Discover Cortazzone: Churches, Festival Traditions and Rural Culture

Cortazzone combines sacred architectural heritage, rural chapels, a local festival tradition, a Romanesque trail and regional specialties.

Romanesque Church on the Mongiglietto Hill

The Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto is located about one kilometre from Cortazzone’s built-up area, on the hill of the Mongiglietto district. Admission to the church is free.

The church has a three-aisled basilica layout with semicircular apses. Zoomorphic and anthropomorphic sculptures, meaning animal and human representations, can be seen on the façade and apses. Inside, the capitals feature symbolism associated with vices and virtues. For sightseeing, the exterior and interior can be considered separately: outside, the sculptures on the façade and apses; inside, the capitals with their symbolism.

The Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto was declared a national monument in 1880. The Chiesa di San Secondo was partially rebuilt at the end of the 18th century. Castello di Cortazzone was probably built in the 13th century.

In Cortazzone, the name San Secondo is associated both with the Romanesque church and with the Chiesa di San Secondo, where the festival mass takes place.

Chapels and Festival Traditions

The Cappella di San Defendente is a rural place of prayer in the Briccarello district of Cortazzone. The Cappella della Madonna della Valle is a rural chapel and a spiritual point of reference for the local community. Admission to the Cappella della Madonna della Valle is free.

The Festa di San Secondo Martire is Cortazzone’s patron saint’s feast day and is celebrated every year on 26 August. It includes a solemn mass in the Chiesa di San Secondo, followed by a procession through the streets of Cortazzone. The festival programme thus continues from the church service through the town.

Cammino Romanico and Regional Specialties

The Cammino Romanico Cortazzone – Bagnasco – Montafia is 12 kilometres long. It begins at the Chiesa Romanica di San Secondo di Mongiglietto and enters the forest after about one kilometre. The length of twelve kilometres indicates the scope of the route for planning a day; the forest does not begin at the starting point, but after about one kilometre.

The Fiera del Tartufo Bianco del Monferrato in Cortazzone celebrates white truffles together with the region’s gastronomic and artisan specialties; it is scheduled for 6 December 2026. The announced date of 6 December 2026 therefore falls after the annual San Secondo feast day celebrated on 26 August. With white truffles as well as gastronomic and artisan specialties, the Fiera brings together culinary and regional offerings.

More places: Capriglio, Montafia, Cioccaro, Mombercelli, Antignano, Motta Di Costigliole, Belveglio and Roccaverano.

More about the Asti region: Asti.