Another GTL variant, the route departs from Cortemilia to discover the terraces and the same named Ecomuseum, going up towards Monteoliveto. The route is of great educational value as it leads us to discover the fascinating world of terraced cultivation.

From the centre of Cortemilia, past the town hall, you cross the bridge over the Bormida that divides the two historical villages of San Pantaleo (beyond Bormida) and San Michele (this side of Bormida). You then cross the Uzzone stream (road sign for Serole - Monte Oliveto). After 150 metres, turn left following the signs for Pieve - Monte Oliveto until you cross the Rio della Madonna. A few metres away, on the left, there is the monumental complex built around the very ancient Romanesque church of the Pieve, obviously dedicated to Mary, which dates back to the XI century. This is one of the most interesting and valuable architectures of the Bormida Valley, especially for the façade (with a lunette in high relief depicting a sandstone Madonna and a subsequent mullioned window with Gothic influences), the very elegant apse, and the imposing five-order Romanesque bell tower, placed in the middle of the building. It seems that St. Francis himself stopped here during one of his evangelical journeys, as the Franciscan convent opposite mentioned earlier would also testify.

The itinerary proceeds instead on the right: after a few metres, near a stone arch, you go up to the left (signposted Monte Oliveto) following the old route between the terraces that surround the farmhouse, today the location of the Ecomuseum of the Terraces. You go up among some of the oldest and best-maintained terraces, on the old cobblestones until you reach the asphalt road abandoned just before. Cross it and take Strada Piazze, slightly uphill to a small group of houses. The little road bends to the left between the courtyards, now a dirt road, up to a clearly visible crossroads. It is advisable to proceed to the left, skirting some vineyards, keeping right at a couple of forks, and climbing up to an asphalt road on the edge of the ridge. From here you turn right on the plain until reaching a beautiful and panoramic farmhouse. Before a large water collection tank, turn left onto a dirt road, climbing up towards the crest of the hill. Follow it to the right, on the edge of extensive hazelnut groves, pass a repeater and reach an asphalt road. It turns to the right and is woody in several stretches, until you reach via Serole, which is flat and asphalted. After a few metres, take a dirt road on the left which, bending to the right and then keeping to the ridge, first reaches an isolated farmhouse, then several repeaters, before reaching the top of Bricco del Croce, a panoramic point over the Bormida Valley and the neighbouring hills of the Langa Astigiana.

In front of us is the medieval village of Perletto with its tall and unmistakable stone tower. Perletto, which is worth taking your time to visit, is in fact an authentic stone village, with an arch at the entrance and houses arranged in a circle, but on the hillside to coordinate the system of sightings of the Del Carretto family, which from the tower of Cortemilia went up to San Giorgio, Olmo Gentile and Roccaverano and then further on to Vengore, Denice and Merana. The towers of the so-called Langa Astigiana are a treasure still partly to be discovered, while that of Perletto today is crowned by a mighty statue of the Madonna, which gives it almost the appearance of a monumental bell tower. In the 19th century, the extensively restructured medieval castle (when not newly rebuilt), often hosted Victor Emanuel II, a great hunting enthusiast, when he frequented the estate of Roccaverano. Ruins of a Romanesque chapel testify even more the antiquity of the town, as well as the remarkable cemetery church of Sant'Antonino of the XII century. Around the houses of the village there are also numerous stone terraces with vines that produce the popular Dolcetto dei Terrazzamenti wine, but also an association of producers created precisely to enhance this heroic (and oenologic) micro production, as well as the Ecomuseum of Terraces of Cortemilia, on the hill of Monteoliveto that looks reciprocally at Perletto in an infinite game of "stone mirrors".  If you do not want to follow the same route on the return journey, take via Serole, follow it along the flat to the left for a few dozen metres until you reach a small chapel with a beautiful rest area. Turn right and, on a dirt road, go down keeping to the left at the first fork, until you reach a large farmhouse. Turn left onto asphalt, and at the clearly visible fork in the woods turn sharply to the right, on a dirt road. After passing a beautiful restored house, you go past a hazelnut grove and a water tank and, with a cobbled stretch characterised by the ancient retaining wall, you return to the path of the outward journey, near the houses of the hamlet of Piazze. Follow it in the opposite direction to return effortlessly to Cortemilia.

Cortemilia: Ecomuseum of Terraces and Vines, Church of Santa Maria della Pieve, Fortified complex.

By car: A6 - Turin Savona, exit at Marene or Carmagnola A21 - Torino Piacenza, exit at Asti Est A33 - Asti Cuneo, exit at Alba By plane: Milan Malpensa and Linate - www.sea-aeroportimilano.it Torino Caselle - www.aeroportoditorino.it Cuneo Levaldigi - www.aeroporto.cuneo.it By train: Ferrovie dello Stato train company: www.trenitalia.com

Source: Unione Montana Alta Langa
Itinerary code: GTL
Recommended period: Apr - Nov
Historical interest: Yes
Devotional interest: Yes
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Cuneo