Ulisse sulle Colline

A walk in the footsteps of "Ulisse"

Ulisse sulle Colline is the literary and resistance-themed walk that brings the town of Vinchio to life every spring—a small village in the Province of Asti, immersed in the vineyards of the Piedmontese Monferrato. The event is organized by the Davide Lajolo Cultural Association in collaboration with the Cantina di Vinchio Vaglio, and is dedicated to the memory of Davide Lajolo, the writer and journalist born in Vinchio in 1912.

Who was Davide Lajolo?

A partisan commander known by the nom de guerre "Ulisse" and chief of staff of the Garibaldi divisions in the Upper Monferrato, Lajolo led the liberation of dozens of towns in the autumn of 1944. After the war, he became a journalist and writer, authoring numerous works including the famous biography of Cesare Pavese. The hills surrounding Vinchio are the very places that inspired his stories and his partisan diary; walking through them means traversing the pages of his literature.

Memory, nature, and civic commitment

The walk winds through the paths of the Val Sarmassa Nature Reserve, along the hillsides planted with Barbera vines. At each stop along the route, students from a theatre school read passages from Lajolo's works, creating a continuous dialogue between the landscape and the written word. Iconic landmarks along the route include the Casotto di Ulisse at Bricco di Monte del Mare, the Castel del Mago area with its artistic installations, and the great monumental oak tree known as La RU.

The event has a strong civic dimension: dedicated to peace in a time marked by war, it combines the memory of the Resistance, artistic expression, and civic education. It is held under the patronage of the municipalities of Vinchio and Vaglio Serra, the ISRAT, and the ANPI.

Theatre and music at the winery

The walking route culminates in the garden of the Cantina di Vinchio Vaglio, where young actors perform a play on the themes of peace and Liberation, followed by a concert. The day is designed for families, history enthusiasts, hikers, and literature lovers, set in one of the most evocative wine-growing regions in Piedmont.

A staple of the Asti Monferrato

More than just an event, Ulisse sulle Colline is a collective ritual that the Monferrato territory renews to ensure the past is not forgotten. Between glasses of Barbera, partisan tales, and UNESCO World Heritage hills, the event tells the story of the deepest identity of Vinchio and the Province of Asti.