The 2008 Tour de France starts tomorrow, July 5, on the northwest coast of France and ends July 27 in Paris. Covering 3,500 kilometers, much of it in hilly terrain, the Tour de France is one of the world's top bike races. Watching the race, either in person or on TV, is very exciting. Follow the action on about.com's France Travel blog.

Although most of the race takes place in France, this year's course includes a leg into Italy's beautiful Piedmont region on July 20, followed by a rest day in Cuneo at the foot of the Maritime Alps (see Piedmont Map).

This is my favorite route for driving from Italy to France, a drive I made just a couple months ago. We had a fantastic, inexpensive lunch at Belsito Restaurant (see photo) in Borgo S. Damazzo, on the Tour de France route. Leaving Cuneo, one travels through small picturesque villages and beautiful natural scenery through the Maritime Alps into France.

Cuneo, well served by public transportation, makes a good base for excursions into the mountains, valleys, and nearby small towns. Find out more about Cuneo in my Cuneo Travel Guide and see photos of the nearby Stura Valley in our Stura Valley Picture Gallery.

More about the 2008 Tour de France including a map, stage list, and facts about the race.

_{Picture of Belsito Restaurant © James Martin, Europe Travel}

David O'Brien, about.com's guide to St. Louis, vacationed in Cinque Terre a couple years ago. David says

I still tell anyone that will listen that it's my favorite place on earth. We loved Mario's wine bar in Corniglia. And the whole town's like a little treasure on top a big hill...which makes even the simplest finds there all the more exciting.

We actually stayed in Lerici and enjoyed spending a lot of evenings in its crescent-shaped piazza with its wave tiles. We stayed at the Hotel Florida, which I thought was very nice and a great value (we had a stylish and very clean room, plus a nice balcony overlooking the beach for about $100/night). Next time, I'd book sooner and find a rental apartment in one of the 5 towns (Corniglia if I thought I could handle the hikes). The prices were hard to beat, and I love lodging that gives you a sense of being a local.

Corniglia is the smallest of the Cinque Terre villages and the only one not accessible by boat - it's perched on a cliff above the sea. Because of its more isolated position, Corniglia sees fewer tourists than the seaside villages. There are no hotels in Corniglia but there are rooms and apartments for rent. The village is accessible by local train and has a few restaurants, bars, and food shops.

Lerici is south of the Cinque Terre and is the largest village on the scenic Gulf of Poets. Lerici has good seafood restaurants, a castle, and beaches. In summer, ferries run between Lerici and Cinque Terre.

Related Italy Travel: Le Cinque Terre Guide | Cinque Terre Climate | A Casa Rooms and Apartments, recommended by friends
Lerici and the Gulf of Poets | Hotel Florida in Lerici (book direct)

_{View of Corniglia from the trail © James Martin, Europe Travel}