The village of mineral waters
In the upper Val Tanaro, in the far south of Piedmont, on the border with Liguria, Garessio is an old village at about 600 metres, surrounded by chestnut and beech woods, which has long been known as the "Perla delle Alpi Marittime", the pearl of the Maritime Alps, for its mild climate, influenced by the nearby sea, and for its mineral waters. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it was a popular climatic and spa resort, and its springs, such as the famous Acqua San Bernardo, are still bottled and sold all over Italy.
The historic centre, the Borgo Maggiore, has medieval lanes, portals of carved stone, arcades and the remains of walls and towers, as well as baroque churches, such as the collegiate church of the Assunta. The village is a starting point for excursions in the mountains of the upper Val Tanaro and the Alta Val Tanaro, with the Colle di San Bernardo, a pass with a view over the Ligurian sea, and the ski resort of Garessio 2000. The valley also has other interesting villages, such as Bagnasco, with its castle, and Ormea, a village of stone houses with an Occitan tradition. Garessio is also known for its chestnuts and the "castagne bianche", dried chestnuts.
Tip: the Sentiero degli Alpini and the trails around the Colle di San Bernardo offer views over the Alps and the sea; in October, the chestnut festivals animate the valley.
Where it is
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