IAT Tourism Information and Welcoming Office Porta del Piemonte NOVI LIGURE Piazzale Curiel - c/o Stazione Ferroviaria V.le dei Campionissimi, 2 15100 Alessandria 15067 Novi Ligure (AL) tel. 0131254230 - fax 131329836 tel. 014372585 - fax 0143767657 [email protected] - www.alexala.it [email protected] Lun-Sab 8.30 -12.30 e 15.00 - 17.30 www.comune.noviligure.al.it ACQUI TERME OVADA Piazza Levi, 12 - c/o Palazzo Robellini Via Cairoli, 103 - 15076 Ovada (AL) 15011 Acqui Terme (AL) tel. 0143821043 - fax 0143821043 tel. 0144322142 - fax 0144770303 [email protected] [email protected] - www.comuneacqui.com www.comune.ovada.al.it ALESSANDRIA TORTONA Via Gagliaudo, 2 - 15100 Alessandria Corso Alessandria, 62 - 15057 Tortona (AL) tel. 0131234794 - fax 0131234794 tel. 0131864297 - fax 0131864267 the [email protected] [email protected] www.comune.alessandria.it www.comune.tortona.al.it Lun-Sab 10 -13 e 14.30 - 17.30 VALENZA countryside’s CASALE MONFERRATO Piazza XXXI Martiri, 1 - 15048 Valenza (AL) Piazza Castello - 15033 Casale Monferrato (AL) tel. 0131945246 - fax 0131946082 tel. 0142444330 - fax 0142444330 [email protected] treasures [email protected] www.comune.valenza.al.it www.comune.casale-monferrato.al.it www.valenzaeventi.it TRAVELS THROUGH THE MONFERRATO AND THE PROVINCE OF ALESSANDRIA ATL Alexala - Piazza S. Maria di Castello, 14 15100 Alessandria - tel. 0131288095 - fax 0131220546 [email protected] - www.alexala.it the countryside’s treasures TRIPS AROUND MONFERRATO AND THE PROVINCE OF ALESSANDRIA To Gian Carlo trips around monferrato and the province of alessandria introduction Alessandria: this is Italy In visiting Alessandria, you will visit a condensed province’s cooks. The local cuisine is quite varied version of Italy itself. You don’t believe me? Why, as well, having absorbed the influence of many just take a look around: here are the plains, the different cultures which passed through this lan- hills, the snowy peaks, complete with ski slopes, dscape throughout Europe’s history. More than and even the sea - or at least three quarters of the province the smell of it, with coastal is part of the Monferrato, a Liguria lying just around the region where the tides of time corner and influencing, from left dozens of castles and for- afar, the cuisine and lifestyle tresses behind - at least forty of part of the province. This just around this province. To is a land of great wines, with write this guide we began by plenty of original, rare appel- exploring our own fascination lations, but also a land abun- with this land... We found dant in vegetable gardens, myriad villages with myriad, rich in animal farming, salami unimaginable and often still and cheese production. But hidden, treasures. Artistic, remember: even though we have grouped villages environmental and cultural, of course, but also and towns in areas which present some sort of treasures from the land, the soil, and the kitchen, continuity, similarity, or bond, each single locale, unique products and undiscovered artisanal re- each specialty, will always be absolutely unique. cipes. But before going on I must confess that I Salami from Alessandria, such as the filetto bacia- myself am a proud son of this land and, there- to or the “noble raw” from Giarolo, you will not fore, might sometimes have let the ink flow with find anywhere else. The same can be said of the the wine, and my pleasure in a dish of well-made Montebore or of the formaggetta di capra goat agnolotti get mixed up with the enthusiasm of cheese. And of the wines: Timorasso, Brachetto, promoting a land which tourism has not hurt but Strevi and Grignolino. Another excellent tradition enhanced. Here, the visitor can enjoy a taste of is the rich patisserie, ranging from home-made real Italy, all at his fingertips, in a province with artisanal cakes to an entire industry dedicated as many facets as there are villages, an attractive to confectionary and chocolate. Every village has land, just waiting to be discovered. So, finally, al- its own amaretto or cookie: be it extremely well- low us to welcome you, through these pages, to known, such as the krumiri, or awaiting discove- a land of villages and squares, country lanes and ry, all bear witness to the great creativity of this farmhouses. Enjoy the trip - we know you will! Paolo Massobrio Journalist and food and wine critic, president of the Papillon Club Balzola Morano sul Po Villanova Monferrato Gabiano Camino Coniolo Moncestino A26 Villamiroglio Mombello Pontestura PO PO Frassineto Cerrina M.to M.to Solonghello CASALE Odalengo MONFERRATO Grande San Giorgio M.to Valmacca Serralunga Ticineto Murisengo di Crea Treville Ozzano M.to Rosignano Villadeati Ponzano M.to Borgo Pomaro M.to Cella Terruggia San