Alberi: Egola Valley, History and Cycling Routes

Alberi combines a location on the banks of the Egola River with notable historical traces and paths through the landscape. This creates a destination where cultural history, riverside scenery and active exploration come together within a compact thematic area – without reducing Alberi to a single attraction.

Church and Local History

Today's church in Alberi is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Construction began in February 1924 and was completed in November of the same year; the church was consecrated on 28 December 1924. The village therefore has a clearly dated religious landmark from the early 20th century. Another historical trace leads to the theatre of Alberi. It was located in buildings on a corner in the centre of the village, on the road to Sorripa. Until the 1930s, the historic theatre hosted performances and also screened silent films. After the war, it was converted into two classrooms and was subsequently used as a school until the 1970s. The history of this building shows how a village centre could change over several decades, without any present-day use being inferred from this. Alberi is also documented in 1413 in connection with the Church of San Giusto in Sorripa. No remains of this building survive today. In the 1861 census, the settlement was called Sorripa Nuova to distinguish it from the older, higher-lying Sorripa. Those interested in local history will therefore find not just a single date associated with a building, but also indications of former names and vanished structures.

River Landscape and Paths

In the damp valley of the Egola, there are large poplar plantations near Alberi. Several mills also formerly operated nearby, their waterwheels driven by the waters of the Egola River; grain from the surrounding hills was milled there. This former use is part of the area's historic landscape and complements today's view of the river, valley and vegetation. For active exploration, the Anello Sughera cycling route is described particularly clearly. The route is 15.4 kilometres long and includes 265 metres of elevation gain; 51 per cent of the route is paved, while 49 per cent runs on gravel. The circular route descends via Via San Cerbone towards Alberi and reaches the Egola Valley. In Alberi, the route passes a small church, then continues past the bridge over the Egola River and proceeds along Via Casastrada. The circular route passes through Alberi into the Egola Valley and includes both paved and gravel sections. The Pozzo Sfondato area in the vicinity of Alberi can also be reached via the municipality of Montaione's extensive network of nature trails. The Pozzo Sfondato near Alberi is a Jurassic rock hollow on volcanic rock formed by the Evola River; the water creates small waterfalls there. For 7 June 2026, the Montaione Beach summer route was planned from Montignoso via fords, pools and wooded riverbanks along the Evola to the shady woods of Alberi; the planned event was open to adults and children, free of charge and accessible only by registration. For further orientation in the surrounding area, you can also view Zona Industriale Comiti, San Vivaldo, Iano and Sughera.

For the main travel overview: Montaione.