Sarezzano: Hills, Romanesque Heritage and Wine

Sarezzano Among Hills, History and Wine

Sarezzano lies in the Tortona Hills between the Grue Valley and the hills that slope down towards the plain. This location gives the area a clear landscape character: the hills combine historical heritage, vineyards, paths and wide panoramas. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Sarezzano, you can base your choice on the interests that shape your stay – culture, landscapes, hiking or regional wine.

Romanesque Heritage on the Hilltop

On the hilltop where the castle once stood is the Parrocchiale dei Santi Ruffino e Venanzio. It is an important example of Romanesque architecture. In this Romanesque church on the Il Castello hilltop, the Codex Purpureus Sarzanensis was found in 1585 together with the remains of the patron saints Ruffino and Venanzio. The Gospel book dates from the 5th to the 6th century. The Codex Sarzanensis originated in the parish of Sarezzano; some of its leaves are on display at the Diocesan Museum in Tortona.

Several other special places are also part of Sarezzano’s history and landscape. In the ancient Cappella di San Ruffino in the hamlet of the same name, valuable early medieval friezes are embedded in the structure. In the hamlet of Rocca Grue stands a centuries-old oak whose leaves remain green throughout the year. The Roman villa of the Quinzi family was located in the hamlet of Valle Sant’Innocenzo. The Festa dei Santi Ruffino e Venanzio is the patronal festival of the municipality of Sarezzano and is one of the year’s most important civic and religious events for the local community.

Panoramas and Paths

The Il Castello hilltop above Sarezzano and nearby Montegualdone offer far-reaching panoramas. For active days, the Sentiero del Gambera leads as a scenic circular trail through the areas of Tortona, Sarezzano and Villaromagnano. This makes it possible to view cultural experiences and exercise in the landscape as different focuses of a stay.

Wine Landscapes and Regional Specialities

Wine also shapes local discoveries. With advance reservation, Claudio Mariotto offers a tasting of the winery’s entire wine production. Claudio Mariotto also offers, with advance reservation, tastings of Timorasso wines accompanied by typical cured meats and regional cheeses. Claudio Mariotto’s vineyards lie between Vho and Sarezzano at an altitude of 250 to 300 metres above sea level. The Timorasso vineyard of Vigneti Fontanalbina lies at an altitude of 320 metres, on calcareous and gravelly soils and with a south-easterly orientation. The Mutti winery in Sarezzano manages 15 hectares of specialised vineyards and works with the Timorasso, Cortese, Barbera, Croatina and Freisa grape varieties. Andrea Mutti of Andrea Mutti Azienda Agricola was among the first winegrowers to follow Walter Massa in rediscovering the Timorasso grape variety.

Getting There and Choosing the Location of Your Holiday Apartment

The transport connections around a holiday apartment in Sarezzano are also clearly defined for practical planning. A bus route connects Avolasca, Cerreto Grue, Sarezzano and Tortona; in Sarezzano it stops at the Sarezzano and Località Fornace stops. The nearest listed rail connection is Tortona railway station, approximately 6 km from Sarezzano. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore take your preferred arrival by bus or train into account alongside the experiences on offer.

Discover More Destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Lu, Cassine, Cuccaro Monferrato, San Giuliano Vecchio, Borgoratto Alessandrino, Cadepiaggio, Gavi and Vignale Monferrato.

To the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.