{"id":66093,"date":"2026-06-13T14:09:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=66093"},"modified":"2026-06-13T14:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:10:23","slug":"alessandria-bike-slow-weekend-art-culture-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/alessandria-bike-slow-weekend-art-culture-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Alessandria by bike: a slow weekend of art, culture and history"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who said that to take an unforgettable journey you need to go far? Sometimes all it takes is a train<\/strong>, a bicycle<\/strong>, and the desire to explore at a slow pace. Alessandria<\/a><\/strong>, in the heart of Piedmont<\/a>, is a surprising destination for those who love sustainable tourism. A human-scale, flat city easily explored on two wheels<\/strong>, where history and traditions intertwine along accessible and charming routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular throughout the world for being the home of the famous Borsalino hat<\/strong>, Alessandria also hosts a profound cycling culture<\/strong>. In fact, it is home to one of the most interesting museums<\/strong> dedicated to this vehicle, a symbol of gentle mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arriving by train,<\/strong> getting on your bike and forgetting your cares: this is the best way to experience the city and its surroundings. Let yourself be guided by elegant squares, museums, historic architecture, an<\/span>d\u00a0cycle paths<\/strong> that tell the authentic soul of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready, set … go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to see in a weekend in Alessandria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Piazzetta della Lega Lombarda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Piazzetta della Lega Lombarda<\/em><\/strong> is the true “good living room” and beating heart of Alessandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characterized by an unprecedented triangular shape, this charming pedestrian area is the ideal meeting point. In fact, here the city’s main streets converge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The famous 19th-century obelisk<\/strong><\/em> stands in the center, erected in memory of the fallen of the Risorgimento uprisings. In addition, all around are elegant historic buildings, which host historic cafes and ice cream shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galleria Guerci<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The heart of the city’s shopping, the Galleria Guerci<\/strong><\/em> was inaugurated on November 1st, 1895. It still retains all the charm of its elegant 19th-century architecture today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it was damaged during the Second World War, it was restored and reopened in 1948. Therefore, it became once again one of the city’s symbolic places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Synagogue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Synagogue<\/strong> of Alessandria stands in the area that once housed the city’s Jewish ghetto. It was inaugurated in 1871 after four years of work, and it represents an interesting example of eclectic architecture<\/strong> with Neo-Gothic references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The facade also shows elegant arched windows and pinnacles that accentuate its verticality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arco di Trionfo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the end of Via Dante Alighieri, you come across the Arco di Trionfo<\/strong>, built in 1768 on the occasion of the visit of Vittorio Amedeo III, Duke of Savoy, and his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piazza della Libert\u00e0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Piazza della Libert\u00e0 is one of Alexandria’s most important squares, and it’s home to some of the city’s most iconic historic buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palazzo Rosso and its three clocks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The first unmissable stop in Piazza della Libert\u00e0 is Palazzo Rosso<\/strong><\/em>. This is a splendid 18th-century building that now hosts the Municipality and was once the city’s ancient theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at it, you’ll immediately understand the origin of its name: it derives precisely from the unmistakable and historic brick red color<\/strong> of its facade. Therefore, it is one of the most photographed and easily recognizable spots in Alessandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real peculiarity that will make you roll your eyes, however, lies in the three clocks<\/strong> that adorn the top and form a true astronomical computer from another era. The central dial marks the time, the left dial indicates the phases of the moon, and the right dial functions as a date display, indicating the day and the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palazzo delle Poste and Palazzo Ghillini<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Right in front of Palazzo Rosso, however, on the opposite side, there is the Palazzo delle Poste e del Telegrafo<\/strong><\/em> (Post and Telegraph Building), with its “detail” futurist-style facade. It is a mosaic almost 40 meters long, by Severini, who wanted to draw on the history of telecommunications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the right of Palazzo Rosso, there is Palazzo Ghillini.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is undoubtedly one of the most important examples of 18th-century Baroque. It dates back to 1732 on commission from the Maquis Tommaso Maria Ghillini. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, it is the seat of the Provincial Administration and the Prefecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palazzo Cuttica<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next to Palazzo Ghillini is Palazzo Cuttica<\/strong><\/em>, which dates back to the first half of the 18th century. It was built at the order of the Marquis Luigi Cuttica of Cassine. Here you can see a great variety of styles such as, for example, Baroque and Neoclassical. Today it is home to the Vivaldi Observatory<\/a> and the Civic City Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cathedral of St. Peter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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St. Peter’s Cathedral, also known as the New Cathedral,<\/strong> was built in the 19th century on the ruins of the ancient medieval church. Its bell tower<\/strong> is among the tallest in Italy, and inside, there are works of great value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the presbytery, however, you can find 5 stained glass windows (1954) representing the immaculate Virgin, Saint Pius V, Saint Baudolino, Saint Paul of the Cross, and Blessed Gregorio Maria Grassi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the organ (1929) shows facades that decorate the 4 women’s galleries that overlook the presbytery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the main altar, you can see the 18th-century inlaid wooden choir, on which is the painting by Callisto da Lodi (1546). It depicts Saint Peter between Saint Paul and John the Baptist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borsalino Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alessandria is inextricably linked to the Borsalino name, a historic brand that has been producing hats since 1857. The museum<\/a> chronicles the evolution of costume, fashion, and design through a collection of over 2.000 hats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambarina Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In an ancient 18th-century barracks,<\/strong> there is the Ethnographic Museum<\/a> “Once Upon a Time”. It recounts the peasant, artisan, and popular life of the province between the 19th and the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I really appreciated the reconstructions of the domestic environments and, in particular, the classroom from the 1930s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Art rooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Art rooms of Alessandria<\/a> are a perfect destination if, like me, you love art. It consists of four exhibition sections ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can find the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art<\/a> in the former Hospital of the Sick. It offers temporary exhibitions of both international and national artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bicycle Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alessandria is considered one of the Italian cycling capitals. It was here that one of the first bicycles seen in our country<\/strong> arrived, brought by the entrepreneur Michel after discovering it at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Acdb Museum<\/a>, in Palazzo Monferrato<\/strong>, recounts this extraordinary tradition through vintage bicycles, historical memorabilia, dedicated also to cycling great figures like Coppi and Girardengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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