On January 11, 1863, a royal decree attached "Ligure" to this Piedmontese town's name. The suffix honors a deep-rooted history: for centuries, Novi acted as the Republic of Genoa's primary commercial hub in the Oltregiogo, controlling trade into the Po Valley. Today, this Alessandria municipality of 27,682 residents still feels distinctly Ligurian in its layout.
Across modern Italy, Novi is most famous for chocolate. The local confectionery district houses legendary brands like Pernigotti and Novi, operating alongside established iron and steel plants. When dining here, skip the heavy Piedmontese reds and order a glass of Cortese di Gavi DOCG, a crisp local white.
Near Novi Ligure
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
