Cortemilia: Churches, Hazelnut Culture and Hillside Landscape

Cortemilia combines sacred art, medieval history and the hazelnut culture of the Alta Langa with a human-shaped hillside landscape. For you, this creates a destination where churches, fortress walls, trails, culinary events and local specialties appeal to several different interests.

Churches, Art and Historical Traces

The Chiesa di San Francesco is one of the town’s notable religious landmarks. Its foundation is attributed to Saint Francis in 1213, and the church also preserves a colorful fresco from 1340. A prior reservation with the Tourism and Culture Office of the Municipality of Cortemilia is required for a visit.

The ancient Pieve di Santa Maria is a Romanesque church from the 11th century and was partly rebuilt in the 13th century. The location and premises of the MUDI Diocesan Museum in Cortemilia are in the Church of Santissima Trinità. The Museo Diocesano di Cortemilia preserves religious and folk devotional objects, including the Santa Spina.

The fortress of the Marchesi Del Carretto includes imposing walls and a beautiful, now damaged cylindrical tower with six floors. In the hamlet of Doglio stands the restored stone chestnut dryer known locally as a “scau,” a typical example of the Alta Langa with a circular ground plan and conical roof. Throughout the year, it hosts themed days, events and social gatherings.

Terraces, Views and Trails

The hills around Cortemilia are characterized by terraced fields leveled by dry-stone walls made of Langa stone. Monteoliveto is a thematic site of the Ecomuseo di Cortemilia. The summit can be reached via a paved path from the ancient Pieve and offers views of Cortemilia and two valleys. The Ecomuseo di Cortemilia comprises three thematic sites that can be reached on foot.

For planning your route, the “Cortemilia, Family, Nuts and Story” route connects to trail CNC100A. There is also a clearly described challenge for cycling tours: the “Sua Maestà la Nocciola Tonda Gentile” tour has a medium difficulty level, begins with a considerable climb, then runs along a ridge and ends with a descent. An e-bike rental service is listed in Cortemilia at Corso Luigi Einaudi 1. An iron pedestrian bridge locally known as “la pontina” connects the hamlet of San Pantaleo on the right bank with the hamlet of San Michele on the left bank.

Hazelnut Culture and Regional Specialties

The Fiera Nazionale della Nocciola takes place every year in Cortemilia and celebrates the Tonda Gentile hazelnut variety. The program includes tastings, culinary demonstrations, meetings with producers, workshops and market stalls. At its center is a product that has contributed to the economic and landscape identity of the Alta Langa. Torta di Nocciole is one of Cortemilia’s typical specialties.

When planning your trip, you can therefore consider Cortemilia from different perspectives: religious art and architectural history, landscape and outdoor activity, or hazelnut culture and regional cuisine. The churches, trails and events in Cortemilia give you concrete starting points for shaping your days around your own interests.

More Destinations to Compare

If you would like to compare Cortemilia with other Italian destinations, you can also view Celle Di Macra, Argentera, Frabosa Sottana, Bossolasco, Ricca-San Rocco Cherasca, Terme di Valdieri, Bastia Mondovì and Roddi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.