Fontanile and the Monferrato
It is not easy to find a definition, which covers an area as diverse as the hills of Piedmont.
Not just an area full of farming and wine making, but molded on the historical political and
economic changes from the original feudal system, the constant power struggles of Napoleon and
the church through to the impacts of the industrial power house of Turin.
The Monferrato covers a large area; it extends from the hills of Turin and the Po River
and finishes at the Apennines of Liguria. It includes parts of the province of Alessandria,
in particular the zone of Casale Monferrato to the north and Acqui Terme in the south, and the
famous wine region of the Province of Asti.
All around are rolling hills and valleys packed with vines producing the renowned wines of the
area, Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese, Moscato and many more.
The region is also rich in medieval castles, Baroque monuments and churches from the Romantic,
Gothic and Renaissance eras.
Not faraway from the towns of Asti and Alessandria in the High Monferrato region of Asti you will find the
ancient fortified village of Fontanile, situated 276 metres above sea level.
This village was originally constructed in the 4 or 5th century, but the modern village you
see today was started in the10th century on the ridge of the hill so it would have a strategic and
defensive position to both the northeast and the southwest. Not only important for it’s
strategic position the village is set in lush and verdant farm lands from cereal crops to vines.
The name Fontanile, means place of many springs, the river Cervino runs through it and feeds into
the Bormida.
A few kilometres away are the larger villages and towns of Mombaruzzo, Acqui Terme, Nizza Monferrato and Canelli.
