CURIOUS ASPECTS
In the south of “Sperone di Tortona”, between Carezzano and Stazzano, lay the mineral springs, some having highly therapeutic features such as “Fontana della Marchesa”, near Cassano Spinola (water low in mineral content), the sulphureous spring of Villalvernia, the springs of Sardigliano (sulphureous water) and those of Montegioco (sulphureous water).
One of the most interesting aspects of the region is the presence of scree slopes which characterise the whole Apennines. In Ossona valley, in particular, they extend for a wide portion of the territory which breaks into the green hills replacing them with bare views almost surrealistic. From the Tower of Sant’Alosio (Castellania) the visitor can admire little grey-coloured clayey valleys with steep slopes characterised by a complete lack of plant life. The charming phenomenon of scree slopes is the result of a slow and progressive sedimentation of calcareous mud, whose specific structure depends on the clay which allows rain water to penetrate more and more deeply so as to make plant life null.
Natural Observatory of Casasco
Among the different and numerous types of birds, the cirl bunting, today present only in the Curone valley (Caldirola), deserves specific attention.
Salt roads
Running along these roads means to go over again centuries of history characterised by the passing of many people, who inevitably left their signs on the territory: the ancient mule-tracks represent the so called salt roads, name given by the scholars due to the fact they were used mainly to transport salt (CURIOUS ASPECTS). During the Middle Ages a big road connected the Po’ Valley with Genoa harbour, through Voghera, Tortona, Gavi, Voltaggio. Among the different paths found by the scholars, one of them certainly crossed the Tortona region through the Curone Valley: along Fabbrica Curone, Rocchetta, Mongiardino, it crossed the summit of Mount Cravi, then went down to Crocefieschi.
These are routes rich of charm that the visitor can still run through facing the ancient chapels, woodland and historical buildings, in most cases made of ruins.
