The Blonde and the Mill Cottage: A weekend at Villanova d'Asti
Since ancient times, if the surrounding Asti a major character was going to give particularly fertile soil and placed in a gentle green landscape of woods, meadows and hills, the territory of what was in Villanova d'Asti. The fact that these places had always been well appreciated is evidenced by the agglomerates in Roman times, these Brassicarda, the plots that were assigned to the veterans. In later centuries the Emperor Otto III was instead to donate the land in the village of Pavia Corveglia the Benedictine nuns of San Felice. In the thirteenth century on the place settled the Augustinian canons and was born an important abbey, restored in the recent past and now private property.
We begin our walk in the city protected by Isidore and officially founded in 1248, visiting the fifteenth Municipal Tower, 26 meters high. In the immediate vicinity we find a temple once belonged to the Brotherhood of Batu, who is now a cultural center that attracts many people both with its beautifully restored eighteenth-century frescoes, with both concerts and other cultural events in which it is based.
Among the beautiful churches of Villanova, visit one dedicated to St. Martin, which holds within it many precious works of art, including the magnificent wooden altar and two paintings by Moncalvo. In 1690 the population made a vow to Our Lady through which the city was saved from destruction was feared that the French intended to operate at Villanova. To date, the Mayor participates every year at Immaculate Conception Mass at the church of San Martino, thus continuing the tradition of the vote. At that time many were the bitter clashes between the French and Spanish, but the massive walls star managed to protect the city. But also the protection of Our Lady is very much felt in Villanova, because in the Napoleonic era when the Virgin appeared. On the site of the miraculous is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace. In his path, the Flower Festival every summer is realized: a long carpet made from the petals of flowers that draw religious images.
Villanova d'Asti is probably the only place where if you speak of "blonde", no one thinks of a woman, cigarettes or beer, although the famous blonde is yes, a beautiful girl in his own way: it is the hen typical of the Piedmont, the meat quality and sought after. In fact, agriculture, and in particular the cultivation and milling of cereals have been productive activities of the municipality since the dawn of time. Already in the eleventh and twelfth centuries there were mills in the valley of the river Traversola, who took advantage of the hydraulic energy of the channel.
For our weekend of relax in the peaceful landscape of Asti, we chose one of these old mills, the Mill Inn Farmhouse, situated on the road to Montafia. After being accommodated in our beautiful rooms, tastefully decorated, before dinner we go to visit the mill, whose ancient millstones are still the original, undisturbed by time. His great iron wheel, of a nineteenth century building to replace the original wood, is capable of generating an output of six horses.
If the location is one of those steeped in history, the restaurant, from the end of 2003 is managed by a renowned banqueting and catering company, The Art of Dinner with twenty-five years of experience in the field of haute cuisine. They were the ones to take care of the reception and dinner for the wedding of a friend of ours, who had been enthusiastic about the quality of their culinary creations. Here we are dedicated to savor a delicious dinner of culinary arts, starting with appetizers of Piedmontese tradition, presented with imagination and originality: the crude joke fassone the knife with vegetable crudités, the rump of veal from the heart pink sauce old tuna without mayonnaise, thistles, and the flan with anchovy sauce. We follow these delicacies from the three essential ravioli roast, served with their sauce. Gustiamo also egg noodles with duck sauce, with leeks and maltagliati Cervera and sausage. In choosing between the second we divide the portfolio of veal stuffed with ham, Tomme, raschera and black truffle, the broiled rack of lamb with thyme sauce and baked fassone vein of caramel Barbera d'Asti. Crowned this gourmet dinner also yielding to the temptation of desserts: chocolate cake, tiramisu and peach pie and macaroons.
After this beautiful weekend, also passed between walks along the paths, wrapped in warm colors of autumn, we are confident that we will return to the old mill as soon as possible.
Francesca Bertha
INFOS:
www.vnat.it
www.larteatavola.it
L’Arte a Tavola
Mulino del Casale
Strada Provinciale per Montafia, 23 Villanova d’Asti (AT)
Tel.: 0141/947006