Nice Drives
Torino
Asti
Castles of Alto Monferrato
Need driving directions? Try Michelin's on-line map with driving directions.
If you have the time and want to take a very beautiful drive:
Take the E74 (the Asti/Alba road) north until it ends and head for Portecamaro, then Scurzolengo, Castagnole Monferrato, Montemagno, Grana, Calliano, Moncalvo, Alfiano Natta, Villadeati, Murisengo, Zanco, Tonco, Castel Alfero. If you have a little extra time head north out of Murisengo to Gabiano. The drive will take you about an hour and a half to 2 hours but you will see some of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy. The countryside is very picturesque and particularly so because of the diverse crops. In season you will see vineyards, sunflower fields, lavender fields, fruit orchards, olive groves, hazelnut orchards along side of the conventional crops like corn and wheat, but what makes this area especially beautiful are the ancient hill-top villages usually containing a castle or beautiful church. The land is primarily used for agriculture so there is relatively little industry.
Tim Brewer's article on Crea: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/piedmont/tb_sacro_monte_di_crea.htm
Our friend Tim Vitale from Utah kept an extensive diary of his bicycling tour through Northern Italy at: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=1414&index=0 the part about Monferrato starts on page 8 and he accounts our rendezvous on page 10.
Val westernmost part of the area. Has the steepest hills and the wildest woods. Coming from Turin, you enter the area from Murisengo, so beloved of Inge Feltrinelli, who lives a few kilometres away and is the official godmother of the region's annual truffle festival.
In the neighbourhood, Villamiroglio, a village founded in 1164, has an 18th century parish church to visit, dedicated to San Filippo. A Pea Festival is held in the town every May.
A few kilometres away is Cerrina with gothic "Casaforte" and fractions churches of Piancerreto and Montalero, where is also an ancient castle, Mombello, of Longobard and Carolingian origins; in the historic centre, the Casa Tornielli and the churches of San Pietro apostolo and San Sebastiano are of note, as is the sanctuary of San Gottardo in the Pozzengo ward.
The Gambarello estate cerrina e Moncalvese
Theat the edge of the Turin road is a large late-18th century farmhouse complex. 
Adjacent to it is Gabiano, a Genoese landed estate which was given by Charlemagne to the Novalesa.
The castle (not open to the public), which dates from the early 13th century, has wonderful views. In the nearby hamlet of Cantavenna, one of the rarest and smallest DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata) wines is produced: Rubino. A visit to Camino is not to be missed, to see one of the most beautiful castles of the area: the tower dates from the year 1000 and the Sala delle Corne has hunting trophies from Venaria Reale and valuable ceramics from the 
Southwards, in the village of Madonnina di Serralunga, you are heartily advised to reach the top of the Sacred Mount of Crea (altitude 443 mt above sea level), the Regional Natural Park registered on the list of Unesco world Patrimony. It enjoys of a breathtaking panorama and it is the centre of Monferrato religion. The Sanctuary keeps paintings and frescos of artists of great relevance. We recommend to visit the 23 chapels up to the “Paradise” one.
Going on to Asti you meet Moncalvo with the remains of the ancient castle, under the ramparts of which people still play at “elastic ball” (balun) or tamburello (tambas). The town is particularly well-known for the festival of the “Fat ox” and the Truffle Fair. There is a beautiful panorama from the central square to the look-out point.
Very nearby, with a delightful drive through the gentle curves of the hills, you reach Casorzo, famous for its excellent Malvasia wine. It was an imperial feud that was destroyed by the Spanish, who massacred the inhabitants.
The parish church, built in 1730 and designed by Magnocavallo, has a splendid façade in terracotta. Among the many paintings inside are two that are attributed to the artist Moncalvo.