The Bosco della Pastrona is a 50-hectare wooded area that connects the Po to Casale and where the town's residents can enjoy the river. The wood is partly owned by the Po natural park and partly by the state. The Po natural park authority has set up a picnic area and a path called Kintana for mountain biking and walking.
Kintana is a permanent technical route on mixed surfaces that goes on for about 10 km and reaches the town.
The route was inaugurated in May 2014 by the Po natural park authority after being renovated with the support of the Piedmont forestry services and volunteers. These generous people have made it possible for the public to enjoy this natural area.
After signing an agreement with Casale Monferrato town council, the Po natural park authority arranged for individuals to get involved with maintaining the area, including through events and festivals. This enabled local residents to reconnect with the river in many ways ‒ like through sports ‒ something that had been lost for some time.
Initially, Bike’n Foot from Casale Monferrato took on management of the area, then in 2018 the responsibility was passed to a non-profit association, FIAB Monferrato Bike, which uses its volunteer base, headed by Lino Lucarelli, to maintain the various routes.
The route is quite challenging if done at high speeds and you'll need quick reflexes to take on the sudden changes that pop up on the route. However, the route is open to everyone looking for a pleasant ride that doesn't require a fancy bike or special training.
The surface of Kintana is excellent for rides in any season, except in adverse weather, heavy storms, strong winds or when the river Po is overflowing. You'll see all these details in the regulations displayed on the bulletin board at the entrance to the route.
During the journey, which lasts about an hour, you will be immersed in the greenery that flanks the river Po. The rich flora and fauna typical of this area is found among the ponds and river banks. Riders can choose where to stop and catch their breath after the more technical stretches.
The route is made up of three smaller, circular routes. The first (easy) is marked blue, the second (medium) is red and the third (two-directional) is green as it connects to the Quarrymen's Railway Route, a path that follows the route the train used to carry cement mortar from the Coniolo and Vialarda quarries to Casale Monferrato.
The route begins at the castle of Monferrato and goes down to the floating jetty where Associazione Amici del Po holds a series of events on the river throughout the year. From here, take the path to the Kintana route, which begins next to the picnic area in the Bosco della Pastrona. There are three secondary entry points: Porta Imbarcadero, Porta Trenino, Porta Diga. There is also the main entry point in the picnic area called Porta Kintana.