Discover Cardona: Trails, Geology and History

Cardona can be discovered from several perspectives on an individual trip to Italy. The place combines the route of the Sentiero I Colli Pietrosi with forest, geological history and historical evidence.

Cardona between Trail and Forest

The Sentiero I Colli Pietrosi passes a small equipped area on its way to Cardona; near the Sant’Agata chapel, the trail turns off. If you include Sant’Agata and Cardona in the same day of hiking, the visit to the village can be planned as a separate section of the trail route.

After entering Cardona, Stage 5 of the trail continues for about 3 kilometres through the forests of the Parco Naturale Ex Cave di Cardona. For your individual route planning, you can consider the approximately 3-kilometre forest section after entering Cardona separately.

Cava di Cardona and Landscape History

The former Cava di Cardona quarry was once used to extract building materials and was abandoned about fifty years ago. At the former Cava di Cardona quarry, the earlier extraction of building materials can be viewed as human intervention in the landscape.

Geological History of the Cardona Formation

The Cardona Formation forms the basis of the “Bacino Terziario Piemontese”. Its type locality is in the Cardona hamlet of Alfiano Natta. Geologically, the formation belongs to the Lower Oligocene, more precisely the Rupelian, and is approximately 33.9 to 27.8 million years old. The formation is therefore significantly older than the Roman funerary stele from the 1st century AD and the church from the 16th century. For those interested in culture and geological history, this provides a timeframe millions of years before the historical evidence of the village.

Sant’Eusebio and Roman Traces

The Church of Sant'Eusebio in Cardona dates from the 16th century and has a Latin cross floor plan. Both features offer you direct access to the architecture of the village: you can consider the construction period and basic form without requiring specialist knowledge. In a Latin cross, the longer shaft faces the shorter transept arm.

A Roman marble funerary stele bearing the busts of a married couple is set into the façade of the rectory next to Sant'Eusebio. The stele dates from the 1st century AD.

Cardona was one of the hamlets of Alfiano through which Don Bosco passed on this occasion.

A Culinary Highlight in Alfiano Natta

The restaurant at Agriturismo Crealto in Alfiano Natta serves tasting menus with selected, high-quality ingredients. If you would like to add a gastronomic focus to your travel planning, you can consider visiting the restaurant at Agriturismo Crealto in Alfiano Natta alongside the Cardona themes.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to compare more places for your trip to Italy, also discover Momperone, Cassine, Volpedo, Acqui Terme, Sanico, Ricaldone, Caldirola, Borgo San Martino.

To the main travel overview: Alessandria.