The Monferrato area is, among Italian regions, one of the most famous for its millenary history and a proof of its importance in Italian history is the presence of a great number of artistic beauties, such as Medieval castles, Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance churches, Baroque monuments together with the works of famous painters and writers, born in this land. The Monferrato, such as the Langhe area, lacks of well defined natural borders and it presents itself as a hilly tableland, which detaching itself from the Ligurian Appennines leans forward, through Casale area, in the Valle Padana with different characteristics both in its geography and in its landscape.
The Low Monferrato sets itself side by side with the hills of Turin and the Po River mainly with sweet high grounds. The High Monferrato, which includes the valleys of the Belbo River, the Bormida River, the Erro and the Orba Rivers, is characterised by more fluid landscapes and by parallel ridges which decline in the plain of Alessandria.
Together with the rising of the feudal system, this territory began its history, in which we find the interposing of the Emperor’s power and the Pope’s power. The Monferrato was so divided between these two powers: a part of the land went under the authority of Dukes and Marquis, while the other under Cardinals or Count-Bishops.
However this troubled history left monuments and castles that nowadays characterise the view, making the landscape pleasing and hospitable.