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The Journey of the Heart starts from Piazza della Libertà (Liberty Square), once the set of a big, centuries old elm - nowadays replaced by a younger specimen – symbol of the town, once called ‘Ulmeta’ (from the Latin ulmus = elm) for the great presence of elms all around. The route upwards from the square, past the monument to the ‘Alpini’, leads to the Ponte dei Corni (‘Horns’ bridge), whose name comes from an ancient legend about Belisario, the local tyrant, and his wife Ildegonda, marquise of Ormea, who, the story says, had an affair with a lute player. One fateful night, Belisario caught the two lovers tenderly hugging each other under the walls of the castle overlooking the brook Armella. Terrified, the two lovers jumped in to the water and over that very spot the betrayed lord of the castle ordered the building of a bridge that he called ‘of the sin’, later popularly renamed as the bridge ‘of the horns’ (as a reference to his wife’s cuckold) . Next to the bridge, a more recent statue reminds of this legend, also inspiring an evocative historic costume parade that takes place every summer.

Ponte dei Corni opens to the road to Valdarmella, surrounded by a sudden an overwhelming feast of untouched natural colours and scents; nearby there is a camping facility and fishing reserve, a sort of base from which to adventure out in to interesting trekking and mountain bike excursions. From the top of the San Mauro hill, with its pretty little alpine church, you can return down to the town centre through  Via del Castello and admire the remains of the Ormea Castle via the green route in to the pinewood - part of the Altramella river park. Built around the 10^th century as a defensive post against the invading Saracens and Hungarians, the castle went through a few extensions at different historical stages until its final structure under Maurizio of Savoy. It was dismantled by the French troops in 1794.

Via del Castello leads downward to the town historic centre - with its typical heart shape - one of the largest of its kind in the Alps, featuring a characteristic tangle of narrow streets called ‘trevi’ in the local dialect and a curious, signature street washing method used for routine cleaning and snow clearing during the winter season.

Via Roma is the main street and the town shopping area (shops are open on Sundays). It’s the vibrant centre of the village’s life, as well as the setting for main outdoor events such as the Corpus Domini, during which the street is covered in wreaths of laburnum flowers hanging between the houses’ external walls, like a ceiling of flowers, and the medieval costumes historic parade takes place. Via Roma (‘bulgu’ in the local dialect) also hosts various traditional gastronomic events, such as the ‘Cin’ (a traditional local dish) in May, the mountain pasture cheeses in September and the chestnuts in October. The Casa delle Meridiane (Sundial House), via Roma 3, hosts the Tourist Office and the public library.  A few steps down from there, on the right hand side of the street, via Madonna degli Angeli leads to Casa del Museo Etnografico Alta Val Tanaro (Alta Val Tanaro Ethnographic Museum), a faithful reconstruction of a typical local house in the beginning of last century. Turning left from the museum, the street leads in to Piazza Nuova (New Square), paved with river pebbles and showcasing a typical old stone fountain and a more recent one made from the local black marble and Carrara marble. The porch at the end of the square leads, on the left hand side, right in front of the Casa dei Signori di Ormea (House of the Lords of Ormea), an aristocratic building dating back to 1300, with a prestigious façade engraved with old and valuable panels in black stone.  The route up Via Tanaro leads back in to Via Roma and, a few steps away from there, on the right hand side, in to Via Bassi. Here the old primary school building has been restored and turned in to a museum, which hosts the recently inaugurated permanent exhibition about the Russian War Retreat. Walking back down in to Via Roma, the way leads to the square with Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino (St. Martin’s Parish Church), the town’s patron saint. The Church is overlooked by a Romanesque bell tower dating back to the 10^th century, under which the ancient city gate, called ‘Porta di Borganza’ is still visible and being restored. The church hosts a 1300 fresco portraying St. Martin bishop of Tours and Christ almighty. Leaving the church, on the left hand sight, the square leads to the "Sotto la Lea" gardens, overlooked by an old watch tower and studded with Ormea’s black marble statues.

The journey can be carried on from here down to the sport facilities area, walking by the district wood heating plant and the botanic & forestry garden. The sport centre includes an indoor and outdoor bowls pitch, a football pitch and a tennis court. Otherwise the walk can continue down to the old railway station through via Pelazza and the blooming staircase that splits around a fountain. From here, you can walk up the national road – Viale Generale Cagna – that runs parallel to the historic centre, to reach Via Orti on the left hand side. This street runs by the river Tanaro and a black marble statue representing the legendary love knot of Princess Adelasia and her beloved Aleramo, under the Ponte di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Bridge), leading to a well equipped kinder garden and a fresh, evocative green area, with a stop over spot for campers. The kinder garden hosts various summer events, recreational activities and traditional food village parties such as Sagra della Lasagna all’Ormeasca (Ormea’s traditional lasagne dish) in July and Polenta Saracena (Saracen polenta) in August.

  The traditional Ormea’s cuisine can be enjoyed any time of the year in the various excellent restaurants of the town and surroundings, or with the typical foodstuff you will find in the local delicatessen shops, taking away with you a taste from the Heart of Ormea.