We had one of our best ever few days in Italy staying at Camping E-Maieu close to the small village of Garbagna, a comune (municipality) in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 110 kilometres (68 mi) southeast of Turin and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Alessandria. It has a population of around 700.
When we were there in late April the campsite was not large, a compact area on the side of a steepish hill. There were just a few vans staying, and things jogged along really well. Nice and quiet with adaquate facilities. However we did notice that this is an expandable venue, with room for many more vehicles when the season get underway. How will it be then?
The village of Garbagna is arranged around a central square with a shaded area to sit and think about the beauty of the surrounding heavily wooded hills, which can be seen from wherever you are. There are a couple of shops and a couple of restaurants plus the inevitable pizzaria.
We had a couple of absolutely delicious meals at Bocù Bottega e Cucina, a quirkily styled restaurant on the main square. This isn’t a food review, but what was different here was the sheer enthusiasm of the owner for his local food. Both times I had a starter of local cheese mixed/processed with olive oil and a little salt, drizzled with honey and served with fresh fruit.
The walking in the area is excellent, the commune sits on a couple of long distance paths. There’s also a 15th Century tower high above the village, which is an enjoyable scramble.