Camerano Casasco: Castle, Church and Walking Trails

Camerano Casasco offers several distinct points of interest for a trip: the castle site with its tunnel, wood-fired oven and amphitheatre; the church of San Lorenzo; trails through woods and hazelnut groves; and a geological site. There is also a festival for the feast of San Lorenzo, the patron saint, on 10 August. You can therefore choose to visit based on your interest in history, the landscape and walking routes, or a suitable time for an event.

Castle site: tunnel, oven and amphitheatre

A recently restored tunnel leads from the courtyard at the castle site to the foot of the old walls and to underground rooms; some of these rooms are still being restored. An old, fully functional wood-fired oven is also located in the castle’s retaining wall. The oven rooms contain objects related to breadmaking and rural life. The castle site thus brings together underground rooms, a working oven and objects associated with everyday rural life as distinct points of interest.

An amphitheatre stands in the square at the castle site and is used in summer for performances, events and festivals. If you want to plan your trip around a particular performance or festival, check the relevant dates.

Church of San Lorenzo

The church of San Lorenzo adds an art-historical highlight to the castle site. It was commissioned by the Asinari family, and its elaborate stucco decorations were crafted by hand by artisans from the Lugano area between 1630 and 1640. Stucco is three-dimensional decorative work; at San Lorenzo, this design is associated with a specific commission, a defined period and the stated origins of the artisans.

Walking trails and nature

Part of the municipal area of Camerano Casasco lies within the Riserva Naturale della Valle Andona, Valle Botto e Val Grande. The protected area was expanded in 2003 to about 930 hectares. The Sentiero dei contadini is a 3-kilometre walking trail from Camerano Casasco to Chiusano, described as a scenic route through woods, scrubland and hazelnut groves.

The Sentiero 301, part of the Route of Asti Romanesque, runs along the hillside towards Camerano Casasco. The starting point of the “Le terre di Camerano Casasco” trail is near the village. The trails can be distinguished by different reference points: the length and destination of the Sentiero dei contadini, the direction of the Sentiero 301, and the proximity of the starting point of the “Le terre di Camerano Casasco” trail.

Geological site and event timing

A 2021 publication noted that an outcrop with a shell-like affinity was still visible at a fossil site. It extended for about 20 metres and was at least seven metres high. Alongside the nature reserve and walking trails, this provides a single geological outcrop as another distinct natural feature.

A four-day festival with food stalls takes place in Camerano for the feast of San Lorenzo, the patron saint, on 10 August. Dates and programmes may vary from year to year. Check the information for your travel year if you want to plan your stay around the festival. For planning purposes, note the difference in timing: the amphitheatre is used in summer, while the festival for the feast of San Lorenzo lasts four days.

Discover more destinations: Belveglio, Baglio, Revigliasco D'asti, Cortanze, Castelnuovo Belbo, Antignano, Cellarengo, Cessole.

For the regional travel overview: Asti.