Type of trail: mountain bike
Difficulty: medium
Point of departure and arrival: church of San Michele Arcangelo
Length: circa 23 km
Soil: asphalt and dirt tracks
We start visiting the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo (A). It was built around 1550 but was only consecrated in 1630 by the bishop of Saluzzo. It is located on the highest point of the village, inside you can admire some beautiful frescos made between 1600 and 1800 and other even older paintings. The panoramic viewpoint of the Strada Romantica (B) is near the church and offers an amazing view on the surrounding valleys.
We move to the central street of Mombarcaro. In Piazza della Libertà we find the new parish church (C). It was built by father Bruno to facilitate the parishioners reach the church in winter (since the other one is in a higher position). The first mass was celebrated here on 25th December 1974. In the same square there is a war memorial (D).
In the surroundings of Mombarcaro we can visit the chapel of San Rocco (E) which dates back the 14th century. It holds precious frescos by Antonino Occello from Ceva. Nicola di Aramengo found other original paintings on the apse wall in 1966: “Cavalcata dei vizi” is a representation of the seven deadly sins depicted as figures wearing period dress and riding animals; chained to one another, they rode towards the Gates of Hell, and warned visitors about the terrible pains sinners had to suffer. The painting “Il miracolo di Santo Domingo” testimonies the passage of pilgrims in Mombarcaro during their journey to Santiago de Compostela.
To reach the next atop we’ll pass through forests and typical landscapes of Alta Langa. Once arrived in Monesiglio, we’ll visit the church of San Grato in Bragioli (F) in the Bragioli hamlet. It is thought that it was built in the 18th century; it became a parish church in 1916.
In the Valle hamlet of Mombarcaro we see the chapel of San Bartolomeo della Valle (G). The old building and its archives were destroyed by the French invasions. The actual building was rebuilt in 1958-59 on the old church foundations by the will of the villagers themselves.
We continue to the hamlet of San Luigi and we stop by the shrine of Madonna delle Grazie (H). The shrine was built in 1666, and includes a votive chapel built around the year 1500. Outside there are two sundials.
When we reach Mombarcaro’s ring road we follow the directions toward the tourist office and the historical museum. Beyond the medieval arch (14th century) we find the “scala del cuc” (I). It’s a staircase from the end of 1800, the name is referred to a bricklayer that came here every day to have lunch. Anyway, we could also call it “Scala della sentinella” (stair of the sentinel) since it’s near a room from 1300 whose structure is typical of the Marquis of Saluzzo’s soldiers.
Following the main street, we reach the Historical Museum (J) where we find ethnographic objects from Mombarcaro and the nearest villages and a Roman stele dating back to the 1st century.