GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe - Stage 9D: Lequio Berria - Benevello

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Highlights and tour details

This route is another section of the GTL variant and reunites with Albaretto on one side, to form a loop, and with Benevello on the other, continuing to follow one of the principal ridges.

Lequio Berria is also a short distance as the crow flies from Benevello; the two are practically at opposite ends of the long hill which, finally, unites with the ridge of the Langhe, namely the crest road which runs along the main ridge between the Tanaro Valley and the Belbo. However, Lequio overlooks the Belbo Valley and practically dominates (above all from the Shrine of Madonna della Neve) Borgomale below which looks really small down there (the geography of the Langhe plays incredible tricks), with the even smaller Church of Santa Caterina to mark the border and welcome travellers.

In the village there is a rare collection of Italo-Russian soft pastel works, begun by the Russian Pierre Tchakhotine and by the painter from Lequio Berria Luigi Carbone in a twinning with the analogous museum of Jaroslav’ in Russia and which today numbers over a hundred paintings. The Oratory of San Rocco is also of note; its ancient Romanesque chapel, refurbished many times, preserves fragments of late-Gothic frescoes including a “Judgement of Pilate and Herod”. Lastly, to be travelled without haste, is the pleasant walk that from the mound of the lost castle (probably a simple tower surrounded by walls) following the votive aedicules takes to the Shrine of Madonna delle Neve, beautiful balcony over the Belbo Valley.

From the main square, climb to the left, cross practically all the village and, going along via Langa, after passing the war monument, cross the provincial road, after the junction with the ring road. Immediately after a lovely villa take the paved road which climbs to the right. After a very scenic stretch, the road descends gently to the right and allows to reach the crossroads of the provincial road: to reach Benevello it is necessary to continue on for a few km to the right.

The position of Benevello is not only historically strategic, perched as it is in the direction of Alba, but also a geographically happy position. From its 670 m asl and with the help of the currents between Belbo and the Berria torrent, it is undoubtedly one of the coolest and ventilated areas of Langhe. The wind of Benevello then creates a sort of crystalline effect on the Lower Langa in winter that appears like a crib cut out in white on the black of the farthest plain, walled again by the white of the Alps on the horizon. At night, the plain lights up with more intense lights than those of the villages of the hills and so Fossano, Savigliano, Saluzzo, Asti and above all Turin can be very easily distinguished. The latter city of Turin lights up the Roero and the hill of Moncalieri-Superga with its brightness, almost as if it were a giant magic lantern.

In Benevello the austere bulk of the castle with the two circular towers (private building) is softened by the light-coloured plaster that provides a backdrop to the beautiful parish church of San Pietro in Vincoli, surrounded by a cool but steep panoramic garden: the handful of streets that complete the village are worth an unhurried stroll.

Attractions

Lequio Berria : International Pastel Collection. Benevello: Parish Church of San Pietro in Vincoli , Church of Madonna di Langa

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

Departure, arrival and municipalities crossed

Departure

Via Roma, 8
12050 Lequio Berria (CN)
Cuneo

see on map

Arrival

Viale Langhe
Benevello
12050 Benevello (CN)
Cuneo

see on map

Links

http://www.langheroero.it/

Langhe Monferrato and Roero