Province AT
Moncalvo, AT
A hill town in the Monferrato, historically the first capital of the marquisate, and often described locally as the smallest place in Italy holding city status. It is best known for two autumn and winter fairs, one for white truffles and one for fattened Piedmontese cattle. It was also the base of the painter Guglielmo Caccia, known as il Moncalvo.
Sights
- The castle of the marquises, now ruins with restored towers, on the high point of town
- Chiesa parrocchiale di San Francesco, with a 13th-century apse and a facade rebuilt in 1932, holding works from the Caccia circle
- Palazzo Testafochi, an 18th-century palace on medieval foundations
- The Teatro Comunale of 1878, in use for a winter season
- Palazzi Manacorda, with 15th-century coffered ceilings
- The former synagogue site in Piazza Castello and the Jewish cemetery on the Alessandria road
Things to do
- Come for the truffle fair and buy from the licensed trifolau stands in Piazza Carlo Alberto
- Eat Monferrato cooking during the June food festival rather than hunting for it out of season
- Walk out from the castle terrace for the view across the Monferrato hills
- Order bollito misto here in December, when the cattle fair defines the town
Annual events
June
Festa delle cucine monferrine
Neighbouring towns bring their traditional dishes, in the third week of June.
October
Fiera del Tartufo Bianco
White truffle market and food stands filling the central square, on the last two Sundays of October.
December
Fiera del Bue Grasso
Fattened Piedmontese cattle shown and judged on the second Wednesday of December, followed by beef-centred eating across the town.
When to visit
The last two Sundays of October for truffles, or December for the cattle fair and bollito.
