Casale Monferrato

Hidden in the former ghetto at Vicolo Salomone Olper, Casale's 1595 synagogue is a lavishly gilded Baroque interior counted among Italy's finest. Guided visits also take in the Jewish Art and History Museum and the underground Museum of Lights, a collection of contemporary menorahs in the old matzot-baking room. Group visits need advance booking; the site closes in January, August and on Jewish holidays.

Monfernòt is a cycling association based in Casale Monferrato that leads guided e-bike excursions over the dirt tracks and vineyard lanes of the Monferrato Casalese, at an easy pace accessible to beginners and seasoned riders alike. A highlight is the stop at an 'infernot' — the UNESCO-listed hand-carved underground stone wine cellars — with a tasting along the way.

Hiking Taste, run by environmental hiking guide Silvia Broseghini and based in Casale Monferrato, leads themed guided walks through the Basso Monferrato hills weaving together landscape, local stories, food and wine. Scheduled day excursions visit villages such as Cella Monte, Grazzano Badoglio and Montemagno, covering roughly 7 to 24 km with tastings en route. Private half-days and multi-day trekking weekends also offered.

At Via Lanza 17 stands the historic shop where Domenico Rossi invented the curved, moustache-shaped Krumiro biscuit in 1878. The family still bakes them by hand on the same premises, so a stop lets you buy the originals in the aroma of fresh baking — the definitive taste of Casale. Contact them directly for any tasting arrangement.

Founded in 1764 and billed as Italy's oldest still-operating grocery, the Antica Drogheria Corino on Via Roma is an experiential tasting salon: sample Krumiri in some 25 sweet, savoury, vegan and gluten-free versions, paired with coffee, zabaione or the house Ractagino hazelnut cream. A hands-on way to taste Casale's signature biscuit in a historic setting.