Roà Marenca: Chapels, Roman Heritage and Vineyards

Roà Marenca: History and Landscape

Roà Marenca is considered the first and oldest settlement nucleus of Montaldo di Mondovì. Above the village are vineyards planted with the rare “Cardin” grape variety. These two features offer different points of connection for your trip: you can get to know the area through its long settlement history and through its landscape. Historical traces can be found at the chapels, in the old town centre and along the paths.

Chapels from Different Periods

The Cappella di San Giorgio in Roà Marenca contains a 16th-century fresco. The Sant’Ambrogio hermitage in Roà Marenca is mentioned in a document issued by Henry III in 1041. The surviving Cappella di Sant’Ambrogio stands on the site of the former hermitage building and preserves a 15th-century fresco on its façade.

The Cappella di San Rocco is dated to the 14th century. The Roman funerary inscription C.I.L. V, II, 7803 was found in the Sant’Ambrogio hermitage and later set into the floor of the Cappella di San Rocco in Roà Marenca. It refers to the Publilia tribe and contains the ethnic name Montanus. Another Roman inscription from the beginning of the 3rd century AD, found in Roà Marenca, was placed on the north-eastern wall of the Cappella di San Rocco in 1958.

Alleys and Roman Heritage

A walk through the alleys of the old town centre reveals the stone arches of the former Jewish ghetto. Two Roman stone slabs built into the Cappella di San Rocco are regarded as evidence of a Roman settlement on the road to the sea. For visitors interested in culture, the local history here is connected with tangible buildings, inscriptions and details that can be discovered during a walk.

Paths from Circular Trails to Long-Distance Routes

The paths are also part of Roà Marenca’s character. The Bosconero Ring reaches Roà Marenca from Torre Mondovì via the provincial road SP 35. The Roa Marenca project focuses on the municipality of Montaldo di Mondovì. The Roa Marenca route runs entirely along the regional trail network, is more than 150 km long and connects the regions of Piemonte and Liguria. It is suitable for e-bike rides, hikes, horseback riding and dog trekking with dogs.

The municipality of Montaldo di Mondovì also has the Via di Culto, an easy circular trail lasting about two hours. It leads to the area’s most important chapels. Historically, the roads of Roa Marenca were used to transport salt, which was needed to preserve food. The different route lengths help you compare the options for your planning and determine the right time frame for your trip.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Theme

When choosing your hotel for Roà Marenca, you can take the focus of your days into account. If chapels, inscriptions and the alleys of the old town centre are your priority, you will plan differently than for a trip focused on paths, routes and landscapes. This allows you to base your accommodation choice on your own travel pace and on the topics you particularly want to discover in Roà Marenca.

Further destinations: Limone Piemonte, Moccagatta, Trinità, Marene, Marsaglia, Caraglio, Roddino, Manzotti

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.