CamminArte - Murales and Nature Hike

A journey through street art and the hills of Monferrato

CamminArte - Murales and Nature Hike is a cultural walk that winds between the hamlet of Cantavenna and the main town of Gabiano, a municipality in the province of Alessandria overlooking the hills of Casale Monferrato in Piedmont. Organised by the I Love Cantavenna Association together with hiking guide Augusto Cavallo, the event offers a circular route of approximately 11 kilometres, with an elevation gain of +280 metres and a duration of about three and a half hours.

The murals of Mono Carrasco

The common thread of the hike is the work of Mono Carrasco, the pseudonym of Hector Carrasco, an artist born in Santiago, Chile, in 1954, who arrived in Italy in 1974 as a political refugee. After years in Bologna and Turin, he chose to settle in Cantavenna, finding in the vineyards, woods, and panoramas of Valcerrina an echo of his native Andes. His colourful murals dot the village and the surrounding countryside, and during CamminArte, they are illustrated at every stop through the direct narration of the author.

The route

The walk alternates stops in front of the artworks with stretches through woods and cultivated land, offering numerous panoramic views of the nearby valleys, the hills of Monferrato, and the Vercelli plains opening up in the distance. It is an experience suitable for those looking for a gentle, content-rich trek, where street art becomes a compass for reading the landscape.

More than just a walk

• Guided tour of the murals with stories from the artist at each stop
• Panoramas of Monferrato and the Vercelli plains
• Screening of a film shot by Mono Carrasco during a trip to Africa with a Don Orione Mission
• Final aperitif prepared by the volunteers of the I Love Cantavenna Association

CamminArte is an event tailored to the local area, capable of showcasing a lesser-known corner of Piedmont and weaving together walking, community, and contemporary outdoor art.