (“comune” or “municipio” in Italian). Many mushroom types are edible (“commestibili” in Italian) but beware of the poisonous ones (usually in brighter colours): sometimes even locals can’t tell the difference, so be extra careful. You can ask for advise at local chemists/doctors or to the most experienced mushroom harvester in the local population. Among edible variates, the most sought for are Porcini, Galletti, Prataioli and Colombine. To respect nature, please make sure not to be too greedy and only pick those mushrooms you actually intend on consuming.

Other: in the lower valley you also find a lovely adventure park in the woods close to Bobbio (location name Coli), a water park with slides in Rivergaro, an interesting neolithic ettlement and museum in Travo. In Fontanigorda you can also play tennis and minigolf (mostly in summer) at the lovely Bosco delle Fate. All of these tips make for nice family day activities.

 

Featured image www.sagep.it

How to Find Accommodation with English Speaking Hosts

One of the things that makes Alta Val Trebbia truly unique is its being unspoilt, remote and authentic.

While these might be the main reason for choosing it as your destination, it can also result in some problems finding accommodation, as the area does not really offer many options for traditional properties such as hotels or big resorts. You will encounter tiny villages, often with a permanent local population of only a dozen people, so big hotels would be completely out of place in this sort of context.

Grab this chance to stay with a local host, in a mountain top cabin in the Antola Natural Park or in a traditional bed & breakfast. Camp under the stars or try an agriturismo (Italian for farmstay, offering local cuisine with locally sourced organic products).

Here are some websites to book your stay and find English speaking guests:

Booking.com: the biggest travel accommodation site supports more than 41 languages and offers a great customer service 24/7 to help you before, during and after your stay. All bookings are immediately confirmed and many also offer free cancellation. On the home page you can enter in the search box “Torriglia”, “Fontanarossa”, “Montebruno”, “Bobbio” and then use the map view function to find available accommodation close to where you intend to stay. The site offers hotels, campings, bed and breakfasts, private homes and many other accommodation types. At the bottom of each property page you can see which languages are spoken at the property (see picture below).

languages booking

In this section on Booking.com you can see the languages spoken at the property 

 

Airbnb: the most popular sharing economy website is a great idea if you want to stay with a local. Hosts might also offer local experiences and activities on the ground and will be happy to support you with all your questions before and throughout your stay. Read the reviews to know more about languages spoken and what previous travelers thought about their stay. Besides private homes, you will also find camping sites and other more traditional types of stays. Some bookings have instant confirmation, while in other cases you might have to interact with the host and provide some more information about yourself and your trip before receiving the confirmation of your booking. In the search box type “Torriglia”, “Rovegno”, “Valsigiara”, “Ottone” or other specific location names in the valley and use the map view function to see available accommodation in the area.

airbnb languages

On Airbnb, click on the host picture to  find languages spoken

Val Trebbia Experience: this interesting portal in Italian provides a lot of information on the lower part of Val Trebbia roughly included within the area from Piacenza to Bobbio. In the section called “Dove dormire” you will find a list of recommended places to stay (divided by location and accommodation type), which you can book directly. Note: English might not always be spoken by the owners or staff, but you can give it a try.

Other: most properties in the valley are small family run businesses, which are likely not to have a website or be listed online. Keep your eyes wide open as you drive along Statale 45 for “agriturismi”, “bed and breakfast” or “apartments” signs, and follow your instinct!

Especially if you are travelling by public transport it is a good idea to book some nights in the valley to be able to enjoy the beautiful nature and landscape at your own pace, without stressing too much about catching your next coach ride in time.

Wherever you choose to stay, you will find plenty of great forests and places to spend some time immersed in the nature.

Happy travels!

Featured image by Cathal Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash

Across Alta Val Trebbia with public transport (yes, you can!)

If you don’t feel confident enough driving in Italy or on the panoramic winding roads of Alta Val Trebbia, don’t worry! You can still fulfil your dream of seeing Italy’s enchanted valley by using public transport from main gateway cities such as Milan, Piacenza, Pavia and Genoa.

Besides being the best way to travel with a low impact on the environment, public transport in the valley is reliable and cheap. However understanding timetables can prove quite difficult (most of the times they are incomprehensible even to locals).

Here you find a few suggestions to help you find your way.

Glossary: on timetables you will often see different schedules for weekdays and holidays. Remember that FERIALE means the service is active during weekdays, while FESTIVO is for service during the weekend and main bank holidays in Italy. ANNUALE means the service is active all year round but check for notes at the bottom of timetables, as most of the time they will give you more context. INVERNALE is the schedule for autumn/winter time, while ESTIVO the one for spring/summer (schedules normally specify exact dates the info applies to).

