Two steps through Castelnuovo Don Bosco, the “Land of Wines and Saints” of the High Astigiano.
Landscape.
Castelnuovo Don Bosco is known throughout the world for being the “Land of Wines and Saints”:
It covers an area of 21.61 km² and it is populated by about, 3200 inhabitants.
It is about 33 km from Asti, the provincial capital.
History.
Archaeological finds testify to the presence of settlements already inhabited in Roman times.
The birth of the Municipality is indicated in 1160 under the dominion of the Marquises of Turin.
Castelnuovo Don Bosco subsequently passed into the hands of the Marquises of Ivrea.
It was under the domination of the Rivalba that Castelnuovo lived in the most important historical period (XII-XIII centuries).
After a brief period under the dominion of Asti, the village returned to the possessions of the Marquises of Monferrato and subsequently under the dominion of Emanuele Filiberto Duca di Savoia.
Notes: notes freely taken from “Castelnuovo Don Bosco - historical news” by Angelo Baumgartner, published by the Municipality of Castelnuovo Don Bosco.
Administration.
In Castelnuovo Don Bosco is located, in Via Roma, the Unione di Comuni Alto Astigiano.
Castelnuovo Don Bosco adheres to the brotherhood pact among all the municipalities of Italy called Castelnuovo (26 in total).
The brotherhood pact was signed in 2004 in the offices of the local municipality (via Roma 12).
Food and wine and typical products.
Once in Castelnuovo Don Bosco you can taste some of the most characteristic dishes of the gastronomic culture of Monferrato: the ancient finanziera, the Piedmontese fried fry, and the apple pie accompanied by the wines Freisa d'Asti and Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco.
The production of honey, grappa, and vinegar is also thriving on the territory.
For mushroom lovers, the stage of the Regional Truffle Fair is noted in November. In summer, instead, everyone must go to the famous Sausage Festival (Sagra della Sautissa) starring the sausage, proposed in different variations.
To be seen.
On Colle Don Bosco stands the Basilica of Don Bosco.
In the area adjacent to the Basilica, the Saint Giovanni Bosco's birthplace and Sanctuary, the Museum of Rural Life (Museo della Civiltà Contadina dell’Ottocento) and the Don Bosco Missionary Ethnological Museum are worth a visit.
The historic center of Castelnuovo Don Bosco is also a treasure trove of beauties not to be missed.
Starting from the Town Hall, via Roma, going up towards the Sanctuary of Madonna del Castello and Tower of Rivalba Castle, the first stop is to be dedicated to the grandiose Monument to Saint Giovanni Bosco.
Nearby is the birthplace of Blessed Giuseppe Allamano.
Continuing up via Umberto I, and in the neighboring streets, you can see: the deconsecrated Church of the Confraternity of Saint Bartolomeo and the parish church of Saint Andrea Apostolo.
A few steps away we find Villa Filippello, Rivalba Palace (Palazzo dei Rivalba), and the birth house and the chapel of Saint Giuseppe Cafasso.
Also in the area, we meet the Church of the Madonna del Roc and the Church of Saint Pietro in Zucca.
The municipal area is further enhanced by the presence of splendid Romanesque churches: the Church of Saint Maria di Cornareto, the Church of Saint Eusebio (11th century), and the Church of Saint Maria di Rasetto (or Raseto).
The itinerary to discover Castelnuovo Don Bosco can be enriched with further stops in the pretty village of Mondonio, located at the center of the naturalistic site of the Muscandia Woods, a humid green area that crosses the countryside of the Lower Monferrato.
Here are located Saint Domenico Savio's House, the Turco Castle (Castello dei Turco), the parish church of Saints Maria e Giacomo, and the aforementioned Church of Saint Maria di Rasetto (or Raseto).
For nature lovers, a visit to the natural sulfur source, the Giant Verdigris Bench, the Xiloteca and Eco Museum of Low Monferrato (Xiloteca ed Ecomuseo del Basso Monferrato Astigiano and, during the flowering period, the lavender field of Cascina Gelosia is recommended.
Curiosity.
Mondonio is today a hamlet of Castelnuovo Don Bosco but still maintains its strong identity spirit: it was a municipality until 1929, that is until the Government decided to suppress the small municipalities and aggregated Pino d'Asti and Mondonio to Castelnuovo Don Bosco.
Another curiosity: in the past, the town was called Castelnuovo d'Asti, which later became Castelnuovo Don Bosco in honor of the famous Don Giovanni Bosco.
Information synthesis and/or re-elaboration was taken from the website of the Municipality of Castelnuovo Don Bosco
Cover image source: Provincia di Asti