Le Vecchie Fonti

The "Le Vecchie Fonti" trail, marked with trail marker no. 860, winds through the rolling hills surrounding the town of Fubine Monferrato, allowing you to appreciate the landscape and the village perched on the ridge, characterized, among other things, by the presence of numerous "Infernot." This natural environment, shaped over the centuries by the work of man, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

Once you reach Boschetto, you can It's possible to shorten the hike, completing a loop of about 9.5 kilometers.

From Piazza Robotti, travel a few meters on the provincial road towards Alessandria and then turn right towards Nani – Vergani. Ignore Via Longo, which climbs into the village, and after a few dozen meters, turn right onto the gravel road that runs along the Brina Valley, from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the village of Fubine.

Continue along the dirt road for a long stretch and reach the Fontana Lunga, once a popular water fountain for local residents who would draw water from here. Continue through the woods, climb a short but steep climb, and reach the paved road, where you'll find a water fountain.

Take a left and follow the gravel road for about a kilometer until you reach the Cascina Sabbionina farmhouse.

Then continue along the dirt road that descends through the woods until you reach a fork where you turn right. Follow the beautiful road that runs along the Rio Valley, passing the slopes of the hill where Franchini, a hamlet of Altavilla Monferrato, is located.

After passing an old brick structure, the Rabatin Well, another water supply point from the past, continue along the valley floor road, cross the paved road, and continue straight for a short distance. Turn right near a hazelnut grove and immediately left, skirting the woods.

After a flat stretch, leave the road and turn right onto the path that climbs up through the woods with a couple of hairpin bends. On the right, you'll find a small side path that, in a few steps, takes you to a cave carved into the tuff, used as a hideout by partisans during World War II.

Return to the main path and continue until you exit the woods onto a gravel road in Boschetto. From here, you can turn right and return to Piazza Robotti in about three kilometers, making for a more leisurely walk. Short: if you prefer to follow the main route, turn left and, after a few meters, take the path on the left that descends into the woods.

A short distance away, next to the path, you'll find a small hole in the ground where a water spring once stood, called Fonte del Boschetto. Continue through the thick vegetation until you reach a country lane, where you must keep right to reach the paved road.

Keep right and follow the paved road until you pass near the hamlet of Casazze, a hamlet of Altavilla M.to. Continue straight on the dirt road that crosses a small, quiet valley and climbs to the ridge, where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the rolling hills of Monferrato.

Take the gravel road on the right that runs alongside the ancient hamlet of Cascina Bordona, now a tourist village. Pass the Cascina dell'Olio and shortly after, leave the road and take the path on the left that descends into the woods. Turn right, circling a farmhouse and then rejoining the gravel road in Boschetto, passing just a few meters from the outward route.

Continue on the gravel until you reach the asphalt road in Regione San Rocco, where the small church of the same name stands, and keep left, following the municipal road that heads back towards Fubine. Next to the main road, you'll find the signpost. Further ahead is the Capuchin Church, which houses the valuable sepulchral monument, the work of Leonardo Bistolfi, of Count Emanuele Cacherano di Bricherasio, founder of the Italian Automobile Club and FIAT.

At the next crossroads, continue straight on Via Pavaranza, passing by Palazzo Bricherasio, an ancient castle that now houses a retirement home. When you reach the end of the surrounding wall, take the alley on the left that quickly leads to the belvedere.

A few steps away, you'll reach Piazza Cristoforo Colombo, home to the ancient parish church with its tall bell tower, the town hall, and an 18th-century residence, Casa Pane. Next to this building, a covered alley leads to a Another panoramic balcony, formed by the ancient ramparts that once surrounded the village, overlooks the Brina Valley.

After walking along the ramparts to the Church of the Battuti, return to the main street, continuing straight along Via Longo and descending to the valley floor, where you intersect with the outward route and return to Piazza Robotti, where this interesting itinerary began.

• Bricherasio Palace (castle with adjoining park)
• Casa Pane (18th-century residence)
• Spalto (ancient defensive walls)
• Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta
• Church of the Battuti, now deconsecrated and used for cultural purposes
• Small Church of Conserra, dedicated to Saint Peter
• Funeral monument of Emanuele Cacherano di Bricherasio (Bricherasio Chapel in the Cappuccini area)
• Infernot, small underground rooms dug into the Pietra da Cantoni and located beneath numerous houses in the village (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Ai Due Olmi Restaurant, Via Pietro Longo, 14 - 15043 Fubine Monferrato, Tel. 389 5559359

- Il Biancospino Restaurant, Fugassa Region, 15043 Fubine Monferrato, Tel. 340 1638181

- Cantico dei Capperi Restaurant, Via Giuseppe Bertoldi, 7 - 15043 Fubine Monferrato, Tel. 0131 033419

- Catana Bar, Corso Aldo Porro, 22 - 15043 Fubine Monferrato, Tel. 327 9335394

- Margara Golf Club, Margara Region, 7 - 15043 Fubine Monferrato Tel. 0131 778555

From Alessandria follow the provincial SP 50 towards Fubine up to km. 12+200, where you leave your car in the car park on the right (piazza Robotti).