San Michele: History, Landscape and Local Cuisine

San Michele on the Edge of the High Plateau

San Michele and Dusino are both located on the edge of the Villanova d’Asti high plateau, before the terrain slopes down towards the valleys of the Traversola and Stanavasso streams. For orientation on site, this landscape relationship provides a helpful framework: San Michele stands not only for its buildings, but also for the transition between the high plateau and the stream valleys of Traversola and Stanavasso. Those who like to explore Italy through specific places, routes and regional characteristics will find several different points of reference here.

In the municipality of Dusino San Michele, the signposted Cammino di Rino is a route that begins at the site where the fossil skeleton was found. A complete skeleton of a prehistoric rhinoceros (Rhinoceros etruscus) was discovered in the municipality of Dusino San Michele. For your planning, you can therefore distinguish between a signposted route and a natural-history theme.

Castle, Church and Medieval Traces

A castle stands on the main square of San Michele; it was built in the 14th century and later remodelled in the Neo-Gothic style. This sequence of changes is precisely what makes the building interesting to visitors: it allows them to observe both its medieval origins and a later stylistic transformation.

The Church of San Michele dates predominantly from the 13th century and has a semicircular apse with medieval lancet windows. The parish church dedicated to Saint Michael is believed to have been the church around which the village developed in the middle of the 12th century. In San Michele, you will therefore encounter both clearly recognisable architectural forms and the presumed role of the parish church in the village’s origins.

The first records of San Michele date back to the 12th century. At that time, the bishop donated the place to the Benedictine nuns of Sant’Anastasio d’Asti. In connection with the medieval church and castle, this creates a historical thread from the 12th to the 14th century, supplemented by the castle’s later Neo-Gothic remodelling.

In the San Michele district, Castello Raggi was converted into an aristocratic residence. Castello Raggi retains parts of its medieval structure; it also includes a park. The ensemble therefore combines medieval architectural elements, its conversion into an aristocratic residence and an associated park.

Local Cuisine with Its Own Name

The “cossot”, a courgette from Dusino San Michele bearing De.Co. certification (Denominazione Comunale), is part of the local character. In San Michele, this regional speciality thus stands alongside the historic sights and the landscape on the high plateau.

There is also a local dish called “Cussot e gugalè”, made with gnocchi and courgettes. The two names lead to different aspects of the local cuisine: cossot refers to the vegetable, while “Cussot e gugalè” denotes the combination of gnocchi and courgettes. If you would like to discover regional specialities through their names and ingredients, San Michele offers concrete points of reference for this.

Further destinations for your planning: Monale, Robella, San Damiano D'asti, Ferrere, Castagnole Monferrato, Revigliasco D'asti, Monastero Bormida, Castel Boglione.

For the overview of the wider area: Asti.