Drive Through the Hills to Casale Monferrato

Drive through the village of Altavilla Monferrato and stop for breakfast at this restaurant, well known for the delicacies the chef prepares every week.
You will enter an ambience of bygone days furnished with antiques and meticulously cared for in every detail.
As one of the few eateries, they also provide a kind of bar service. So even if you pass by in the morning you can enjoy the delicious homemade cakes accompanied by a coffee or cappuccino.
If you are in a group, I advise you to phone the day before to report your arrival via one of these contacts.
The restaurant is open every day from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM except Saturdays, when it closes around 10:30 PM, and is closed on Wednesdays.

Move to Cittadella to visit this Grappa Museum where a competent guide will explain to you the history and the process of making and distilling grappa while walking through the rooms that are dedicated to its production.
If you are lucky enough to have chosen to make this visit during the months of October and November you will be able to witness the distillation of grappa live.
You have to book in advance in order to visit the museum. You can do that online by filling in the form you will find at this link or sending an email at [email protected]
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and the ticket price is €10 with a grappa tasting included.

Book a guided tour of this eco-museum where you will discover the history and uses of Pietra Cantone, a type of sandstone that has been used throughout the Monferrato region for construction purposes.
The museum is housed in the Palazzo Volta, a historic building made of Cantone stone, where restoration work has brought to light ancient architectural elements.
Visiting it, one can observe natural fossils preserved in the rock that testify to the former presence of the sea in these now hilly areas.
You will enter the ancient infernot, rooms carved into the canton's rock where the absence of light and windows keeps the temperature constant.
These places, with different and unique architectural structures, were and are where the finest wines were stored.
Guided visits need to be booked in advance. They are held on Fridays and Saturdays by the volunteers of a local association.
You can make your reservation by writing to this email address [email protected] or by calling this number +39 0142 488161.
Reservations are not necessary on Sundays when the museum is open from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Stroll through the narrow streets of the village admiring the old buildings and the various small churches, the one of Our Lady of Loreto is worth a visit.
Then drive up the hill to visit the small church of San Quirico, around which a mystical atmosphere hovers and stop here to contemplate the green hilly panorama

Coming down the hill, stop and look at this touch of colour and inventiveness that comes from the vineyard head posts that have been painted and transformed into giant pencils.
The owners of this vineyard, in addition to the many beautiful initiatives that you can see at this link, have decided to help bring colour and art into the vineyards.

Continuing on the road to the capital of Monferrato, stop to eat at this family-run osteria that reinterprets traditional dishes.
I invite you to try one of the first courses, but in fact, every dish is delicious and prepared with genuine ingredients, and the menu changes every week!
The ambiance is simple yet cosy, very neat and tidy with an open kitchen so you can see the owner Tommaso while cooking.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 12:15 AM to 2:30 PM and for dinner from 7:45 PM to 10:30 PM and is closed on Tuesdays.
You can book by calling this number +39 340 238 5882 or sending an email to [email protected]

Once you arrive in Castel Monferrato leave your car here as it is right in the centre and free of charge.
On Tuesdays and Fridays despite the city market, you should still find free parking.

From Piazza Castello, wander aimlessly through the streets of the city and breathe in the medieval air that has remained in the background even to this day.
You will already catch a glimpse of the Civic Tower, symbol of the city, which stands 60 metres high next to the church of Santo Stefano. The tower can be visited on the second weekend of each month for the Casale città aperta initiative.
On these occasions, various monuments in the city open their doors and can be visited free of charge. For more information you can visit check this link https://www.comune.casale-monferrato.al.it/cca
Continue strolling and exploring the city among Baroque-style palaces and Gothic-style complexes.

Especially if this is the first time you enter a synagogue, you will be surprised to notice the difference between the very simple exterior façade and the opulent Baroque interior.
In fact, this one, like all synagogues in Italy, could not have external decorations until the mid-19th century. This makes the initial impact even greater not expecting the magnificence of the gold details and stucco work.
It is worth visiting the two museums organised inside: Museo degli Argenti, the most important museum of ancient Jewish art and history in Europe, and the Museo dei Lumi, a beautiful exhibition of Chanukkah lamps by Jewish and non-Jewish artists.
To visit the synagogue and the museums, it is necessary to make a reservation, specifying whether you want the tour in English.
You can book by writing an email to this address [email protected] or by calling the contact numbers you can find at this link.
Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Sundays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and is closed on Saturdays.
The cost of the ticket is 8€ and can only be paid in cash.

It is worth entering this cathedral, even if only for a quick tour, to admire the pastel colours of the columns, the vaults, and all the walls.
Particularly striking are the emerald blue coloured ceilings dotted with light dots that look like stars shining in the blue sky of the church.
The church is open daily from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM and can be accessed when there are no liturgical services in progress.
If you would like to take a guided tour, you must make a reservation by contacting the Antipodes Association at +39 392.9388505 or send an email to [email protected]

The beautiful medieval castle of Casale today is part of the city itself, in fact, it normally houses several events living with the city itself by opening its doors to museums and exhibitions.
Generally, the entrance hours when the halls host an exhibition, often free of charge, are Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00.
I recommend that you consult the municipal website to check the exhibition opening hours at this link.
In case there are no exhibitions that interest you, you can still visit the outside of the castle, crossing the gate and climbing the steps leading to the top of the ancient walls and towers.
From here you can enjoy the panorama that overlooks the old town on one side and the Po on the other. The main entrance is open every day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Make your way back to the car and drive on the way back to Turin.

Drive through the hills until you reach this beautiful vantage point from which you can admire the course of the Po River and the Po Valley.
Walk on the belvedere walkway, which has specially grated paving so you can peek under your feet and feel the shivers run down your spine, a mixture of fear and adrenaline.

To conclude the food and wine tour of the Basso Monferrato, I invite you to make a reservation at this restaurant where you will sample as many local delicacies.
I recommend you try among the appetisers, especially a taste of raw meat and vitello tonnato, which are exquisite.
The staff is very friendly and will assist you throughout the evening, recommending which wine to accompany the dishes you have chosen.
The best aspect of the whole evening is definitely eating while admiring the beautiful view of the Po valley from the windows.
For reservations, you can call this number +39 0142 945032. The restaurant is open Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is closed on other days.