Pecetto in Monferrato: History, Trails and Orchids

Location and Traces of Antiquity

Pecetto di Valenza lies on a hill spur on the eastern edge of the lower Monferrato, which slopes down towards the right bank of the Po; a little downstream, the Tanaro flows into the Po. Pecetto is identified with the ancient Roman settlement of Pecetum Valentinum. The remains of Roman walls in the area around Pecetto are attributed to a large villa or a large agricultural complex. A Roman road surface was found in the hamlet of Pellizzari, possibly belonging to a branch of the Via Giulia, which led from Asti to Valenza.

Church, Square and Historic Buildings

The parish church of Santa Maria is a national monument in the Lombard Baroque style and was built in 1739. On the central square stands a marble monument to Giuseppe Borsalino, erected in 1920 and created by the sculptor Luigi Contratti. The ruins of a tower remain from Pecetto’s former feudal castle. La Rocca, on the upper edge of Pecetto, preserves remnants of fortification walls and includes a small botanical garden with plants from the Monferrato.

The 17th-century Palazzo De Questore bears witness to the good taste of old Pecetto families. The Certosa is an example of Renaissance architecture, with a broad portico supported by columns made of Tuscan granite. Pecetto thus brings together different historical periods: Roman traces, fortification remains shaped by the Middle Ages, a 17th-century building, and Baroque and Renaissance architecture.

Hiking Trails and Views

The Sentiero Pecetto - Bric Montalbano begins at the parish church in Pecetto and follows Via Menada to the valley road. After about 700 metres, the trail continues along an uphill unpaved path. The circular route Among the Orchids of Bric Montariolo is instead an easy hike signposted by the CAI. It leads from Pecetto’s historic centre via trail marker 627 to the town’s sports facilities.

Spring is recommended for the circular route Among the Orchids of Bric Montariolo because of the blooming of wild orchids. From the summit of Bric Montariolo, the view extends across the Po Plain from the Apennines to the Alps. The two trail destinations thus combine an uphill route and an easy signposted hike with a nature theme and expansive landscape views.

Orchids, Rocks and Education

The protected Bric Montariolo area extends mostly across the municipality of Pecetto di Valenza and is home to more than ten species of wild orchids. Thirteen species of wild orchids have been recorded in the Bric Montariolo Nature Reserve. The nature reserve was established mainly to protect the large number of orchid species found there.

Tripoli, a sedimentary rock formed through the slow deposition of the shells of microscopic foraminifera and diatoms, is exposed near Pecetto. The fossil exhibition introduces visitors to palaeontology through educational panels, staged displays and dioramas. The Giuseppe Borsalino Civic Library has books, magazines and multimedia resources and serves as a cultural centre for events, conferences, book presentations, and activities for children and adults.

Discover More Places

Guazzolo, Casasco, Corteranzo, Predosa, Castelnuovo Bormida, Trisobbio, Gamalero and Fabbrica Curone

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.