Casaleggio Boiro is a little rural municipality in the Capanne di Marcarolo natural park, on the river Gorzente. It is part of the area run by the local development group GAL Borba. One of the village's greatest points of artistic and architectural interest is its castle, which is one of the oldest in Monferrato and perched on a charming, lonely spot on top of one of the hills that form the south-eastern outer reaches of Piedmont, approaching Liguria. It is private property.
Start from Casaleggio Boiro, in the car park in front of the church of San Martino. Remember that you can hire bikes, including e-bikes, from Bikesquare Hobby Bici's pick-up point.
This route lets you admire four particularly picturesque castles. It goes over tarmac roads from Lerma to Strada Bellaria then Strada Casale Bacchetti.
The main body of Lerma Castle is from the end of the 15th century. It was built by Marquess Luca Spinola. The majestic building rises up from a large tufa outcrop towering over the river Piota. Inside its outer walls is the old ricetto, the fortified core of the village historically known as L'Herma.
Enter the residential area of Silvano D'Orba and skirt around the castle hill. Cross the typical village, defined by the imposing Castello Adorno, built in 1492 in a medieval military style, with four massive towers on a square plan crowned with marked crenellations. The village is also known for its renowned grappa distilleries.
Head back up the sharp bends of a scenic track that links up with Strada Bellaria. Turn right onto the track Cascina Canali, until you arrive at the bridge over the river Piota. Take a right when you reach the SP 172 and go on for about 300 m. Take the tarmac road to Tagliolo Monferrato, a medieval village clustered around its castle with narrow passages, stone walls and archivolts. It's home to Casa del Boia and the former parish church of Santa Maria Annunziata.
You can still see the building that served as the court of appeals in the 18th century.
The oldest church in the village is that of San Vito, which sits within a cemetery and was the first parish church. The current parish church is dedicated to San Nicolò and sits in the square facing the castle, furnished with a sculpted sandstone tower. Go back to Lerma from Tagliolo by taking the SP 170, and from there back to Casaleggio.