Guardamonte Rocky Outcrops

The Guardamonte area is geographically located on the southern slopes of Mount Vallassa (747 m), up to the watershed that its summit forms between the provinces of Alessandria and Pavia, between Valle Staffora and Val Curone, with a spectacular view which ranges up to the Apennines.
The site is of historical / archaeological interest, with settlements starting from the Middle Neolithic (the first artificial terraces from which the name "Castelliere di Guardamonte" derives) up to the Roman era, being the area of considerable strategic importance (with military garrisons of late Republican age).
There is no lack of naturalistic interest, the rocks preserve fossil remains of marine origin, in fact the sea was present here in prehistoric times.
The crag south of Monte Vallassa is equipped for sport climbing and can be practiced all year round, there is no shortage of neighboring areas for bouldering. In nearby Ca del Monte, on the north-eastern side of the mountain, it is possible to practice paragliding by launching from the balcony overlooking the Curone Valley.
Last but not least, this is one of the first spots frequented by local bikers and not only, with some dedicated trails, which feature artificial structures and in any case a trend and a fund perfected for MTB. They are all reachable with comfortable ascents mostly unpaved from the Staffora Valley, mainly on asphalt from Val Curone. The best known are Rock Side, which starts from the main rocky cliff with a purely rocky bottom and high slopes, and River Side, which begins between Guardamonte and Ca del Monte, with a more flowy course following the course of the Semola Torrent, to finish the Bidone. a real flow trail that from the Pic Nic area near the Caves of San Ponzo, above the village of San Ponzo Semola, descends towards the characteristic town built with the local rock.

To taste the typical local products and to relax, the Agriturismo Guardamonte and the Agriturismo Cal del Monte are available, respectively in Piedmont and Lombardy in the municipalities of Gremiasco and Cecima.
Guardamonte can be reached both from Lombardy, following from Voghera to Varzi, going up from Bagnaria, and from Piedmont, following from Tortona to Fabbrica Curone, going up from Gremiasco or San Sebastiano Curone.