Variant Pezzolo Valle Uzzone – Todocco Sanctuary

35 GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe • Variant Pezzolo Valle Uzzone - Todocco Sanctuary 36

Variant Pezzolo Valle Uzzone - Todocco Sanctuary

The leg, a variant of the GTL, is a paved, low-trafc route through one of the Alta Langa’s most characteristic villages and on to a panoramic, religious sanctuary that has long been a much-loved site among locals.

DISTANCE/PROFILE ELEVATION GAIN DIFFICULTY

START FINISH 5,5 km 310 m 750 m OC Itinerary profle

750 m

310 m

0 Km 5,5 Km Pezzolo Valle Uzzone Todocco Sanctuary

GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe • Variant Pezzolo Valle Uzzone - Todocco Sanctuary 37

GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe • Variant Pezzolo Valle Uzzone - Todocco Sanctuary 40 The village of Pezzolo Valle Uzzone sits on the left bank of the Uzzone still in its border walls telling tales from ages past. Or the remains of the river, on a spur of land that protects it from fooding. We highly recommend ancient castle and the tower for which the village is named, which lie on taking a stroll through this village to immerse yourself in this last secret the opposite ledge, immersed for centuries in the woods. No one knows valley of the Langhe region with its fairytale woods, villages, lost castles, what happened here or why the place was abandoned, but whatever it was and other romantic ruins. happened in the Middle Ages, because all trace of it had already been lost Here in Pezzolo, the main street is a near perfect archetype of a fortifed entirely by the 1400s. village, with its homes overlooking the street, its sandstone portals, From Torre Uzzone, continue up along the trail to Todocco Sanctuary, a windows full of fowers and plaques honoring local celebrities. This site of historical interest in a particularly panoramic location and where you miraculous village in the Uzzone Valley is a feast for the eyes and for the can still fnd a restaurant and bar heroically serving all visitors to this place. nose. If you’re an enthusiast of hermitages, in the nearby countryside there The sanctuary is situated on the crest between the Italian regions of is San Rocco in Carpaneta, the only church overlooking the river beneath and Liguria, overlooking villages far of into the distance in the the clifs, rather than welcoming the faithful as they arrive by road. direction of the fortifed village of Gorrino, situated at the head of the route From Pezzolo, head up in the direction of Torre Uzzone, frst alongside Rio to and from the sea in a strategic position that the lords of Torre Uzzone and then Rio Grosso. Torre Uzzone was its own municipality enjoyed for centuries. until the late 1920s when, due to depopulation, it was united with Gorrino to become Pezzolo Valle Uzzone (the village in the valley was already divided in half between the two municipalities). This depopulation is even more evident in Torre today, as it has been reduced to just a few scattered farmhouses around the remains of the abbey, which has recently been tastefully restored by a Swiss family. So what remains of this ancient village, which is mentioned as early as circa 1000 AD in the inheritance of Bonifacio del Vasto? There is one of the most charming cemeteries in all the Langhe, with its few gravestones Legend

Area RVs Information Wine Centres Tower

Picnic Area Portage Museum / Eco-museum Variant

Medical Assistance / Outdoor Centre Archeological Site Hospital Roero Bike Tour Site of artistic / Maintenance Point UNESCO Site cultural interest GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe Charging Station Castle Site of natural interest Bar to Bar

Bus Stop Church / Chapel Site of historical / cultural interest

Fountain / Water UNESCO area border Vista Point

Albaretto della Torre Cortemilia Langhe Roero Cerreto Langhe Pezzolo Valle Uzzone Todocco GTL Grande Traversata San delle Langhe Benedetto Belbo

Saliceto

Difculty legend Ente Turismo Alba Bra Langhe Roero Langhe Roero Tourist Board Emergency number: Piazza Risorgimento, 2 - 12051 Alba (CN) - tourism average skill level above average skill level advanced skill level expert skill level Tel. / Ph. +39.0173.35833 - [email protected] www.langheroero.it - www.piemonteoutdoor.it