Moasca: Castle History, Wine and Nature

Moasca combines historic castle remains, churches, winemaking and a protected natural area. If you are interested in the history of Italian towns, you will find points of interest here ranging from the history of the fortress and religious architecture to local wines. The Rivi wetland and the suitability of the hilly setting for astronomical observation also offer a perspective on the landscape and the sky. This allows you to give different priority to culture, culinary experiences and nature when planning your individual trip.

Castle, History and Churches

The surviving parts of Moasca Castle are the remains of a building constructed in 1351. The former fortress was destroyed by the Guelph Solaro faction in July 1308 after a 22-day siege. In 1999, the municipality of Moasca launched a program to restore and enhance the surviving castle complex, including the restoration of its large underground cellar. Today, the restored castle houses the Museum of the Collections of Davide Lajolo.

The parish church of San Pietro dates from the late 17th century. The Church of San Rocco dates from the same period. It is built of terracotta and has a bell tower and a portico. Together, the two churches show how closely local history and religious architecture are connected in Moasca.

Rivi and the Landscape

The Paludo e Rivi di Moasca nature reserve covers 7.09 hectares within Moasca. The Rivi area is a wetland protected by LIPU near the Torrente Nizza, located in a hilly valley floor in the Torrente Nizza valley. It is home to a diverse bird population, including corn buntings that overwinter there. For nature enthusiasts, this landscape provides a clear contrast to the built-up setting of the castle and churches.

Wine, Sky and Local Experiences

Barbera d’Asti, Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante are considered the flagships of the local wine industry in Moasca. Moasca’s location on a high hill and its unobstructed southern horizon are considered particularly suitable for astronomical observation. Amerio Vincenzo offers a walk through the vineyards followed by a wine tasting on a terrace overlooking the vineyards. Amerio Vincenzo also offers a cellar tour during which the individual steps of winemaking are explained. Nero di Stelle is an event in Moasca that combines wine, music and observing the sky.

The Bottega del Vino di Moasca “Nerodistelle” is located in the cellar of Moasca Castle. The Restaurant & Café, Garden Winery “Tra la Terra ed il Cielo” is also located there. I Formaggi di Moasca offers a guided tour of its cheese-processing laboratory. This allows you to choose between different priorities when planning your trip, including history, wine, regional production and observing nature.

Getting There and Personal Planning

You can reach Moasca by car via the A21 and the Asti Est exit. Then follow the signs towards Canelli–Nizza Monferrato and turn left at Dosso di Moasca. From there, it is about one kilometer uphill to the historic town center and Piazza del Municipio. If you are planning a hotel or other accommodation for your trip, you can organize your priorities according to your interests: the castle and churches, wine offerings, Rivi or astronomical observation.

Other Destinations

For further trip planning, you can also explore Costigliole Dʼasti, Villa, San Damiano D'asti, Calamandrana, Cantarana, Refrancore, Tonco and Nizza Monferrato.

For the main travel overview: Asti.