Discover Cornalea: Giant Bench, Culture and Cheese Tradition

There is also a garden in the wider regional area. This opens up different focuses for you, ranging from culinary history and architectural heritage to outdoor activities.

Village District, Landscape and Architectural Heritage

The Cascina Padronale di Cornalea is located in the Cornalea village district. It is considered an SS34 area of significant historical and ecological value. The area is characterized by cultivated land and rural settlement centers that emerged from a reorganization during the contemporary era. The Cappella di San Carlo is also located in the Cornalea village district of Rocchetta Tanaro.

Rustica and Culinary History

Rustica is a savory tart made with puff pastry and filled with various types of cheese, usually a combination of soft and hard cheeses. According to the traditional origin story of Rustica, at the beginning of the 20th century a cheese seller named “'l Furmagé” lived in the Cornalea village district of Rocchetta Tanaro. He traveled through the villages of the Tiglione and Tanaro valleys in a horse-drawn cart to sell cheese. The Pro Loco of Rocchetta Tanaro takes part in the Festival delle Sagre di Asti with its Rustica ai formaggi, held on the second weekend of September.

Giant Bench and Trails Through the Vineyards

The Giant Bench can be reached from Provincial Road 27 via a steep unpaved road through the vineyards. After leaving the provincial road, there is a meadow that serves as a car park; from there, a short footpath leads uphill. The steep, unpaved access road and the short ascent should be taken into account as trail characteristics when planning your day on site. The red-and-gold Giant Bench was inaugurated on May 29, 2022, and bears number 215 in the Big Bench Community Project. A 9 km trail connects Rocchetta Tanaro and Cornalea.

Palaces, Museum and Parks in the Surrounding Area

Palazzo Catena, Palazzo Gazelli di Rossana and Palazzo del Seminario are palaces in the area surrounding Cornalea. The Museo Ebraico is a museum in the area surrounding Cornalea. Parco Monte Rainero, Parco Biberach Ander Riss and Parco Rio Crosio are also located in the surrounding area, each as a park. Giardini “Maestri Ottavio” is a garden in the wider regional area surrounding Cornalea.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Focus

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation for your trip to Cornalea, you can align the focus of your stay with your own travel pace. The Giant Bench, rural architectural heritage and Rustica represent different perspectives: outdoor activities, regional history and food. This allows you to base your location choice on the interests that you want to shape your days in Cornalea.

Other places: Moasca, Cellarengo, Cassinasco, Mongardino, Castelnuovo Belbo, Montemagno, Castelletto Molina, Montabone

To the higher-level travel overview: Asti.