Martino Monferrato Odalengo Cereseto Sala M.to Monte Piccolo Castelletto Ottiglio Occimiano Giarole Alfiano Merli Bozzole Natta Olivola Frassinello M.to Mirabello Monferrato Alessandria Isola Camagna M.to S.Antonio Vignale M.to Molino Conzano San Salvatore VALENZA Guazzora dei Torti The Fulvia way Altavilla M.to A26 M.to PO Lu Bassignana Alzano Scrivia Pecetto Alluvioni Cuccaro M.to Castelletto di Valenza Cambiò Castelnuovo Fraschetta and the Marengo area M.to Rivarone Sale Scrivia Fubine Pietra Valenza Marazzi Piovera Quargnento scrivia A7 Pontecurone Pavone Montecastello A21 The Monferrato between the Tanaro and the Po A21 tanaro a id rm o Solero b A21 Quattordio ALESSANDRIA Castelceriolo Casalnoceto Casale Monferrato Felizzano Viguzzolo Casalbagliano Castellar Guidobono Masio TORTONA Volpeglino The Monferrato around Casale Spinetta Berzano A7 di Tortona Volpedo Villa del Foro Marengo Monleale Oviglio Mandrogne Sarezzano The Sanctuary’s lands and the Cerrina Valley orba Villaromagnano Pozzol Groppo Castellazzo Cerreto Grue Bergamasco Borgoratto Montemarzino Alessandrino Bormida Frugarolo Carbonara Scrivia Acqui Terme Casal Bosco Marengo scrivia Spineto Scrivia Carentino bormida Cermelli Paderna Montegioco Frascaro A7 Costa Castelspina Vescovato Momperone The Bormida Valley Gamalero Casasco Pozzolo Villalvernia Carezzano A26 Fresonara Formigaro Avolasca Brignano Frascata Castellania On the way to the sea Sezzadio A26 Gavazzana Gremiasco Sant’Agata NOVI Cassano Fossili Garbagna S.Sebastiano Ovada Basaluzzo LIGURE Spinola Curone Fabbrica Curone Cassine Sardigliano Castelnuovo Predosa Pasturana A7 Dernice Ricaldone Montacuto Bormida Francavilla The High Monferrato around Ovada Alice Capriata d’Orba Bisio Stazzano Borghetto di Borbera Bel Colle Rivalta Bormida Silvano d’Orba Tassarolo Vignole Borbera Pallavicino Strevi Serravalle Cantalupo Novi Ligure Scrivia Ligure ACQUI Orsara Montaldo Rocca San Cristoforo Albera Gavi Rocchetta Terzo TERME Bormida Bormida Grimalda Ligure Ligure Gavi and the lands of the Orba Castelletto Grondona Visone Carpeneto Capanne Bistagno d’Orba Parodi Ligure Arquata di Cosola Morsasco Carrosio Scrivia Sisola Montaldeo Bosio The Borbera and Spinti Valleys Melazzo Prasco Trisobbio Roccaforte Cremolino Tagliolo Ligure Cabella Ponti Grognardo Monferrato Mornese Ligure Cavatore OVADA Castelletto Voltaggio Mongiardino The Scrivia Valley d’Erro Molare Lerma Denice Belforte Casaleggio Ligure Montechiaro d’Acqui Morbello Monferrato Boiro Tortona Carrega Cartosio Cassinelle A26 Ponzone Fraconalto Ligure The Curone, Grue, Ossona Valleys orba Malvicino Capanne di Marcarolo Spigno Monferrato a d i m r o b Merana Pareto Balzola Morano sul Po Villanova Monferrato Gabiano Camino Coniolo Moncestino A26 Villamiroglio Mombello Pontestura PO PO Frassineto Cerrina M.to M.to Solonghello CASALE Odalengo MONFERRATO Grande San Giorgio M.to Valmacca Serralunga Ticineto Murisengo di Crea Treville Ozzano M.to Rosignano Villadeati Ponzano M.to Borgo Pomaro M.to Cella Terruggia San Martino Monferrato Odalengo Cereseto Sala M.to Monte Piccolo Castelletto Ottiglio Occimiano Giarole Alfiano Merli Bozzole Natta Olivola Frassinello M.to Mirabello Monferrato Isola Camagna M.to S.Antonio Vignale M.to Molino Conzano San Salvatore VALENZA Guazzora dei Torti Altavilla M.to A26 M.to PO Lu Bassignana Alzano Scrivia Pecetto Alluvioni Cuccaro M.to Castelletto di Valenza Cambiò Castelnuovo M.to Rivarone Sale Scrivia Fubine Pietra Marazzi Piovera Quargnento scrivia A7 Pontecurone Pavone Montecastello A21 A21 tanaro a id rm o Solero b A21 Quattordio ALESSANDRIA Castelceriolo Casalnoceto Felizzano Viguzzolo Casalbagliano Castellar Guidobono Masio TORTONA Volpeglino Spinetta Berzano A7 di Tortona Volpedo Villa del Foro Marengo Monleale Oviglio Mandrogne Sarezzano orba Villaromagnano Pozzol Groppo Castellazzo Cerreto Grue Bergamasco Borgoratto Montemarzino Alessandrino Bormida Frugarolo Carbonara Scrivia Casal Bosco Marengo scrivia Spineto Scrivia Carentino bormida Cermelli Paderna Montegioco Frascaro A7 Costa Castelspina Vescovato Momperone Gamalero Casasco Pozzolo Villalvernia Carezzano A26 Fresonara Formigaro Avolasca Brignano Frascata Castellania Sezzadio A26 Gavazzana Gremiasco Sant’Agata NOVI Cassano Fossili Garbagna S.Sebastiano Basaluzzo LIGURE Spinola Curone Fabbrica Curone Cassine Sardigliano Castelnuovo Predosa Pasturana A7 Dernice Ricaldone Montacuto Bormida Francavilla Alice Capriata d’Orba Bisio Stazzano Borghetto di Borbera Bel Colle Rivalta Bormida Silvano d’Orba Tassarolo Vignole Borbera Pallavicino Strevi Serravalle Cantalupo Scrivia Ligure ACQUI Orsara Montaldo Rocca San Cristoforo Albera Gavi Rocchetta Terzo TERME Bormida Bormida Grimalda Ligure Ligure Castelletto Grondona Visone Carpeneto