The best road cycling routes around Cortemilia

The Castle of Monastero Bormida was not originally built as a defensive structure but as a Benedictine monastery, founded around 1050 by monks from the Abbey of Fruttuaria, called by the Aleramici Marquises to reclaim the lands devastated by Saracen raids. The 27-meter tower still visible today was originally the bell tower, and the river flowing a few meters from the southern tower confirms the non-military nature of the building. In 1393, the Benedictines abandoned the monastery, and its feudal history began: the fief passed to the Del Carretto marquises, who in the 15th century added the first defensive structures, transforming it into a castle. The building is a quadrangular structure with an internal courtyard, protected by towers on multiple sides and connected to the former bell tower by a small suspension bridge. On the south facade, there is a two-arched Renaissance loggia with a small stone column. Inside, the rooms on the main floor—transformed in the 17th century—feature mosaic floors and sail and cross vaults with frescoes of floral and geometric motifs. The castle later passed to the Della Rovere family and subsequently to the Genoese Polleri family, finally becoming the property of the Municipality starting in 1880. Today it is open to visitors and is part of the regional circuit "Castelli Aperti".

Serole is an Italian municipality of 97 inhabitants[1] in the province of Asti in Piedmont. It is located in the Langhe on the watershed between Bormida di Spigno and Bormida di Millesimo near the Rio Rigosio. It is the southernmost municipality in the province of Asti.

Beautiful old arched bridge.

In a splendid panoramic location, built of Langa stone, it is notable for the Baroque-style decoration of its brick façade. The building's design is attributed to Francesco Gallo, who worked in the Cuneo and Mondovì areas in the first half of the 18th century. The interior retains no decoration. The altar is noteworthy, the last vestige of the pre-existing building. This is evidenced by the fresco depicting the Madonna enthroned breastfeeding the Child, with Saint George, patron saint of Niella Belbo, at her side, dating to the late 15th century. (Quote from the lovelanghe website)

Prunetto from the Uzzone Valley

Roof of the Langhe. From here (it is said) you can see the sea...

Roccaverano is one of the highest elevations in the area, from the town you can enjoy a 360° panorama of both the surrounding hills and the mountains of the Alpine arc (guaranteed view, in good weather, from Monte Rosa to the Maritime Alps!) The road that goes up from Vesime is quite regular, with gradients that almost never exceed 9%, furthermore I found it pleasantly free of traffic (I went up on a Saturday) The central square is very beautiful, dominated by the remains of the castle and the eighteenth-century church, the bar/restaurant is also strategic, perfect for a beer or a snack. An ideal place for a stop, before taking the road back.

Of all the roads that go up to Prunetto, this is undoubtedly the "gentlest" in terms of slope and graduality, perhaps slightly busier than the others but manageable even for those who are not too trained.