Spigno Monferrato amid noble palaces and small churches

Another perfect spot to admire the lavender blooms is Spigno Monferrato, in the southernmost part of the province of Alessandria, on the border with Liguria. Its historical centre is full of noble palaces, carved sandstone portals, streets and lanes that show the richness of this small village. The entire area is sprinkled with ancient and evocative churches and small country parish churches, such as the medieval chapel of the Madonna della Neve near Turpino or the small church Madonna del Casato, located along the road to Merana, inside which are important late Gothic frescoes by the Maestro di Roccaverano (around 1480), one of the most complete examples of Gothic-Provençal painting in the Alessandria area. Spigno is the perfect place to learn more about lavender: here, in fact, is the Agronatura cooperative (http://agronatura.it), where officinal herbs are processed and the processing of all the lavender in the province conferred by the producer members is coordinated, where officinal plants are cultivated according to organic and biodynamic farming methodsAnother perfect place to admire the lavender blooms is Spigno Monferrato, in the southernmost part of the province of Alessandria, on the border with Liguria. Its historical centre is full of noble palaces, carved sandstone portals, streets and lanes that show the richness of this small village. The entire area is sprinkled with ancient and evocative churches and small country parish churches, such as the medieval chapel of the Madonna della Neve near Turpino or the small church Madonna del Casato, located along the road to Merana, inside which are important late Gothic frescoes by the Maestro di Roccaverano (around 1480), one of the most complete examples of Gothic-Provençal painting in the Alessandria area. Spigno is the perfect place to learn more about lavender: here, in fact, is the Agronatura cooperative (http://agronatura.it), where officinal herbs are processed and the processing of all the lavender in the province conferred by its producer members is coordinated, and where medicinal plants are cultivated according to organic and biodynamic farming methods