Discover Province of Alexandria - Travel to Province of Alexandria

Gabiano Monferrato is the ideal location if you are planning a trip to the province of Alessandria, which lies to the south east of Piedmont.

Its panoramic hills and tranquil valleys are crossed with rivers, with the horizon to the south dominated by the Ligurian Apennine Mountains.

The Monferrato hills are covered in vines, together with dense woodland areas. There are a range of national parks; watch bird colonies at the Parco Fluviale del Po Tratto Vercellese-Alessandrino or soak up the natural beauty of the Torrente Orba Natural Reserve.

It's a place to relax, to enjoy serene walks, and then to watch glorious sun sets over a glass of local wine. Casale Monferrato, with its palazzi, castles and Renaissance churches is a town steeped in history. The famous Piazza Mazzini, the Duomo and the hexagonal Castello dei Paleologi, a fifteenth century military building complete with round towers and a moat, are all worth a visit.

The Lago di Viverone is noted for its archaeological importance as a site of Bronze Age stilt houses.

Turin, home to the Juventus stadium and museum, is just an hour's drive away, while the city's Egyptian museum enjoys a well deserved reputation as the finest museum in Turin.

Local cuisine is known throughout the country, but the region is particularly noted for its rare and delicate white truffle and the local wines such as Barolo, Dolcetto and Moscato D'Asti.

A lovely municipality in Piedmont's Alessandria province, Tagliolo Monferrato, has a couple of interesting attractions to offer foreign and local visitors alike.

Generally, this place has a mild and temperate climate. But, summer months are the best time to visit the attractions in this municipality. One of its best attractions is Castello di Tagliolo. This well-preserved castle has a history that dates back over a thousand years ago. The castle underwent a series of restorations with the final one done by Alfredo D' Andrade in the late nineteenth century.

Overlooking a medieval village, this awe-inspiring castle still has the remnants of a drawbridge and a lovely square tower. For a view of how the architecture was over a thousand years ago, check out the tower's lower portion. You can also sample the castle's award winning wines that are stored in the basement cellar.

A visit to the Via Carlo Coppa's Ornithological Museum gives you a chance to admire the beauty of over 900 species of stuffed wildlife like the osprey, the snowy owl and the bearded vulture. Tagliolo Monferrato's oldest church, St. Vitus Church boasts architecture that dates back to the sixth century.

Facing the castle is another historic church, Church of St. Nicolo, which has undergone a series of restorations and boasts a sandstone based bell tower. To sample Piedmont-style mixed fry, filet in Barolo wine and other appetising local dishes.

Giarole is a little village situated only 15 km on the northern side of Alessandria, in the Italian Piedmont region, that is said to be the region with the highest number of castles in the world. Among them there is one that attracts attention for its history and for some legends and curiosities.

We are talking about Castello Sannazzaro, situated on the eastern verge of Monferrato. This historical house, that has been in existence for almost nine centuries under the ownership of the same  family, still live there to date. If you are looking for a change of scenery and want to experience the magical world of paintings, passages, historical richness and a general wellness atmosphere then this is the place to be.

Today Castello Sannazzaro is opened to the public for tour and visits and it hosts in one of its wings a bed and breakfast. Visitors always want to have hands on experience of the castle asking the owners to tell them some of the legends and curious stories that happened here over the centuries.

Maybe the most interesting is the one that tells about the ghost of the castle. It was during the 1854-1857 period that the Conte Giancinto ordered a renovation of the castle in order to restore it. He called several painters who were working on different areas of the castle: Paolo Emilio Morgari, Andrea Gastaldi and a young member of the Grosso family. This young man has just started to paint the vault ceiling when he lost his balance while standing on the ladder and died after a 6 meters fall. Legend tells  that the young man’s ghost still inhabits most parts of the castle. Probably he fell due to the fact that light was fading away and this is the reason why sometimes in the middle of the night the castle inhabitants and their guests have seen all the lights of the main rooms unexpectedly turning on. If you meet the present owner of the castle during your stay at Castello Sannazzaro he will be glad to tell you about the few times he or someone else has heard him speaking or that time the ghost locked a member of the staff inside the tower! In that occasion the key to the tower entrance door disappeared and they are still looking for them!

Legend has it that the castle of Giarole has a link with the neighboring Royal Castle Pomaro through an underground secret passage. Recent discoveries prove this to be a real story after an underneath cave was discovered in a church found in the castle. The cave contains a number of heaped human bones and skulls. Several of these underground tunnels existed in this part of Italy and were used by military forces during the wars between France, Spain and the German troops that devastated Italy in 16th and 17th centuries or as a burial place during the 17th century plague.

An interesting curiosity of the castle is the Madonna of the Rosary. The story goes that before the naval battle of Lepanto in 1571  Pope Pius V asked the blessings of the Virgin Mary of the Rosary to gain favours against the Turks. This led to a tradition in Italy where the first Sunday of October is dedicated to the Virgin of the Holy Rosary. The Sannazzaro family in Giarole still goes on with the tradition to date and the youths of the family are always seen carrying the gold-wood statue of the Madonna del Rosario around the village. Below the church members of the Sannazzaro family are buried in the so called new and old crypt.

Another inquisitiveness is that of the Ghiacciaia (Ice House), a a small manmade hill covered with Yew trees at the entrance of the garden. It seems a simple hill but if you walk around it on the north side you will discover a door entrance and a short stair going down. The door hides an old Ice House used by the castle dwellers, before fridge and electricity where invented. Goods stayed fresh all through the seasons. Proof of this truth is the existing family letters in the archives that tells that the Count Giacinto Sannazzaro has hosted cavalier Della Rovere and has offered him a sorbet! 

If you want to know more about these and other mysteries you just have to visit the castle! And remember, if you love mystery, the Castle of Sannazzaro is the place for you.

For further information: www.castellosannazzaro.it

Set in the charming Piedmont countryside, Relais I Castagnoni is a B&B guesthouse in the heart of Rosignano.

Originally a convent, now I Castagnoni is the summer residence of a family who has been living there for generations. The old convent has been renovated, with elegantly designed bedrooms, a kitchenette and a breakfast room. All the rooms of the property lead to outdoor gardens where Continental lunches are served in the mornings. The staffs speak Italian, French and English.

All five rooms are fitted with antique furniture, bathroom and shower, hairdryer, minibar, telephone, satellite TV, and pay-per-view channels. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property and is free of charge. On the weekends and on request, guests are treated to meals cooked by the family.

There is also a charming shop that sells local products and gifts. Guests have access to an outdoor pool, free sauna, Turkish bath and wellness centre. Visitors can tour the area and can take part in the local grape harvest or dine on delicious traditional regional dishes. Other activities include tennis, horse riding and cycling. I Castagnoni Relais offers free parking, with no reservation required. I Castagnoni is situated in the Po Valley and about 20 minutes drive from the town of Casale Monferrato.

More informations at: www.icastagnoni.it