Discover Cortazzone: Romanesque architecture, festivals and truffles

Cortazzone combines sacred buildings, a Romanesque route, an annual patron saint’s festival and an announced truffle event.

Romanesque architecture and local history

In the hamlet of Mongiglietto stands the Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto on the hamlet’s hill, about one kilometre from the built-up area of Cortazzone. The church was declared a national monument in 1880. Its three-aisled basilica plan with semicircular apses gives the building a clearly recognisable Romanesque appearance. Its façade and apses feature zoomorphic and anthropomorphic sculptures. Inside, the capitals display symbolism associated with vices and virtues. Admission to the Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto is free. When viewing it, visitors can alternate between observing the exterior architecture and engaging with the motifs in the interior.

The building history of Cortazzone also includes the Chiesa di San Secondo, which was partially rebuilt at the end of the 18th century. The Castello di Cortazzone was probably built in the 13th century. Both topics offer different approaches to the local history: while the church, with its forms and visual motifs, invites close observation, the Castello points to the town’s earlier past.

Walking route and landscape

The Cammino Romanico Cortazzone – Bagnasco – Montafia begins at the Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto and enters the forest after about one kilometre. The Cammino is 12 kilometres long. This makes it possible to plan a connection between the Romanesque building and the landscape experience as part of an active day of travel. Those placing the Cammino in context can distinguish between the first section to the forest and the complete 12-kilometre route.

Chapels, festivals and truffles

Two other sacred sites complete the picture. The Cappella di San Defendente is a rural place of prayer in the hamlet of Briccarello in Cortazzone. The Cappella della Madonna della Valle is a rural chapel and a spiritual point of reference for the local community. Admission to the Cappella della Madonna della Valle is free.

The Festa di San Secondo Martire is Cortazzone’s patron saint’s festival. It is celebrated every year on 26 August. The Festa includes a solemn Mass in the Chiesa di San Secondo, followed by a procession through the streets of Cortazzone. The proceedings then move from the church service onto the streets of Cortazzone.

The region’s food culture also has its own event: the Fiera del Tartufo Bianco del Monferrato in Cortazzone celebrates white truffles together with the region’s gastronomic and craft specialities. The event is announced for 6 December 2026. The December date thus creates a clear temporal accent alongside the August festival.

If you would like to explore more places for your travel planning, you can find Monastero Bormida, Canelli, Montiglio Monferrato, Villafranca D'asti, Cantarana, Pasquana, Bubbio and Castell'alfero here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Asti.