Another itinerary provided by the ISRAL ( Historical Institute of the Resistance and Contemporary Society in the Province of Alessandria), promoting this historic route as a cultural laboratory that encompasses various locations, as well as the “Freedom Paths of Monferrato Casalese ”
Start in Pontestura, from Piazza Castello, where there is a large car park. In October 1944, this location was heavily occupied by Casalese Republicans, who took many hostages, plundered the town, and burned down 40 houses. Continue on the SP 7 to Isolengo, where the scenic road to Cantavenna di Gabiano starts. Here, on 1 November 1944, a violent battle between partisans and Nazi-Fascists took place: 62 houses were burned down, together with the entire hamlet of Rocca delle Donne. Head towards the main town of Gabiano which, in those same November days, saw various skirmishes and the shooting of civilians. Continue towards Gaminella on the SP 1, then go along the SP 590 until Serralunga di Crea. Before leaving the Cerrina Valley, note that here, in 1944, the Resistance fought under very hard conditions: as the Allies' advance slowed down, the Germans strengthened the front, carried out violent reprisals and rounded up partisans. The most significant execution happened in Villadeati, where ten hostages, including the parish priest Ernesto Camurati, were shot. Following the valley, you cross Gaminella, where you find a monument celebrating the fallen partisans who belonged to the following Casalese divisions: Garibaldi, Matteotti, Monferrato, Patria and Val Cerrina. There are also three crosses, recalling a group of local partisans killed in combat. Continue towards Ozzano and before leaving the town you will see, on the right, a commemorative plaque recalling the partisan Arduino Bizzarro, captured in action, tortured and shot on 20 February 1945. After 800 m along the SP 457, turn right towards Cereseto, which you will recognise through its beautiful, fairy-tale castle, before moving on towards Ottiglio Monferrato. A few kilometres from Ottiglio, on top of the Madonna dei Monti hill, is the memorial stele dedicated to the Banda Lenti, a group of young partisans that belonged to the VIII Matteotti Brigade. Here, by the Rampone farm, on the dawn of 12 September 1944, all 26 rebels were captured and transported to the Kommandantur 1014 in Valenza, where they were shot that same late afternoon, near the cemetery.
Continue towards Grazzano Badoglio and, among hillsides and vineyard stretches, you reach the town of Casorzo, where on 14 January 1945 the 13 young men belonging to the Banda Tom were captured. This was a partisan brigade led by Antonio Olearo, nicknamed Tom (Gold Medal of Military Valour to the memory). Tied, stripped and without shoes, they were dragged for 10 km through the snow to the Ghenza Valley mill where, worn out, they were loaded onto trucks and taken to the military citadel of Casale Monferrato, tortured at length and shot, their bodies left on the ground for two days. From Casorzo, the historical route continues towards Vignale Monferrato, where, at no. 7 on the narrow Via Bergamaschino you can see the commemorative plaque in memory of the partisan Francesco Besso; the plaque is placed on the middle school building that bears his name. The soldier was captured after the armistice and imprisoned in Rodi, where he was shot. From Vignale, following a road on the ridge of the hills, among vineyards, you reach Camagna. Before entering the town, close to the cemetery you can see the Memorial monument to the Banda Lenti. Go down to the town and in Piazza Lenti, under the imposing church of Sant’Eusebio, you find the commemorative plaque dedicated to the memory of Agostino and his brother Pietro Lenti, born in Camagna and founders of the III Matteotti Brigade, nicknamed Banda Lenti.  In the town you will also find another commemorative plaque with the inscription: “This is the house where Giambone the Martyr was born.” – Eusebio Giambone, shot in Turin on 5 April 1944, labourer, Gold Medal of Military Valour to the memory. The house is a small and interesting Resistance museum.
Resume the route, pedalling for no fewer than 15 km among the gentle hills of Monferrato Casalese, on the roads and through the hamlets of the town of Rosignano Monferrato, to Ozzano Monferrato. In front of the town hall you will find a large plaque in remembrance of the twelve local martyrs, including seven partisans and five civilians. Go down to the town's communal laundry area, in the small square of the former train station, where you find a monument to the fallen and a commemorative plaque for the partisan Alfredo Piacibello, Gold Medal of Military Valour. After saving his companions, Alfredo was captured in Pontestura: he was then stripped, tied to a truck and dragged, barefooted, to Ozzano. Here, in this small square, he was beaten to a pulp and then shot, but before falling he shouted: “I'm glad of what I did. Long live free Italy.”
The route continues in the direction of Casale Monferrato; go along the SP 457 and midway up the climb turn left on Via Avallano. At the top, turn right at a small chapel and, keeping left, you reach Strada Salita Sant’Anna, which you take downhill to Casale Monferrato. At the end of the slope turn right: go towards the citadel's woods, in Piazza d'Armi, where you find the commemorative plaque in memory of the boys of the Banda Tom, shot in the citadel. The route continues towards town; once at the railway station's gardens, along the foot and cycle path you can see the monument to those fallen in the Great Wars, a piece by the sculptor Leonardo Bistolfi (Casale Monferrato, 15 March 1859 – La Loggia, 3 September 1933). Follow the GPX track and leave the town, crossing the Eternot park towards the hamlet of Vialarda, which you reach after climbing hairpin bends and steep inclines. From the hamlet, the end of the trail is close: after a long and scenic descent, you are back in Pontestura, near the starting point of this beautiful tour of the Monferrato area.