ART STILLS AND DISTILLATES

Day 1

Arrive in Casale Monferrato in the early afternoon. Visit the Magnoberta distillery set up in Casale in 1918. A fascinating tour among the pomace, the stills and the extraction column, the oak barrels for ageing: the guided tour is the best way to discover the grappa (in Piedmontese, branda) even before you taste it.
At the end, walk in the historical centre of the ancient capital of Monferrato; starting from Piazza Castello and the imposing Castle of the Paleologi, home to the Gonzaga until the second half of the 16th century, continue to Via Saffi, full of studios, shops and dominated by the civic tower of the 11th century, one of the symbols of the town. Must-see is the Church of San Domenico and the Cathedral of Sant'Evasio; possibility to purchase the traditional Krumiri biscuits, by following the perfume which will take you to the historical Pasticceria Portinaro that guards the original recipe.
Overnight in local b&b or agriturismo.

Day 2

After breakfast short transfer to Altavilla Monferrato. At the Mazzetti Distillery of Altavilla guided tour of the production facility, the captivating barrique cellar, the grappa Gallery to the Enoteca Monferrina, a fascinating underground cellar. In the cozy ambience, guests will take part in a sensory tasting of local products and Grappa, Spirits, Liqueurs, Brandy and Fruit in liqueur and other delights.
Lunch at the Restaurant Materia Prima - combined with the tasting menu you can choose (with an extra charge) a sensory route with small tastings of spirits served after the chef's
courses.
In the afternoon, walk in Vignale Monferrato and visit the Infernot Belvedere.
Possibility to watch a match of tambass, tamburello a muro, a traditional sport of Monferrato which is played here in the municipal sferisterio (on Saturdays/Sundays and according to the FIPT calendar). From March to July, don't miss out on the tamburello experience during the week;
under the guidance of instructors of the federation and players you will learn the secrets of this ancient sport and simulate a challenging match to win point after point.
Dinner at leisure, and overnight accommodation in b&b or agriturismo nearby.

Day 3

Transfer to Nizza Monferrato in the heart of Valle Belbo and where the wine-growing landscapes nearby produce Nizza Barbera Docg.
Walk in the historical centre along the main street to discover the Campanon, the 30-metre high tower of the municipal building and symbol of the battles of the city to defend the territory with two cannonballs stuck in the north side and clearly visible. Then the Cathedral, the piazza del Mercato (must-see on Fridays) and Palazzo Crova. Inside, besides the Regional Wine Store, a full-fledged Museum of Taste with multimedia installations dedicated to the excellent food and wine of Nizza and the surrounding area. Not to be missed on the last floor is the Claudia Formica plaster cast gallery: the artist born here in the early 1900s, studied at the Albertina Academy and from a very young age took part as a woman of the 1920s, in what was a predominantly male occupation, in national and international exhibitions giving us statues and monuments of rare beauty. In Turin, she worked for the renowned Manifattura Lenci, the most famous Italian manufacturer of ceramics between the two wars.
Lunch at leisure in osteria of the centre.
In the afternoon, short transfer to Fontanile: the dome of the Church of San Giovanni Battista will guide you from afar to this magical village known as the village of the murales. All the walls of the houses are painted with everyday scenes which immortalize the inhabitants of the past: the ancient spice shop, the bicycle workshop, the harvest in the fields, the armory. A meeting with Luigi Amerio the local painter who created the project I Muri Raccontano, will make you discover the following protagonists. This will be followed by a visit to Distilleria Berta, another trip into the world of pomace and spirits and with the must-see Museum: here among stills, distillation columns, stands out the original facility of 1947. To end the day, tasting of "amaretti" cookies in the nearby village of Mombaruzzo. They are made of almonds and apricot kernels (which gives the cookies their name) and born from the love of a native of Mombaruzzo, Francesco Moribondo an economist of the Savoy family for a young female pastry chef from Sicily at the Royal House.
Return to Nizza Monferrato, dinner at leisure and overnight in a local b&b or agriturismo.

Day 4

In the morning, stop in Castelnuovo Calcea to visit the "Orme su La Court" Artistic Park in the Michele Chiarlo wine estate.
Between vineyards and cypress trees, the more than one kilometer route alternates meditation points and sculptures by contemporary artists. This fairy-tale route, dedicated to Earth, Air, Water and Fire by the Maestro Emanuele Luzzati, showcases works by internationally acclaimed artists such as Ugo Nespolo, Balthasar Brennenstuhl, Rolando Carbone, Dedo Fossati and Chris Bangle which blend in harmoniously with the surrounding nature. Possibility of wine tasting at the winery.
Alternatively, we suggest an e-bike tour to discover the Val Sarmassa Nature Reserve of 232 hectares in which to appreciate a rich heritage of flora and fauna or the Hills of the Sea starting from the paleontology site of Valmontasca, a small hamlet of Vigliano d'Asti, where the full skeleton of a whale was found in 1959, as far as the nature reserve of Rocchetta Tanaro. Lunch at leisure.
In the afternoon, in Costigliole d'Asti, visit the Beccaris Distillery which was set up as the result of a magic trick (you have to discover the history directly from the descendants). Since 1951, from the choice of pomace, to the distillation passing through the ageing process to the artistic bottles, the family has been carrying forward the craftsmanship and passion of grappa makers. Did you know that you will cross a 'grappaduct' in the new premises of the Beccaris guesthouse?? A one-off experience! Return to Nizza Monferrato, dinner at leisure and overnight in local b&b or agriturismo.

Day 5

After breakfast short transfer to Neive, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Walk along the streets of the centre between gardens and churches to the Clock Tower to enjoy a breathtaking view. Visit Distilleria Romano Levi: the distillery was built by Serafino Levi and was equipped, then as it is now, with a direct-fire still. The house-distillery of the Levi family is now a living and productive Museum of Grappa, a true island of time, in which the Genius Loci of Romano Levi is present everywhere in the art, working methods and timing, in the simple and essential items, in the scents and serenity. For over sixty years, the siblings Lidia and Romano Levi, have continued the tradition of their ancestors, producing a unique Grappa, known to all as "La Grappa della Donna Selvatica". It is not only a pomace distillate, but also the art expressed by Lidia in the herbal compositions immersed in the bottles or by Romano in the poetic labels, drawn by hand; a true artistic current has been identified for these works: Arte Selvatica (Wild Art).
Lunch at leisure, and end of services.