Walking the Monferrato in Moncestino

Walking the Monferrato in Moncestino

Walking the Monferrato is a historic series of guided walks that accompanies hikers and curious visitors every spring to discover the Monferrato hills, a wine-growing landscape recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The event is promoted by the Monferrato municipalities together with the Sacro Monte di Crea Special Reserve, in collaboration with the CAI sections of Asti and Casale Monferrato and under the patronage of the Il Monferrato newspaper. The Moncestino stage, a small village in the Province of Alessandria overlooking the Po Valley, is one of the most evocative appointments in the calendar.

Route no. 744 'On the Trails of the Resistance'

The itinerary proposed in Moncestino is route no. 744 'On the Trails of the Resistance', a tourist-difficulty (T) loop suitable for everyone, lasting about two and a half hours. It starts from Piazza Marconi, in front of the Town Hall, and descends towards the valley floor crossed by the Rio della Valle.

• Passage near the hamlet of Seminenga;
• Stop at Fravagnano, a hamlet of the Municipality of Verrua Savoia in the Province of Turin;
• Ascent through the woods to the summit of the Rocca di Coggia;
• Stop at the Coggia and Coggietta localities, with the circular votive chapel of Saints Sebastian and Roch.

From the top, you can enjoy a wide panorama of the Po Valley and the large rice fields that stretch to the line of the Alps on the horizon. The walk is accompanied by a qualified professional guide, who explains the history and characteristics of the territory to the participants.

The Memory of the Resistance

The route is not just a nature trail: the Rocca di Coggia was, during the Second World War, one of the strongholds of the partisans of the 3rd Group of the Autonomous Monferrato Division. In a grassy clearing near Coggia, there was a tool shed that, during the conflict, offered a first refuge to some English airmen parachuted onto the hills. The walk thus becomes a journey into the historical memory of the Casale Monferrato area, retracing the places of the Liberation struggle.

An Event in the Casale Monferrato Area

Included in the regional series that touches numerous villages in the Monferrato between Asti and Alessandria, the Moncestino stage combines gentle hiking, landscape, and historical memory. The mayor and the creators of the route welcome participants before departure; at the end, the Pro Loco of Moncestino offers everyone a welcome refreshment. It is an appointment designed for families, hikers, and territory enthusiasts who want to experience the Monferrato at a slow pace, far from the large tourist flows.