An exquisit village not to miss: my trip to Castel Rocchero. Piedmont region, Italy
How many times, traveling by car, we see the distant hills of the countries with above-colored, a church, a bell ... It would be nice to slow down, look for the road leading up there, reach the square and take a stroll on foot through the quiet streets surrounded by the tolling of bells. But almost always we continue the race, leaving this precious opportunity to relax.
There was enough "rebel" in that habit to be rewarded with a beautiful day in Rocchero Castle, a picturesque village of Alto Monferrato, in the Langa of Asti. Driving along the highway in the direction of the Turchino Nizza Monferrato, Acqui Terme after crossing, we found this country on a hill. The slender bell tower of the parish church stands out from far away, and after a few turns, just entered the province of Asti, here is the sign pointing the way to Castel Rocchero.
The country is mentioned in the cards for the first time in 967, among the possessions of Aleramo, the famous knight whose legendary love affair with Alasia (from whose name the name would Alassio), gave rise to the Monferrato. According to tradition, Aleramo Sezzadio abandoned as a child, he lived miserably, making charcoal. Once grown up, fell madly in love Emperor's daughter, who decided to test him and promised him all the land he could encircle in three days of frantic ride. When his horse lost a shoe, the brave young man arranged to iron with a brick, "mon" in dialect.
Hence the name of Monferrato, and to capture the essence of this land, just look at the panorama that opens from Castel Rocchero: rolling hills and vineyards where the vines stretch as far as the eye in a spectacular landscape , embracing the lands of Barbera, Moscato, Dolcetto and Brachetto. Castel Rocchero was formerly a military garrison, and also the current Town Hall, built in the twelfth century, had defensive functions. Today is a stately building, which preserves the structure of seventeenth-century vaults. City Hall is located next to the parish church with its distinctive brick tower, whose base there is an arc through a lane of the road linking the main square outside the walls.
We decided to stop there for dinner at the Old Tavern at the foot of the tower. The restaurant is located next to the bow and faces the park of the castle patrician. "Here once housed the cellars of the castle", explains Mrs. Silvana and her son Maurice, the holders, while we sit in the heated conservatory. Silvana and Maurice were born in Castel Rocchero, so take the opportunity to ask some more information on the country. "If you can, come back here even in summer, when it takes place in Castel Rocchero Lume. This is a night walk through the vineyards, with torches. It starts from the tower, and you stop at seven locations, including wineries, wineries el'Osteria. At each wine is tasted, it tastes a dish, or listening to music. All under a starry sky, immersed in an inviting atmosphere, "he says Maureen, who also discover to be deputy mayor of the town.
Waiting to participate in this event from the safe emotional impact, we start our tour of the place tasting flavors of the peppers baked with bagnet, or green sauce with parsley, anchovies and tuna, for thistles and flan with spinach and carrots, two-tone with the fondue, the veal with tuna sauce, a little 'salad and the Russian robiola Roccaverano with CDE grape, known cugnà . After these appetizers the first pass, choosing the traditional dumplings and noodles with meat sauce, with gravy and Castelmagno. Someone in the group instead opts for the risotto with Barbera. In choosing the second we are divided between the rabbit with herbs, cooked infusion cooking that takes about six hours, and makes the meat tender, the braised in Barbera, the sliced pork loin and hazelnuts. Let's water them with kindness of local wines, produced by companies Rocchero Castel, and end up in the bunet sweetness with chocolate and caramel, hazelnut cake with hazelnut sabayon Cortemilia with Moscato d'Asti, and the panna cotta .
In addition to the desire to enjoy these specialties pimeontesi again, another reason why we will come back here during the summer will be "in Castel Rocchero Sella, an event which will see 200-300 people working in a horse trail about 40 km. In the village is also creating a place where you can hold the horses so you can come back here in your free time to the days of trekking along the green paths.
Frances Bertha
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.comune.castelrocchero.at.it
www.castelroccheroinlume.it
www.anticaosteria.org
Antica Osteria
Via Roma, 1 Castel Rocchero (AT)
0141/760257
Closed Mondays