Holiday apartment in Castelnuovo Don Bosco: Churches, Trails and Wine

Holiday apartment in Castelnuovo Don Bosco between culture and trails

Castelnuovo Don Bosco combines the spiritual history surrounding Don Bosco and Domenico Savio with historic churches, nature trails and regional wine tastings. This makes the town a destination where cultural visits, a marked trail to Vezzolano Abbey and regional specialities can be planned as different focal points. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can use these interests as a guide: Would you mainly like to discover the Don Bosco sites and churches, go hiking or taste Freisa and Malvasia?

Don Bosco, Savio and the history of the town

Saint Giovanni Bosco was born on 16 August 1815 at Colle Don Bosco in the Becchi district of Castelnuovo Don Bosco. The Basilica di Don Bosco was built on the site of the former Cascina Biglione and consists of two churches, one above the other. The Museo Etnologico Missionario Don Bosco documents the global dimension of the spiritual vision Don Bosco had in his youth.

The Museo della Civiltà Contadina dell’Ottocento illustrates the life of a 19th-century farming family in the hills of Monferrato and Piedmont. At the entrance to Mondonio stands the cemetery chapel where Domenico Savio was buried. The house museum at the entrance to the village of Mondonio is connected with the life and death of Saint Domenico Savio. The Casa di San Domenico Savio is located on Via San Sebastiano in the Mondonio district of Castelnuovo Don Bosco.

Churches and trails with different profiles

The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Rasetto is located in Mondonio, Castelnuovo Don Bosco, and dates predominantly from the 12th century. The Virgin and Child and several saints are depicted in the apse area. The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Cornareto was restored using the original fragments wherever possible. Its best-preserved part is the apse, made of large blocks of stone. After the car park, you reach it via an approximately 150-metre footpath along a country road to the hilltop.

A route from Castelnuovo Don Bosco to Vezzolano Abbey begins just beyond the town at the Romanesque church of Sant’Eusebio and is marked by a sign. It is a linear out-and-back route over gravel sections, paths and paved stretches. In addition, the Cammino di Don Bosco leads to Colle Don Bosco in Castelnuovo Don Bosco. This allows you to distinguish between a clearly marked route to the abbey and a trail associated with Don Bosco.

Nature trails and wine tastings

Nature trails run through the Muscandia Valley, as well as through the forests of Valpinzolo. Visitors can taste Freisa and Malvasia at the Cantina Sociale del Freisa, as well as at local wineries and restaurants. This allows you to combine nature trails, church visits and a tasting as separate experiences when planning your trip.

The history of the Santuario della Madonna del Castello also remains visible: Beside the sanctuary, only the tall tower of the former castle remains today.

Further places for planning your trip

For further trip planning, you can also find Villafranca D'asti, Cortazzone, Cornalea, Villanova d'Asti, Montafia, Roccaverano, Passerano and San Matteo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Asti.