Holiday apartment in Monleale: trails, hills and Pellizza culture

Monleale combines hill trails, historic districts, art history and wine traditions into a destination offering a variety of ways to explore. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Monleale, you can base your choice on the combination of hiking, culture and regional specialities you prefer. Monleale Alto and the trails leading from there or from the town into the hilly landscape are particularly characteristic.

Hiking trails to consider when planning a holiday apartment in Monleale

Trail 152, “Il sentiero del Sole”, is marked with CAI trail marker 152 and has difficulty rating E (hiking trail). Starting from Monleale Alto, it is 7.59 km long and takes approximately two and a half hours. The official trail 152 starts at Piazza Capsoni in Monleale Alto. Another option is trail 154, “Intorno al Poggio di Monleale”. It also has difficulty rating E (hiking trail), is 10.72 km long and takes approximately three hours. The route starts at Monleale Town Hall and passes through the Cusinasco district.

This gives you the option of comparing hikes of different lengths when planning your day. Trail 154 is part of the “I Percorsi Pellizziani” hiking network, created in connection with places from the painter’s life and work. Trail 101a, “Il sentiero della Cerreta e della Montà”, starts at the Centro Sportivo in Monleale and reaches Monleale Alto via the old route of the Montà. It runs along the strada vicinale della Cerreta between vineyards and offers views of the surrounding hills and the plain. The “Vita Natura” trail behind the sports hall also leads to the historic upper district of Monleale Alto.

Hills, views and historic districts

Monte Roscella is 388 m high. Trail 152 opens up views of the surrounding hills and the plain. The “Sentiero del Sole” leads to Monte Roscella via places visited by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo during his studies for the creation of the painting “Il Sole”. Monleale is one of the “luoghi pellizziani” associated with Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo.

Monleale Alto is the older district of Monleale, situated on a hilltop, and is also the historic town centre. A castle once stood there. Beside the road leading up to Monleale Alto stands an oak tree more than 300 years old. Monleale Basso developed along the provincial road from Tortona to Caldirola. The two districts therefore reflect different historical and spatial characteristics, which you can take into account when choosing a holiday apartment as a guide to the type of holiday you want to plan.

Art and churches along the way

Trail 101a passes through the hilltop village of Monleale Alto and by the Oratorio della Beata Vergine. Pellizza da Volpedo created one of his works nearby. Materials from the demolished castle were partly used to build the Oratorio del Gonfalone. The parish church of Sant’Ambrogio, reached on the way to the hilltop, dates from the 18th century. Its interior furnishings have a Baroque character.

Wine and regional traditions

The wine landscape is also part of Monleale’s character. The wine traditions associated with the town include Barbera, Croatina and Freisa. The revival of Derthona Timorasso began in Monleale. In Monleale Alto, “Calici di Stelle” has also been an established event for several years, offering tastings of wines and regional products.

Discover more places

For more travel ideas, you can also choose these places: Mongiardino Ligure, Gavi, Frassinello Monferrato, Strevi, Mombello Monferrato, Cereseto, Lerma, Poggio Maggiore.

To the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.