The Via del Sale: A Historic Journey from Alps to Sea by Bike

Unveiling the Via del Sale: Riding Ancient Routes from Mountains to Coast

Among our favorite MTB itineraries, the Via del Sale (Salt Road) certainly holds a special place. This captivating route winds its way between Piedmont and Liguria, tracing roads and paths steeped in history. These are aptly named the 'Salt Roads' (Vie del Sale), as there were many such routes across various regions of Northern Italy.

These were ancient trade routes, with origins dating back to the era of the Holy Roman Empire, or even earlier in some cases, later transforming into military roads during times of war. These paths facilitated commerce between regions without sea access and those privileged to have it, a crucial advantage for the availability of salt – a precious element at the time for food preservation.

For this very reason, Piedmontese merchants and farmers would transport wine, cheeses, potatoes, and grains on ox- or horse-drawn carts down to the sea. They would then return laden with goods such as olive oil, anchovies, but above all, salt – the only element at the time capable of preserving foodstuffs.

For centuries, the Salt Roads thus represented a crossroads of cultures, flavors, and diverse worlds: on one side, the plains and mountains with agriculture and livestock; on the other, the sea with fishing, salt extraction, and commercial activities linked to major international trade routes.

For all these reasons, traversing the paths of the Via del Sale between Limone Piemonte and Ventimiglia is an experience that not only captivates with the stunning beauty of its landscapes, from the Maritime Alps to the Ligurian coast, but also with the living history palpable in local traditions and cuisine. It's no coincidence that this route is also internationally renowned for its food and wine experiences.

As always, we at Verticalife love to add an extra ingredient to this already rich experience, one that adds even more flavor than salt: the outdoor! On our MTB, we can rediscover these paths, losing ourselves amidst captivating panoramas and living an adventure that was once daily life for merchants, traders, and farmers.