Top 3 Caves around Monale

A little further beyond the small hamlet of Mombarone d’Asti, following the signs, another, older and unexpected version of the inhabited center arises: the cave houses, structures dug into the tuff, inhabited from the Middle Ages to the first decades of the twentieth century. A dive into the past in a movie-like setting 🎥

Unfortunately, the complete loop cannot be done because you have to go through a private road and the owner is not really available to let you pass, so just after the houses you have to take a road that goes back, shortening the route by quite a bit.

Unusual houses once inhabited and dug into the rock. They can be reached by mountain bike, gravel and above all with good legs.

A cavity in the stone houses an altar and just above the statue of the Madonna. A silent, peaceful place, a few meters from the city center and traffic.

Outside the beautiful and large church dedicated to the Madonna "del Portone", on the left side, there is a delightful pond with fish and turtles overlooked by a stone cavity that houses the statue of the Madonna.

The crutin understood in their natural form (not dug by man in the tuff for the purpose of preserving food and wine) are caves dug into the tuff when the sea reached the level of the mouth of the current caves.

Pleasant excursion to reach the Mombarone cave houses.

On the hills of the Asti area, in the locality of Carie di Mombarone, a small hamlet northwest of Asti, dug into the embankment of the hills formed by sand-earth deposits (tuff) are the cave houses . These are real houses, all equipped with the famous "crotin" (small cellar), dating from the beginning of the 18th century and inhabited until the beginning of the 20th century. The last inhabitants, from which the houses take their name, were “Gisep d'Carie” and “barba mini”. The houses, albeit shabby, but equipped with all the "comforts" of the time, decorated with utensils, are divided into rooms by brick walls. The rooms are large, the mild and dry climate of the area has favored their habitability, and the abundance of water resources in the area has enabled survival. The stable is distinguished from human habitation, built with a sloping floor for the drainage of waste water and a manger dug into the tuff. The objects of daily work are still present and well preserved. A well was made next to the stable, consisting of a round cistern that was used to collect rainwater and was kept during periods of drought. Between the house and the stable is an inn, which usually served to provide refreshment to travelers and beggars who crossed the valley. The cave houses have been partially restored and furnished by the owners Franco Mario and Adriano and by the association "Quattro passi a nord-Ovest". They can be visited freely, according to the instructions on site. Source: https://www-quattropassianordovest-com.translate.goog/1/case_grotta_di_mombarone_4463556.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=nl&_x_tr_pto=sc