The territory of Tortona
A wide range of views: this is the panorama offered to the visitor who comes to see the Tortona region, with its smooth hills which fade into mountains (Mount Giarolo, Mount Ebbro and Mount Chiappo). Climbing up Tortona along the main communication ways the visitor faces cultivated fields, vineyards and orchards which recall more the typical views of the Po Valley than those of the mountain chains of Southern Piedmont, where the Alps make way for the Apennines.
Also the French writer Stendhal described the pre-Apennines stretch as a “wonderful road from where you can admire lovely mountains in the distance almost always”.
The Scrivia river on one side and the Apennines mountains on the other form the so called “Sperone di Tortona”.
Between Liguria and Piedmont: the Scrivia valley, crossed by the homonymous river, has a distinctive geographical structure which establishes links as well as mutual influence among very different regions that communicate.
On the top of Mount Giarolo the surrounding valleys seem to “embrace” the monument dedicated to the Redeemer which lays on the top: from this site, during sunny days, your eyes can sweep the horizon from Monviso to the Ligurian Sea.
Vine-growing, which represents one of the main economical resources of Tortona hills, highly contributes to make the panorama very typical. Thanks to the high potential of this land as regards agronomical and oenological resources and to its climate, it is possible to obtain highly appreciated wines which reflect the wide variety of grapes present in this territory, which are very important both from an agricultural and cultural point of view. Tortona vines represent, in fact, an incredible resource able to lead the region to a complete affirmation worldwide in the future.
The Curone valley is the last one you meet before leaving Tortona and the plain. Among luxuriant orchards and climbing up the course of the Curone river you go straight to the highest mountains of the province, Mount Giarolo, Mount Ebbro and Mount Chiappo. The castles of Pozzol Groppo and Brignano Frascata (still very well preserved) stand up in the background. Those visitors passionately fond of art cannot go away without staging at the Study Museum of the painter Pellizza da Volpedo, author of the famous picture “Quarto Stato”.
From the steep slopes, covered of extensive woodland and different types of oak and chestnut, you can admire a wonderful view in which four different regions join together: Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Liguria.
Vine-growing, fruit-growing, breeding are the typical resources of this region from which appreciated peaches, table-vines, plums, cherries and strawberries are obtained. The region is also known for its white and black truffles as well as for its vines, in particular Cortese and Barbera.
