This is not a movie, although it could well be. It is the story of two cities that, for centuries, waged war against each other and only in the most challenging moments found harmony and joined forces to defeat a greater enemy. History repeats itself, alliances and diatribes that have marked the course of events for centuries.
The trail begins in Alba's living room, specifically in Piazza Michele Ferrero. Walk along Via Roma and reach Viale Torino, at the end of which you will turn right: the roar of the Tanaro river flowing under the bridge will remind you that you are leaving the city centre. At the roundabout, follow Corso Asti and at the next roundabout, take the fourth exit onto Strada Tagliata and then turn left onto Strada Forcellini, which will take you to Frazione Osteria and Frazione Castelrotto, where you will join the SP 50 road towards Guarene: the first of the Roero villages you reach after just 6.5 km.
Continue along the ridge to reach Castagnito after about 2.2 km. The landscape becomes more and more enchanting and other beautiful villages are ready to welcome you. Places where you can stop for cultural breaks and enjoy the Tanaro valley which, down below to your right, is bustling with commercial activity. Keep going along the SP 50 until you reach the crossroads that will take you onto the Variglie road that climbs up to 320 metres, sloping down towards the village of Castellinaldo: small, among hills planted with vines and, lest we forget how disputed these lands were, overlooked by a massive castle.
The SP 235 road will take you to your next destination: Govone. On the way up you will come across the parish Church of San Secondo and the charming Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, at the foot of the magnificent Castle. Not just any castle. It was the favourite residence of King Carlo Felice and his bride, Queen Maria Cristina. A manor house included in the circuit of the "Royal Residences" of Piedmont and recognised in 1997 by UNESCO as an "Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Humanity". It is well worth a stop, even if just to admire the geometry of the 18th-century garden that surrounds the building. Stay on the scenic road that runs along the ridge (SP 8) surrounded by Roero vineyards and you reach San Martino Alfieri. Here, too, a lot of history emerges among its houses and from its castle, which was transformed into an elegant Baroque residence between 1696 and 1721. It was here, namely in the hamlet of Saracchi, that Francesca Armosino, Giuseppe Garibaldi's second wife, was born. She hosted the hero of the two Worlds in her home in 1880. Whereas in the Marelli hamlet there is the house where San Giuseppe Marello grew up.
Find out more
Asti-Alba via Langhe
Two-hundred towers in two, a long and fickle river, in between the splendid hills of Langhe Monferrato Roero. Asti and Alba: enemies - friends, practically promised partners.
Find out morePLEASE NOTE: Responsibility for the maintenance and practicability of the various trails lies with the municipalities where the routes are located. The Tourist Board, therefore, cannot be held responsible for any inefficiencies, but is willingly available to collect your reports so that they can be forwarded to the authorities concerned.
