Attractions and Places To See around Cavatore - Top 20

Monastero Bormida is a charming Italian medieval village located in the province of Asti, in Piedmont, nestled in the picturesque landscapes of the Langa Astigiana. The village was founded around the year 1050, when a group of Benedictine monks was called by Marquis Aleramo to clear and repopulate the lands devastated by Saracen raids.

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".

The ROMANESQUE BRIDGE dates back to the 14th century. Through the characteristic Vicolo del Droc—where one of the city gates once stood and where the entrance to an ancient oven can still be seen—you reach the Romanesque bridge over the Bormida River, still in use. It represents one of the most interesting works of medieval civil engineering in the valley, and its counterpart, in Spigno, is the similar bridge at the Abbey of San Quintino. Both were built by Benedictine monks. It is a massive humpbacked structure with four spans. The Monastero bridge was the only one passable year-round from the lower valley: Acqui did not have one.

Thermal spring in the city center

Beautiful old arched bridge.

To discover its origins, we must step back in time to the Middle Ages, a period when Alice Bel Colle was a possession of the Counts of Acquesana, later passing under the rule of the Gonzaga family of Mantua, and finally to the House of Savoy. The smallness that distinguishes Alice Bel Colle, however, does not detract from its beauty and uniqueness. Indeed, despite being a small village of 700 inhabitants, it holds a veritable treasure trove of history, culture, and traditions. Examples include the Museum of Contemporary Art, which houses interesting works by renowned artists, the Parish of San Giovanni Battista, and the Church of the Madonna della Fraschetta, which not only serves as a place of worship but is also a focal point during local festivals and demonstrates a strong connection with its inhabitants. Among the culinary traditions, we find the ever-present amaretti biscuits; as for wine, however, there are renowned wines such as Brachetto, Infernotto Barolo, and Moscato. (Quote from the website granmonferrato.it: hill towns, Alice Bel Colle)

Cycle path out of the city

Thermal water fountain located in the center of an elegant square that well represents the nature of the city's waters