Holiday apartment in Calliano: hills, history and local traditions

Calliano combines a distinctive hilltop setting with vineyards, unusual culinary traditions and a rich succession of historic sites. When choosing a holiday apartment in Calliano, you can combine cultural discoveries, walks and regional specialities for a varied stay.

Hills and vineyards

Calliano is situated on a hill that separates the Valle Versa from the Valle Grana. The hills around the town are planted with vineyards, including Barbera and Grignolino vines. This landscape gives your stay a distinctly regional character: between the town’s historic traces and the open vineyards, you can create a range of different focuses for your daily plans.

Churches and historic traces

The former castle of Calliano Monferrato was built in the 10th century. It was surrounded by high walls and a moat that was always filled with water; the present-day patrician houses in Calliano’s historic centre were built on its ruins. The Church of San Pietro already existed in 886, and its apse displays high-medieval architectural forms. San Michele is documented from around the year 1000, while its present single-nave structure developed in the late 16th century.

In the hamlet of Perrona, the Church of Sant’Anna dates from the 16th century. It preserves a 17th-century painting of the Adoration of the Magi. The Church of San Rocco on the southern edge of the town already existed in 1556 and was later restored several times, including in 1770 and during the 1970s. In Via Mazzini, the Serra bread oven was used until the middle of the 20th century and restored in the 2000s as a reminder of one of the most significant communal moments in local civic life.

Walking trails and excursions

A short, scenic walk from Calliano leads to the remains of the former parish church of San Felice. The San Rocco–Poggio walking trail leads to the ruined Castello del Poggio, an 18th-century complex that once belonged to the Bishop of Acqui. The San Rocco–Montarsone–Maneggio trail passes the Church of Madonna di Caravaggio and returns to Calliano after approximately 3.5 kilometres along gravel tracks.

Calliano is included in the Green Ways established by the Province of Asti, a network of cycling excursion routes through the municipalities of Monferrato. The Courtin–Strada Serra–Cascine Vercelli–Mulino–Rio Valsesio route runs along a ridge, passes the Fonte della Pirenta and an old watermill, and then follows an unpaved road beside the Rio Valsesio. The Fonte della Pirenta is an old sulphur spring documented since the 13th century. In the hamlet of San Desiderio, Brik Park covers one hectare across three levels of terrain; a now-vanished 12th-century Benedictine monastery once stood there.

Local cuisine and special festivals

Callianeser Agnolotti d’Asino are prepared with minced donkey ragù as well as cheese, ham, eggs and nutmeg. The Sagra dell’Agnolotto d’Asino takes place on the last weekend of June and gives visitors the opportunity to taste the local dish. During the Paglio Ragliante, ten districts and hamlets of Calliano compete in the municipal Sferisterio, now called Piazza del Palio. Each is represented by a donkey led by two Palafrenieri. The Paglio Ragliante began in 1969 as a parody of the historic Palio of Asti. The event “Tra Piazze e Cortili” is intended to open the Callianeser summer and takes place on the first weekend of June; visitors can discover characteristic areas of the historic centre and taste typical dishes.

Choose a holiday apartment in Calliano based on your travel interests

The main considerations can be organised clearly: vineyards and hills shape peaceful days of exploration, churches and castle traces suit historically minded excursions, while trails, Green Ways and festivals offer a more active or food-focused pace. This allows you to choose the right holiday apartment in Calliano according to your preferred balance of culture, landscape, activity and regional cuisine.

More places to include in your travel plans

Other destinations you may wish to consider when planning your regional itinerary include San Damiano D'asti, Corsione, Soglio, Baglio, San Michele, Castel Boglione, Nizza Monferrato and Cortanze.

For the broader travel overview: Asti.