Cuneo Ventimiglia Railway

• Travelling time: 2 hours and half
• Difficulty: Family
• Why we love it: The Train of Wonders is a exciting path that allows you to discover hidden places and fascinating landscapes, from the alpine to the maritime views
• Length: 96 km
• Total Elevation Gain: 500 m
• Way to travel: by train
• Cost: 9 €
• Our Advice: If you want to stop at some stations we suggest you Limone Piemonte and Breil sur Roya

In Cuneo there’s a train that will take you on a special and charming journey, through secret places; find out with us about it with this beautiful itinerary. Cuneo is located in Piedmont, surrounded by spectacular mountains and uncontaminated places. It’s an elegant Renaissance city that stretches between two rivers, Gesto and Stura. It’s also a great starting point for hikes and alpine activities.

From this beautiful town we take the train that slowly will let you discover fascinating passages. The train leaves and we get into the Maritime Alps, among tunnels, beech forests and lush vegetation. We go through small picturesque villages and the landscape becomes more and more alpine. Near Limone we pass into the longest tunnel of the itinerary, the Tende tunnel is 8.2 kilometers long and it’s considered a masterpiece of engineering given its helical shape and its complexity. We arrive in Limone Piemonte, a world renowned ski resort.

Shortly we pass the French border. Yes, the railway runs through a French section, territories granted to France at the end of World War II. We are in the beautiful Val Roia, here we are surrounded by vast green fields and we are a thousand meters high. The landscapes are wonderful and full of charm, you will be enchanted by the small villages that climb the mountain. Then we begin to descend in altitude. We arrive at Breil sur Roya, lovely French village, halfway between the mountain and the sea.

We return in Italian territory, in Liguria. We can already feel the perfume of the sea, the landscapes are more delicate. We get closer and closer to the sea, until we get to destination: Ventimiglia. Here you can not miss a visit to the old town, with a decadent charm that will surprise you and many fascinating corners.

From mountain scenery to the scent of the sea, from mountain hikes to the seafront walks, among unforgettable and beautiful landscapes: this is the Train of Wonders, a romantic path that starts Piedmont and arrives in Liguria, via France.

Author: Chiara Marras