A trip to the misterious Castle: a day in Montegrosso d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy

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In Tiglione Valley, just outside of Asti, in the year 1134 was one of the most dramatic in history: the plague decimated the inhabitants of many towns that lie along the stream that flows into the River Tanaro, and the few survivors prayed desperate to find salvation. At that point, as a divine illumination, the idea was to move them above the highest hill in the area: the healthy air of that place, then completely covered with woods, would save them from certain death. So on that "big mountain" was born on Montegrosso d'Asti country, the country's salvation.
Today this charming town continues to radiate its beneficial effects, but now in a modern and tourist: arriving here from the greyness of the city, can surely find relief from stress and enjoy a pleasant day in the history of the place full of atmosphere.
Walking through the old "Stern", the steep cobblestone streets of the river, winding through colorful houses glimpsed among which the endless chain of hills of Asti, we have the feeling of being in a finished painting. We just chat with the locals to see that it's this: we are in a painting by Enrico Paulucci. The painter was born in Genoa in 1901, is famous among other things for having founded in 1929, along with five artists such as Carlo Levi, "Six of Turin", a group that was inspired by French post-impressionist painting of Cezanne, Matisse, Dufy and others. The mother was Paulucci Montegrosso and the artist has always been very attached to this place where he also lived for many years, creating numerous paintings which portrayed these beautiful landscapes.
From any point you look up towards the top of the country, you see the Castle and the adjoining parish church of Saints Second and Matthew, with its octagonal dome and neo-classical portico. Route is the core architectural visiting the country's first twentieth-century parish church, within which is housed an important painting depicting the Holy Family. Coming to the imposing medieval castle, we immediately notice a striking tower, very tall and round. We arrive at the gate of the castle at the very moment in which we see into a man, so we take courage and ask if you can take a look inside as well. We welcome the Castellano, Mr. Graziano Motta, making sturdy wooden table to sit at the center of a room full of history. "More than a castle, this building was a real strong for a garrison of about forty men," he says. But not all. It is said that in this castle, and more precisely in that very tower that we liked so much, a living ghost. "I have not met yet, but I know that it is a monk who cut off the head of the Ghibellines in 1328, when they conquered the tower. It seems that once a year from breaking even on the tower of the rivulets of blood, "he reassures us Castellano ...
After these thrills romance another place we are heading towards the historic city: the restaurant of the station, in Piazza Roero. "This place has about 120 years of history behind it. A time this square market was held, and the bar-restaurant, then it never shut refreshment to passengers who arrived by train at night, "he says Gian Luca, who manages the restaurant and Michel since 2006, when her parents have passed the baton to his daughter. "This June we celebrate twenty years of managing our family. But my mom continues to help us, there is always the best agnolotti her, "confides Michela. We start with the peppers with Bagna cauda, ??veal with tuna sauce, the meat of the joke fassone knife and spumoni cheese, or a selection of cheeses blended with cutting board, with pepper and honey jam Montaldo. After these delicious appetizers we taste some of the Monferrato tradition first prepared with homemade pasta: classic square handmade agnolotti with three meats with gravy, noodles, borage orchard with sausage sauce and gnocchi Castelmagno. Let's water these goodness of delicious wines selected from the approximately ninety labels available, including Barbera, Dolcetto, Bonarda and Grignolino, both well-known companies to small local producers. We continue with the Piedmontese mixed fry the rabbit rolata baked with herbs, served with potatoes, and some of us enjoy a good steak also Fassone.
Looking forward to coming back here for the must-truffle season, this time our dinner ends of sweet temptations including bunet, Moscato zabaglione, tiramisu with strawberries and hazelnut, hazelnut cake covered with soft grain Chocolate ...

Bertha Frances

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.montegrossodasti.at.it
www.ristorantedellastazione.it
Station Restaurant - From The Chestnut Ostu
Square Roero, 3 Montegrosso d'Asti (AT)
Tel: 0141/953167