Bric del Vento
Your basecamp and the highest point of the route. "Bric" is Piedmontese dialect for a rounded hilltop, and "del Vento" — of the wind — tells you everything about the exposed ridge that crowns this viewpoint at roughly 400 m above sea level. On a clear morning the panorama stretches from the Ligurian Apennines to the south all the way to Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso in the north, with the Monferrato amphitheatre of vine-striped hills spread below you.
Viale d'Asti
A quiet agricultural commune perched on a gentle ridge, Viale d'Asti is classic Monferrato countryside at its most unhurried. The village core clusters around a small Romanesque church, and the surrounding lanes are hemmed in by rows of Barbera and Grignolino vines — two of the grape varieties that define this corner of Piedmont. The descent into Viale from Bric del Vento is one of the most enjoyable stretches of the route: fast, smooth tarmac with open views on both sides.
Pieia
Pieia is a tiny frazione — a hamlet — that feels suspended in time. Fewer than a hundred inhabitants, a cluster of stone farmhouses, and a view that opens dramatically westward over the Asti plain. The stretch between Viale and Pieia follows a high ridge path with vines on either side; in autumn the leaves turn amber and gold, making it one of the most photographed sections of any ride in the area. The terrain here is mostly flat-to-rolling gravel, ideal for taking in the scenery at a relaxed pace.
Cortanze
Cortanze is one of the most picturesque villages in the Astigiano, presided over by a handsome medieval castle that dates to the 12th century. The castle, set on a natural spur above the village, has been carefully restored and its silhouette against the vine-covered slopes makes for an unmistakable landmark. The village itself is a tight knot of terracotta-roofed houses, a belltower, and narrow cobbled lanes — exactly the kind of place you park your bike against a wall and wander for twenty minutes.
Montechiaro d'Asti
The largest settlement on this loop, Montechiaro d'Asti sits on a prominent hilltop and was an important medieval fortified town — "monte chiaro" literally means "bright hill", a reference to the way the pale stone buildings gleam in the afternoon sun. The ruined castle and the remains of the old walls are still clearly visible, and the town offers a good selection of cafés and a weekly market. The long descent into Montechiaro from Cortanze is one of the best on the entire route: 3 km of sweeping bends through vineyards.
Soglio
Soglio is the home village of this rental operation and one of the quieter gems of the Monferrato. It is a small agricultural commune surrounded by vineyards, with a compact historic centre, a Romanesque parish church, and the unhurried pace of a village that tourism has touched only lightly. The climb back from Soglio to Bric del Vento is the final challenge of the loop — about 200 m of elevation over 4 km — but the reward at the top, with the whole route laid out below you, is worth every pedal stroke.