Travelling with SETA buses from Piacenza (Emilia Romagna)

On the side of the main railway station (with connections to Milan, Bologna and most cities in Italy), go to the bus station (autostazione, address: Piazzale Marconi) and look for the corriera bus (local long distance regional buses) by SETA (the name of the company operating the service). You might be able to purchase the ticket onboard (a small extra charge applies), or otherwise at all ticket shops selling SETA tickets (usually newsagents),  online or at the machine at the bus station . Tickets are valid through the whole duration mentioned on them (so you can use them for multiple journeys across the valley within the specific timeline).

From Piacenza you can get a bus to Bobbio, Ottone, Cerignale, San Salvatore, Marsaglia, Rovaiola and many other villages of lower and upper Val Trebbia in the Emilia Romagna (and  get a connecting bus to the Liguria side) region. Here you can find a handy map of the villages served by SETA.

Look for Linee Extraurbane for the Piacenza area on the SETA website, as these are the long distance corriere buses that will take you to the valley. Detailed routes and timetables can be looked up here.

seta linee extra

Travelleing with ATP buses from Genova (Liguria)

From Piazza della Vittoria (a few steps away from Brignole Railway Station), you’ll find the corriere buses by ATP (the name of the company operating the service in Liguria) connecting the seaside city of Genoa (or Genova in Italian) to the lush and green mountains of the valley on the Liguria side. In the bigger town of Torriglia you will be able to change coach and venture deeper in the valley towards Montebruno, Loco, Rovegno, Ottone and other charmingly remote destinations. If you are planning a visit to the Antola Natural Park, you’ll be able to come in the area with the line to Rondanina.

Below is the scheme with main connections from Genoa to the villages of the valley.

ATP lines

At this link you find all lines servicing the valley and their timetables, while here you can see where you can buy tickets in Genoa and other locations in Liguria. You can also buy the ticket directly from the driver (with a small extra fee).

Travelling with ARFEA buses from Milan and Pavia (Lombardia) 

To access Alta Val Trebbia without getting the train, an alternative is the bus to Varzi, which you can take from Milan (Famagosta station) or Pavia (bus station/autostazione). ARFEA is the name of the company providing this service, and  Line 420 is the one that will take you to Varzi. Here you can get a further bus to Brallo every day and to Ottone on weekdays only. See the schedule here.

Arfea scheudle

Note: most of the times bus stops in the valley are marked by a simple pole on the side of the road with a generic bus stop logo, or at times with the bus line logo and timetables. It is always a good idea to double check with the driver if the bus is going in the right direction and if it will stop where you are planning to get off. Most likely drivers and locals won’t speak English, but they will do their best to help you and make themselves understood. In any case, it might be good to note down these sentences:

  • IT: La corriera va a [name of your destination]?
  • EN: Does this coach go to [name of your destination]?

 

  • IT: La corriera ferma a [name of your desired stop]?
  • EN: Does this coach stop in [name of your desired stop]?

 

  • IT: A che ora passa la corriera per [name of your destination]?
  • EN: What time does the coach for [name of your destination] leave?

 

Good to know: remember that after Bobbio towards Genoa the road gets quite winding, so if you suffer from car sickness it is advisable to bring some pills with you. Roads are safe, drivers experienced and many people commute every day in all seasons from tiny villages to the main cities surrounding the valley.

 

Let us know in the comments if you found this information useful and what kind of extra details you’d like to have to make the most of your journey to the valley 🙂

Cover image by BusBusNet Forum

All other images in this post courtesy of SETA, ATP and ARFEA

Please double check info on the transport providers websites, as it might be subject to updates

New Old Pic of Beautiful River Trebbia

Dear friends of Altavaltrebbia,

a very long time has passed since the last post on altavaltrebbiablog. For many reasons I was not able to take care of the blog, and lots has changed since the last time I wrote.

The “most beautiful valley in the world” is always on my mind, and more than ever I would love as many new visitors to come and share its stories.

I am publishing a few new old pictures of the Trebbia, which in my mind is THE iconic river, hoping they will inspire you to come and swim in its turquoise waters next summer.

These pictures were taken in summer 2012, along the Statale 45 between the villages of Ottone and Rovegno (location Rocca dei Corvi and bridge to Fontanarossa).

Knowing the unspoilt nature of Val Trebbia, I trust everything has stayed very much the same.

