Discover the Monferrato Casalese area, in Piedmont, Italy
The Monferrato area is part of the provinces of Asti and Alessandria, in Piedmont, in the north west of Italy; the area has a favourable position, located at the center of the triangle between the main industrial cities of Turin, Milan and Genoa.
The area called Monferrato Casalese, in particular, is located between the plain of the river Po and the Monferrato hills; in this region can be found the town of Casale Monferrato (the historical capital) and about sixty municipalities, with a population of 110.000 people. Two different Unesco World Heritage Sites can also be found in the Monferrato Casalese: the Sacred Mount of Crea (that is part of the Sacred Mounts of Piedmont and Lombardy) and Monferrato of the Infernot (one of the six areas in The Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato).
The Regional Natural Park is a particularly fascinating example of the relationship between nature, religion and art. The Sacred Mount of Crea consists of the Sanctuary, 23 chapels (not to be missed “La salita al Calvario” and “L’incoronazione della Vergine” – the so called “Paradise”) and five hermitages. The complex was built between 1589 and 1612, with a second building phase in the early XIX century. The Sanctuary keeps paintings and frescos of artists of great relevance.
Monferrato of the Infernot is the area characterized by a singular type of architectural construction, the infernot. These underground rooms were dug into a particular geological formation called Cantoni Stone. This is the origin of cellar extensions, dug and sculpted under the old houses.
In the Monferrato Casalese area it is possible to relax doing outdoor activities, such as hiking, trekking, biking and nordic walking, in the Protected Area of the Po river or in the hills from which you can enjoy amazing landscapes in every season
Ph. credit : ATL Alexala
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