Hiking - Priero Loop
The route, long but with modest elevation gain and always on comfortable terrain – dirt or even paved roads – explores both sides of the valley that cradles the village and can be divided into two sections. The first leads to the hill where the oldest settlement of Priero once stood, with the remains of the ancient parish church of Santa Maria and its fortified enclosure, then continues to the hamlet of Costa Priero before returning to the main village through woods and fields. The second section follows the ridge between Priero and Sale delle Langhe, first along a pleasant minor paved road to the hamlet of Cerreto, then on a dirt track through the woods, contouring gently across varied terrain – Scots pines and chestnut trees alternating with open fields and mixed broadleaf forest – to reach the wooded knoll of Bric San Bernardo. From here, the return to the village is a quick descent: just before re-entering the walls, a little below the chapel of San Bernardo, one can enjoy one of the finest views of Priero.
Cross the main square along Via Roma and turn right into Via Castelnuovo. After a small bridge, just a few metres to the right, take a dirt track climbing towards the motorway, which you follow on the left before passing under it through an underpass. Continue along the edge of a meadow on the left until you meet another dirt track climbing uphill; follow it until a path branches off to the right, leading shortly up to the ancient parish church. From here, a panoramic dirt road leads to the paved road, which you follow uphill to the right until reaching the hamlet of Costa Priero. Here, pass the church and washhouse on your right and immediately turn right again to skirt the lower edge of the hamlet. Follow the paved road for a long stretch, mostly downhill through woodland, meadows, and fields, until, near marker 040 of the gas pipeline, you take the dirt track on the right that descends to the motorway. Follow it briefly to the right, then take the underpass to reach the state road 28bis. Cross it and follow the road toward the hamlet of Cerreto and the riding school (junction on the right). Continue on the paved road, ignoring the first junction on the left, and take the second uphill one (those who are tired may continue straight to return to Priero) up to Cerreto. Here, take the dirt track climbing in the shade of a few oak trees. The route reaches the ridge at about 600 metres and continues with gentle ups and downs. Staying always on the main dirt track, you reach a small panoramic col overlooking the castle of Sale San Giovanni: here cross the paved road, follow it downhill to the left for a few metres, then take the dirt track climbing off to the right. Follow the main dirt road as it continues to gain elevation through chestnut coppice; at the only clear junction, keep left uphill. Shortly after, reach another junction and turn left: this is the wooded summit of Bric San Bernardo (673 m), where the descent begins. The dirt road descends steeply until it meets another track, which you follow to the right. Near the chapel of San Bernardo, the road becomes paved; follow it to the left until a garage located on a hairpin bend. Here, take the grassy track on the left, which becomes a footpath near a farmhouse and leads, with a short steep and rough section, back to the paved road and then into the village.