Come and explore one of the Italy’s last pieces of paradise next summer!

 

P ictures: copyright of Claudia Costa

The best places to swim in the Trebbia

While driving along statale 45 from Genoa to Piacenza last weekend, I was very surprised to notice the high number of visitors having a swim or sunbathing on the banks of river Trebbia. It’s not August yet, the month that normally welcomes the most visitors, but the river has already become a favourite weekend destination!

Although river Trebbia is well known, perhaps not everybody is aware that its wildest part is the section of the river running after Bobbio towards Genoa. Amazing hidden corners and little lakes are a proper feature of the river in Alta Val Trebbia and offer views that rival the beaches of Croatia, Cote d’Azur and other “exotic” holiday resorts.

This post offers an overview of the best spots to swim and relax on the river. Geographical coordinates are also included and all pictures are taken from Panoramio and Google Earth.

Have a nice time on river Trebbia!

Coordinates: 44°44’44.59″ N   9°23’14.91″ E

Coordinates: 44°44’39.07″ N   9°23’15.29″ E

Coordinates: 44°44’39.07″ N   9°23’15.29″ E

Coordinates: 44°44’14.52″ N   9°22’48.34″ E

Coordinates: 44°43’24.18″ N   9°23’01.27″ E

Coordinates: 44°42’08.46″ N   9°22’41.59″ E

Coordinates: 44°41’16.31″ N   9°18’25.74″ E

I could not find many pictures of the river between  Marsaglia and Rovegno and I would be very thankful if you could share some with me and the Alta Val Trebbia blog’s followers.

Shall you have some, don’t hesitate to contact altavaltrebbia@gmail.com!

Featured image courtesy of Foter

I migliori angoli del Trebbia

Percorrendo la statale 45 da Genova a Piacenza questo fine settimana sono stata piacevolmente sorpresa dal numero di visitatori presenti lungo il fiume Trebbia. Siamo appena a Luglio e già il fiume attrae visitatori come nel pieno di Agosto!

Forse non tutti sanno però che ben dopo Bobbio, e quindi più all’interno dell’Alta Valle, il fiume offre paesaggi e meandri spettacolari da fare invidia alle spiagge della Croazia, Costa Azzurra e altre mete “esotiche”.

Questo post offre una panoramica corredata da fotografie (caricate da vari utenti su Panoramio) e coordinate tratte da Google Earth dei migliori punti in cui tuffarsi nelle acque turchesi del fiume più pulito d’Italia.

Buone vacanze!

Coordinate: 44°44’44.59″ N   9°23’14.91″ E

Coordinate: 44°44’39.07″ N   9°23’15.29″ E

Coordinate: 44°44’39.07″ N   9°23’15.29″ E

Coordinate: 44°44’14.52″ N   9°22’48.34″ E

Coordinate: 44°43’24.18″ N   9°23’01.27″ E

Coordinate: 44°42’08.46″ N   9°22’41.59″ E

Coordinate: 44°41’16.31″ N   9°18’25.74″ E

Sfortunatamente non sono riuscita a trovare foto del tratto del fiume tra Marsaglia e Rovegno, che nasconde angoli davvero interessanti.

Se qualcuno di voi passa per la valle e vuole condividere qualche scatto non esitate a contattare altavaltrebbia@gmail.com!

Una poesia d’immagini/ A poetry of images

Si, e’ tutto vero! La Val Trebbia offre veramente panorami di questo tipo. Le immagini conenute in questo post sono state gentilmente condivise da Giacomo A. Turco. Vi invito a visitare il suo profilo su Panoramio per scoprire altre meravigliose immagini della Val Trebbia e altri siti in Italia e nel mondo. 

Yes, this is really Val Trebbia! The images published in this post were taken by Giacomo A. Turco who kindly agreed to share them on altavaltrebbia blog. If you can’t get enough of these beautiful pictures, visit Giacomo’s profile on Panoramio where you will find more shots of Val Trebbia as well as other locations all over the world.  Continue reading

A piedi tra Bobbio e Torriglia: Valentina Scaglia e il progetto Trebbia Trail

La giornalista Valentina Scaglia e’ l’ideatrice del percorso Trebbia Trail che nel 2012, assieme all’organizzazione Le vie dei Canti, portera’ in Val Trebbia un primo gruppo di escursionisti lungo l’itinerario a piedi che collega Bobbio a Torriglia. Abbiamo chiesto a Valentina di raccontare come nasce Trebbia Trail e cosa questa iniziativa puo’ offrire alla Val Trebbia. Continue reading