June 19, 2022

Canelli and the Underground Cathedrals UNESCO heritage

The city of Canelli is the Italian capital of Spumante where, in 1865, Asti Spumante was born by Carlo Gancia . It is famous above all for its underground cellars for aging wines, real and proper Underground cathedrals that branch off under the town, masterpieces of architecture and enological engineering, where millions of bottles are left to ferment at a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees, taking on the typical aromas and flavors of sparkling wine and wines.
Canelli has a medieval layout built around the ancient structure formed by successive stratifications around the Castle. Its economy is therefore based on the processing of Spumante and Moscato and Canelli is known throughout the world for all the related wines and enology.
It is home to many historic wine companies like Bosca, Coppo, Contratto, Gancia and the historic Bocchino distillery.
They create a unique landscape developing along the rolling hills covered by vineyards as far as the eye can see and shaped over the years by man’s work.
The visit to the Underground Cathedrals is a unique experience, the most original and characteristic place you can discover in Canelli but also the least visible.
This is where the project that led to the recognition of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato Vitivinicoli Landscapes as the 50th UNESCO World Heritage site in Italy started.
A team of highly trained young people will guide you along the way enriching it with historical anecdotes which will make your stay even more attractive. Before or after the visit and the wine tasting in the wineries, a tasting menu of the local typical dishes will make this experience simply unforgettable.

Visita Castello Gancia
Visita Cattedrali Sotterranee Canelli

The Underground Cathedrals

You will enter one of the most fascinating places in the world of wine, welcomed by people that have dedicated their lives to grow and store one of the most famous products in the world:the wine of the Piedmont region.. You will enter the subsoil of Canelli where tunnels have been dug in the tuff for over 20 km and you will walk in silence breathing the scent of the wood of the barrels, surrounded by millions of aging bottles. We will tell you the story of the genius and passion of those who built these cellars by tasting their extraordinary wines.

The Castle of Canelli

The Canelli Castle was built in the 11th century to defend and control the trade route that linked Asti to the port of Savona. The complex was enlarged in the following years thanks to the fortunes of the Lords of Canelli and in the Renaissance period, which came to the Scarampi family, it was enlarged and renovated, becoming an elegant and sumptuous residence. Dismantled in 1617 by the Spaniards during the War of Succession of Monferrato, it was rebuilt starting in 1676 by the last Marquises Scarampi-Crivelli. Carlo Gancia, after having bought it in the early 1900s, entrusted the restoration and recovery project to the architect Arturo Midana in 1929. The Castle Gardens will be open to the public exclusively for TrEnoturisti .

Visita al Castello Gancia
Mangiare bene a Canelli

Food and wine experience

In addition to the wines, these extraordinary lands in addition to the wines, they reflect on the local gastronomic offer, equally rich and heterogeneous: from meats, also eaten raw, from hand-made pasta to the infinite cheeses, tome and robiole, from vegetables to braised meat cooked slowly, to get to desserts. Their flavor accompanied by fine wines will crown the taste of your experience.
At the restaurant you will have a rich menu with some local typical dishes: a mixed Piedmontese appetizer, a traditional first course, a second course with a side dish, a typical dessert, a glass of Barbera d’Asti DOCG, and a glass of Canelli Moscato d’Asti DOCG.

TrEno Canelli e le Cattedrali Sotterranee
Play Video about TrEno Canelli e le Cattedrali Sotterranee

Information and advice

We highly recommend that you wear comfortable shoes

The number of the platform from which the train departs is visible on the illuminated board

Please arrive at the platform at least a quarter of an hour beforehand

Any train delays are beyond our control

Departure time

Turin Canelli via Alba
09.00 Departure from Torino Porta Nuova
09.09 Departure from Turin Lingotto
10.17 Arrival in Alba
10.47 Departure from Alba
11.40 am Departure from Santo Stefano Belbo
11.45 Arrival in Canelli

Return time

Canelli Turin via Alba
5.15pm Departure from Canelli
17.23 Santo Stefano Belbo
18.20 Arrival in Alba
18.55 Departure from Alba
19.46 Arrival in Turin Lingotto
19.55 Arrival in Turin Porta Nuova

Visita Cattedrali Sotterranee Canelli

Canelli

Restaurant

Grappolo d'Oro

  • Train ticket
  • Welcome Aperitif
  • Guided tour of Canelli with the ‘landscape storymovers®’
  • Visit to the Underground Cathedral
  • Visit to the Gardens of the Castle of Canelli
  • Lunch at the restaurant
    Grappolo d’Oro

160 €

Children (4-12) € 60

Visita Cattedrali Sotterranee Canelli

Canelli

Restaurant

I Meravigliati

  • Train ticket
  • Welcome Aperitif
  • Guided tour of Canelli with the ‘landscape storymovers®’
  • Visit to the Underground Cathedral
  • Visit to the Gardens of the Castle of Canelli
  • Lunch at the restaurant
    I Meravigliati

165 €

Children (4-12) € 60

Visita Cattedrali Sotterranee Canelli

Canelli

Restaurant

Civico 15

  • Train ticket
  • Welcome Aperitif
  • Guided tour of Canelli with the ‘landscape storymovers®’
  • Visit to the Underground Cathedral
  • Visit to the Gardens of the Castle of Canelli
  • Lunch at the restaurant
    Civico 15

185 €

Children (4-12) € 60

Treno a Vapore Monferrato

Canelli

Train ticket

  • Ticket Torino – Canelli – Torino

  • Adult with steam locomotive 75 euro

  • Children (4-12) with steam locomotive 40 euro


75 €

Children (4-12) € 40