Cortazzone: the charm and the mysteries of the Romanesque “abandoned” masterpiece on the hill of Mongiglietto.
Landscape.
Cortazzone rises in the High Astigiano.
It covers an area of 10.33 km² and has a population of about 650 inhabitants.
It is about 19 km from Asti, the provincial capital.
History.
Cortazzone is a village of ancient origin.
The town was a possession of the Azzone, the Pellettas, and the Order of Saints Maurizio and Lazzaro.
Administration.
Food and wine and typical products.
Typical dishes of the area are anchovies in a green sauce and egg noodles with truffles.
The prized hypogeum mushroom is the protagonist, in December, of the Monferrato White Truffle Fair (Fiera del Tartufo Bianco del Monferrato).
To be seen.
The town develops around its Castle, now privately owned.
A few steps away is the parish church of Saint Secondo.
Also nearby, the Confraternity of Saint Rocco (18th century) is worth a visit.
In Cortazzone there is another splendid church, of Romanesque origin, dedicated to the cult of San Secondo: it rises on the hill of Mongiglietto.
In addition, there is street artwork created in the summer of 2020 by the boys of the municipal summer center.
Curiosity.
On the south side of the Romanesque Church of Saint Secondo, there is a very particular sculpture which, according to the study of Piero Leonardi (1984), would refer to a mating scene.
Information synthesis and/or re-elaboration was taken from the website of the Municipality of Cortazzone
Cover image source: Provincia di Asti