Portacomaro and its hills

Long around 60 km, two/three hours without stopping at reasonable speed, but doing so doesn't make sense! A long afternoon with a couple of stops for a break and a snack “sinoria” or a dinner are the bare minimum.
Remember that every country has something to show to the conscious and not hasty traveller.
From Portacomaro towards Castiglione d’Asti along the beautiful ridge road. In Castiglione, take the left leaving the public weight on the right and after 300 m turn right and take the road down towards the valley floor.

Here onto the road you turn right and, at the Fraction Silva, take left to climb to Migliandolo (village of Portacomaro, the old Mille Dolinum i.e. “thousand barrels” whose name sanctions since time immemorial wine vocation). Other scenic road, watch out for turns in ascent! Stroll to the small fraction: the Church and the square are delicious. Here the Grignolino has its ground and the Queen Margherita of Savoy restocked her wine cellar. From the square of Migliandolo, continue straight on towards the cemetery along the country road that, on the ridge with panoramic views, leads to the top of fraction Gioia.

Take right and get off at the Furnace to turn left uphill towards Castagnole Monferrato, country of the Ruchè: enjoy the recently renovated square and tuck in the alley that runs along the right side of the Church. The ancient road runs through the old town and has a couple of beautiful terraced viewpoints. The so-called villa The Mercantile. In Castagnole takes the road to Montemagno (alternative: at the fork in the road instead of taking for Montemagno, appears in front of us slightly uphill to the left a narrow street that leads to the Ridge Crest and offering stunning views over the vineyards that line until the road leading from Scurzolengo Calliano; at the junction turn right and crossing San Desiderio, we arrive at the next fork where taking right we reach Grana).

Definitely don't miss the castle in Montemagno and the upper square with the beautiful and scenic 17th century terraced stairway (a small Trinità dei Monti).

We cross Grana and we head towards Casorzo where is a must stop for the Malvasia sweet Casorzo, a true nectar! Well worth getting up on top of Casorzo to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, that welcomes you if you look from his staircase leading to the porch entrance Colonnade. Beautiful Romanesque style church Baroque colonnade and graceful but most interesting are, in my opinion, numerous inscriptions carved deeply into Tuff blocks that make up his right flank and the apse. As a huge stone diary you read, fatigue often, memories passed down from epic hailstorms, summer snow, livestock morie, periods of drought and uninterrupted rains. Dates from 1400/1500 until an inscription of the early 1900 surrounding a good drawing style cartoon depicting two policemen in uniform who drag a shady figure in handcuffs, the caption is ungrammatical but effective: Capture of briganto Musolino.

By Casorzo we take the direction Grazzano Badoglio. Here once stood the’Aleramici Abbey, founded in the 10th century a.d.. from Aleramo of Montferrat. This large imposing structure remain the Romanesque Bell Tower and the cloisters incorporated in the present-day parish church. Inside the supposed tomb of Aleramo I, rearranged in 1581, with a painting of the Moncalvo and a mythological mosaic-medieval fantasy. You can make a diversion to the panoramic road that leads to the Madonna dei Monti and the Stele Badoglio. Along this lane, to the bottom, you will find on your left a small church that was picturesque Romanesque but wild restorations distorted.

We now turn right toward Ottiglio; After one glance to the aspect of the country's crib, It is a prolonged break to walk the narrow streets of the upper part of the country. The Castle and the Church of Sant'Eusebio are the two most notable monuments, Although the Castle after the renovation in the old house eighteenth century fortress remains very little. The village takes its name, tell, by majestic lime trees that eight coronavano the top of the Hill. The houses at the top are all made from blocks of Tuff and the reason is the abundance of Tuff material and the presence a few miles, in the hamlet Moleto, the larger region's quarry. Local legends tell of Saracen pirates who infested the caves dug into the tufa, of robberies, abductions, redemptions and ferocious killings, hidden treasures ever found, of fairy Alcina appearing in the Valley at certain times of the year.

From Ottiglio do route for Olivola (the recent restoration of the historic center and the opening of shops, frequent cultural events and local have revitalized this Center which was in full decline). In the summer evenings, the streets are crowded and hard to find tables of local place. But if you happen to arrive on a warm late-summer evening, When there is hardly anyone, stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the magical and romantic atmosphere of this country that shows what you can do with a wise and careful recovery).

Continue for Frassinello Monferrato and we carry in Camagna. By the way we Camagna is towards Vignale Monferrato. A Vignale will up to the parish church at the top of the country and we will enjoy the scenic landscape from the balcony on the left side of the Church, ranging over the rooftops of the village up to the distant Alps. This is one of the most beautiful view of the area. Vignale is home to decades of a renowned dance festival world level. The country thanks to the influx of a strong cultural tourism could enhance the historic and ancient retrieving and restoring squares, houses, churches and monuments. Now we return to we not Casorzo why we turn left towards Altavilla, with its more modest Castle and the scenic road with the Monte Rosa Group on the right and the hills on the left, then we descend into the Valley and picks on the other side towards Viarigi.

Viarigi welcomes us with its tower which for over 500 years dominates, from a high Hill, the road. Here we find the Church of San Marzano, in Mundalcà region, delightful Romanesque monument of private property, the apse is decorated with pagan symbols and when a concert is held on the last Sunday of August. From here we head verzo Fellizzano/Alexandria but at Arrobbio we turn right and will Refrancore- In Refrancore, Since we are near the end of the tour and will be late afternoon now, We take tea with the famous Finocchini. These lightweight triple cooking cookies only here have an aroma and taste not found) and from here through wooded hills a shady and cool little street we arrive at Valenzani.

From here we turn right towards Castagnole Monferrato and we turn left for furnace Portacomaro, at the end of the twists and turns of joy rather than left, we turn right and will Scurzolengo. From here we descend towards finally Calliano and at the intersection where there is the Cantina di Scurzolengo (ex-social) Turning left a crest, and always encouraged our right to beautiful views of the hills which fade into the mist to the Alps on the horizon.

And so we will meet at Portacomaro.

Author: Sandro