Walking the Monferrato – Frassinello-Olivola stage

A walk through the Monferrato vineyards

Walking the Monferrato is one of the longest-running and most beloved gentle hiking series in Piedmont. Promoted by the Monferrato municipalities alongside the Sacro Monte di Crea Special Nature Reserve, in collaboration with the CAI sections of Asti and Casale Monferrato, the event guides thousands of walkers every year along a network of over forty themed itineraries, where a slow pace becomes the best way to discover the territory.

The Frassinello-Olivola stage

The stage connecting Frassinello Monferrato and Olivola, two small hillside towns in the Province of Alessandria, traditionally concludes the spring season of the series. This walk holds strong symbolic value: it celebrates the anniversary of the UNESCO recognition obtained in 2014 for the « Vineyard Landscapes of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato », of which these villages are proud members.

Villages, churches, and infernot

The route winds through the countryside and vineyards that define the rolling hills of the Casale Monferrato area. Highlights of the trail include the Romanesque church of San Pietro e Paolo in Olivola, set in a stunning panoramic position among the vines, the famous Giant Bench of Olivola, and the historic center of Frassinello with its infernot—the unique cellars carved into the 'pietra da cantoni' (limestone), which are also declared UNESCO World Heritage sites. A professional guide accompanies participants, sharing the history, geology, and traditions of the places visited during stops along the way.

An experience for everyone

• Guided walk of tourist difficulty, open to everyone
• Panoramic route through vineyards, villages, and infernot
• Professional local guide
• Final Monferrato-style refreshment offered by the Pro Loco
• Free shuttle service to return to the starting point

The context: UNESCO Monferrato

The Frassinello-Olivola stage is part of a calendar that promotes the hilly landscape of the Monferrato, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site alongside the Langhe and Roero. Walking the Monferrato is an invitation to slowly discover this region of Piedmont, among villages, vineyards, Romanesque churches, and infernot, in the company of local communities and the Pro Loco associations that bring each stage to life.