L'incantevole paese langarolo Monforte d'Alba nel 2018 è entrato, di diritto, a far parte dei borghi più belli d’Italia.
Di origine romana, Monforte d'Alba, anticamente detto Mons Fortis, dal nome del castello che nel Medioevo sorse sulla cima della sua collina, fu possedimento longobardo e carolingio.
Secondo documenti storici qui nel 1028 trovarono rifugio eretici catari che vennero peseguitati e puniti.
Nel XIII secolo divenne feudo dei marchesi Del Carretto e successivamente dei marchesi Scarampi del Cairo fino al 1703 quando venne conquistato dall'esercito di casa Savoia diventando definitivamente parte del regno di Piemonte e di Sardegna.
Il centro storico del borgo, arroccato sulla collina, si sviluppa a ventaglio attorno all’antico campanile, ultimo resto della vecchia chiesa parrocchiale.
Lo si raggiunge risalendo le strette stradine che conducono alla Piazza dell'Antica Chiesa dove sono situati la maggior parte degli edifici storici e dove fa bella mostra di sè l’Auditorium Horszowski, un anfiteatro a cielo aperto ricavato sfruttando una pendenza del terreno.
Questo luogo rappresenta anche una meravigliosa terrazza sui vigneti circostanti che hanno fatto di
Monforte d'Alba uno degli undici comuni produttori del rinomato Barolo.
Poco distante dalla Torre Campanaria sorge il Palazzo Scarampi edificato dai del Carretto sui resti dell'antico castello medioevale andato distrutto.
Vale la pena percorrere i diversi vicoli del centro storico; qui molti degli antichi palazzi nobiliari sono stati restaurati ed offrono scorci deliziosi.
E' anche possibile ammirare due antiche meridiale, una in Via del Carretto che riporta al centro una clessidra alata, l'altra in Via Vallada, sulla torre del palazzo Martina, recante la scritta del poeta Catullo "Il sole può calare e ritornare per noi, quando la breve luce cade resta una eterna notte da dormire".
Scendendo nella parte nuova dela città di Monforte d'Alba resta da vedere la Chiesa della Madonna della Neve, realizzata agli inizi del Novecento in stile neo-gotico su progetto dell'ingegner Giuseppe Gallo.
Una visita a questo bel borgo medioevale non può, inoltre, trascurare la parte legata all'enogastronomia. Diverse sono le cantine che si possono visitare sul territorio comunale come buona è la scelta di locali dove poter gustare i piatti tipici come la bagna cauda, i tajarin, il bollito misto accompagnato dalla salsa “bagnet verd” e l'immancabile bonet.
Come molte altre importanti località delle Langhe anche Monforte d'Alba ha la sua Big Bench, panchine giganti realizzate grazie all'idea del designer americano Chris Bangle.
In realtà ne ha ben due: una rosa in località Cascina Castelletto ed una viola poco oltre il centro storico e con vista sul borgo.
Monforte d'Alba, one of the most beautiful burgh in Italy - Langhe
The enchanting village of the Langhe, Monforte d'Alba in 2018 entered, by right, to be part of the tour "Borghi più belli d'Italia".
With Roman origin, Monforte d'Alba, formerly called Mons Fortis, from the name of the castle that in the Middle Ages was built on the top of its hill, was a Longobard and Carolingian possession.
According to historical documents here in 1028 Cathar heretics found shelters but they were weighed and punished.
In the XIII century it became a fief of the marquises Del Carretto and later of the marquises Scarampi of Cairo until 1703 when it was conquered by the army of the House of Savoy, becoming definitively part of the kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia.
The historic center of the village, perched on the hill, extends around the ancient bell tower, the last remnant of the old parish church.
It can be reached by going up the narrow streets that lead to the Piazza dell'Antica Chiesa, where most of the historic buildings are located and where stands out the Auditorium Horszowski, an open-air amphitheater created by taking advantage of a slope of the ground.
This place also represents a wonderful terrace over the surrounding vineyards that they have made of
Monforte d'Alba one of the eleven municipalities producers of the renowned Barolo.
Not far from the Bell Tower rises the Palazzo Scarampi built by the del Carretto on the remains of the ancient medieval castle that was destroyed.
It is worth going through the different alleys of the historic center; here many of the ancient noble palaces have been restored and offer enchanting views.
It is also possible to admire two ancient sundials, one in Via del Carretto with a winged hourglass in the center, the other in Via Vallada, on the tower of the Martina palace, bearing the inscription of the poet Catullus "The sun can set and return for us , when the short light falls it remains an eternal night to sleep ".
Going down to the new part of the city of Monforte d'Alba it remains to be seen the Church of the Madonna della Neve, built in the early twentieth century in a neo-Gothic style designed by the engineer Giuseppe Gallo.
Furthermore, a visit to this beautiful medieval village cannot overlook the part linked to food and wine. There are several wineries that can be visited in the area as it is good to choose places where you can taste typical dishes such as bagna cauda, tajarin, mixed boiled meat accompanied by the “bagnet verd” sauce and the inevitable bonet.
Like many other important towns in the Langhe, also Monforte d'Alba has its Big Bench, giant benches made thanks to the idea of the American designer Chris Bangle.
In reality, it has two Big Bench: one rose in Cascina Castelletto and another violet just beyond the historic center and with a view of the village.
The enchanting village of the Langhe, Monforte d'Alba in 2018 entered, by right, to be part of the tour "Borghi più belli d'Italia".
With Roman origin, Monforte d'Alba, formerly called Mons Fortis, from the name of the castle that in the Middle Ages was built on the top of its hill, was a Longobard and Carolingian possession.
According to historical documents here in 1028 Cathar heretics found shelters but they were weighed and punished.
In the XIII century it became a fief of the marquises Del Carretto and later of the marquises Scarampi of Cairo until 1703 when it was conquered by the army of the House of Savoy, becoming definitively part of the kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia.
The historic center of the village, perched on the hill, extends around the ancient bell tower, the last remnant of the old parish church.
It can be reached by going up the narrow streets that lead to the Piazza dell'Antica Chiesa, where most of the historic buildings are located and where stands out the Auditorium Horszowski, an open-air amphitheater created by taking advantage of a slope of the ground.
This place also represents a wonderful terrace over the surrounding vineyards that they have made of
Monforte d'Alba one of the eleven municipalities producers of the renowned Barolo.
Not far from the Bell Tower rises the Palazzo Scarampi built by the del Carretto on the remains of the ancient medieval castle that was destroyed.
It is worth going through the different alleys of the historic center; here many of the ancient noble palaces have been restored and offer enchanting views.
It is also possible to admire two ancient sundials, one in Via del Carretto with a winged hourglass in the center, the other in Via Vallada, on the tower of the Martina palace, bearing the inscription of the poet Catullus "The sun can set and return for us , when the short light falls it remains an eternal night to sleep ".
Going down to the new part of the city of Monforte d'Alba it remains to be seen the Church of the Madonna della Neve, built in the early twentieth century in a neo-Gothic style designed by the engineer Giuseppe Gallo.
Furthermore, a visit to this beautiful medieval village cannot overlook the part linked to food and wine. There are several wineries that can be visited in the area as it is good to choose places where you can taste typical dishes such as bagna cauda, tajarin, mixed boiled meat accompanied by the “bagnet verd” sauce and the inevitable bonet.
Like many other important towns in the Langhe, also Monforte d'Alba has its Big Bench, giant benches made thanks to the idea of the American designer Chris Bangle.
In reality, it has two Big Bench: one rose in Cascina Castelletto and another violet just beyond the historic center and with a view of the village.
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