GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe - Stage 8: Murazzano

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Highlights and tour details

Section on the cheese roads, which unites the centres of Murazzano and Bossolasco, travelling the road in the ridge of Bossola Pass, travelling one of the most panoramic sections of the entire territory.

The position of Murazzano, which is strategic on the ridge between Tanaro and Belbo, could only make of Murazzano one of the most powerful fiefdoms of the Langhe, justifying its name of “shield and key of Piedmont”. In fact, the concentric, stretched out over the hill like a three-point star that converges on the beautiful stone tower of 33 metres, gives a good idea of this glorious past.

Strolling around the historic centre, we cannot help but be fascinated by the buildings (like the imposing Tovegni), as by the simplest stone houses, but all of them tastefully and solidly built. The parish church of San Lorenzo, in an extraordinary balcony position, deserves an attentive visit, certainly for the Macrino school fresco transferred here. Not to be missed, outside the walls, is the remarkable Shrine of Madonna di Hal.

From the centre of the village, take the state road to the right and then immediately turn left at the junction for the Safari Park. Shortly after, passed the peak, to the right is our grass and pebble crest path that runs along the ridge of Bossola Pass. The path, majestic for panorama and altitude, proceeds first on flat ground and then goes sharply downhill to the Pass, where it re-joins the state road for the section of the crossroad and immediately resumes to the left, continuing on the crest into the wood (watch out for the next crossroad: go straight remaining on the crest), as far as the industrial plant of Basic2. Having left the factory to our left, cross the paved courtyard to continue to the Church of San Rocco, from where you climb again to the watershed to finally reach Bossolasco. At the end of the road, turn left and then take the main road at the height of the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, from where you enter the village.

Bossolasco is the village of painters (the group of Six) and of their historic signs. Fenoglio, like half of Alba, came here on his summer holidays, while the only ski resort in the Langhe was located here in winter!

The small fortified area still preserves its oval shape, but in place of the lost castle there is now the 17^th century Palazzo Balestrino, remarkable late renaissance architecture that reasserted the power and influence which the Del Carretto family always had on the place. Here, in the 1960s, around the hotel Bellavista of the mythical Demetrio Veglio, many of the most important Italian painters met, from Menzio to Fontana, from Casorati to Paulucci. A few curiosities: the town hall is in the former confraternity while, opposite, the headquarters of Unione Montana preserves all the coats of arms of the villages of Upper Langa.

Attractions

Murazzano : Tower of Murazzano , City Gates , Tovegni Palace. Bossolasco , the Village of Roses: Church of Madonna della Mellea

Other information

Source: Unione Montana Alta Langa
Itinerary code: GTL
Recommended period: Apr - Nov
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Langhe Monferrato e Roero