GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe - Stage 9A: Serravalle Langhe - Cerretto Langhe | Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo and Ossola Valleys

Loading...

Highlights and tour details

Variant to the ridge route of the GTL, this section makes it possible to reach Albaretto Torre, if desired, to make a ring and return towards the starting point. This first part of the itinerary stops in Cerretto Langhe.

Leave Serravalle Langhe along the provincial road towards Bossolasco for about 100 metres. At the first junction, take the road to the left for the hamlet of Villa, following a secondary ridge on the Belbo Valley. Leave aside a few detours to the right and go past a farm first then, in Castellero, the ancient Church of San Michele Arcangelo, a small gem that has survived from the ancient settlement, with a beautiful Romanesque apse of the 13^th century and a lively, freshly restored, plastered Baroque façade.

The very scenic road descends gently and reaches the sheds of a livestock farm: at the next bend, a few metres from the hamlet of Villa (which is worth a visit, since it was the first core of the village), turn to the right on the wide gravel road that descends to Cascina Castelvecchio. From the area beside the courtyard, continue on the left side, skirting a dry stone wall, for a few metres on flat ground. Enter the wood, keeping close to the crest, to descend with a moderate slope thanks to several bends. Follow the most beaten track until you meet the abundant croplands that surround Cascina Barilotto: from the houses, the trail continues to the left, on flat ground for a long section, and then descends quickly towards the Belbo valley floor. Having reached close to the bank of the Rio Lavagello, cross it with some care. Climb left, onto the next flat area to enter the trail that climbs towards the right. The track climbs to the remains of the Lavagello homes; it crosses them and continues among the pines on lovely cobbled road. Shortly you meet a dirt track and follow it to the right: the route continues half way up the hill, for a long flat section, in a wood that is still wild, suspended over the Belbo Valley. Having reached a junction, climb to the left for a few metres and abandoning the sunny side, enter the wood that is exposed northwards, fresher and richer in chestnuts and beautiful beech trees. Several difficult sections allow to climb again and to quickly reach a modest saddle, from which you can glimpse the houses of Cerretto Langhe, perched on the next ridge. Continue on flat ground and after a slight descent, go passed a very small stream. The road continues with a vast semicircle and climbs the opposite slope of the hill: you reach Cerretto Langhe with a last section on a difficult ramp, coming out in the intimate square of Sottana.

To speak of Cerreto means first and foremost speaking of balon (Pallapugno in Italian) the sport of the Langhe, which has its own cradle of tradition here. The lovely stone village is embellished by several respectable buildings and, above all, by the Church of Sant’ Andrea (13^th century), with a Romanesque bell tower and late Gothic frescoes, to magnify a past of wealth and patronage.

In place of the destroyed fortress (did it disappear with that of Arguello? Probably!) in Cerretto they did things on a grand scale in the 19^th century, commissioning the new parish church to the genius loci of Dogliani, Giovan Battista Schellino who brought a corner of his neo-gothic visionary to this medieval village. The construction is truly remarkable and in some ways brings back a vertical volume on that bare mound where towers, ramparts, walkways and bridges once stood.

Attractions

Serravalle Langhe : Marquis Palace, Church of San Michele , Church of Santa Maria Vergine Assunta .

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