Trifola d’Or by Murisengo: guide to the International White Truffle Fair

There are fairs that are visited to buy a product and fairs that manage to transform that product into an invitation to get to know a territory. The Trifola d’Or of Murisengo definitely belongs to the second category. On the Sundays following San Martino, the village of Basso Monferrato is filled with the scent of the prized white truffle, of truffle hunters, producers, artisans, visitors and kitchens that work with one of the most precious ingredients of the Piedmontese autumn.

However, the Trifola d’Or International White Truffle Fair is not just a market exhibition. The route crosses squares and streets of the town, touches the Romanesque Tower of San Pietro, the Tabui Educational Truffle Farm, the castle, churches and panoramic points, and is completed with tastings, sensorial seminars, excursions and cultural initiatives. It is one of the best events to discover Murisengo with all the senses: tasting, walking, observing and understanding which landscape the truffle comes from.

The Trifola d’Or International White Truffle Fair takes place every year on the two Sundays following the anniversary of San Martino, which falls on 11 November. This periodicity is also indicated in the official rules of the truffle competition and is one of the most stable characteristics of the event.

The times, programme, guided tours, seminars, excursions and catering options must be checked for each edition on the official website.

International recognition has not erased the country character of the event. Murisengo remains a hilltop village and it is precisely this dimension that makes the fair pleasant: instead of entering a large anonymous pavilion, you pass from Piazza della Vittoria to Via Umberto I, Piazza Boario, Piazza Lavazza and Via Marconi encountering historic buildings, views and panoramic points.

Local tourist sources link the roots of the event to the long agricultural and commercial tradition of Murisengo, documented already in past centuries. The modern fair has built on this identity an event dedicated to the truffle which, over the course of decades, has become one of the symbols of the country.

This continuity is still perceived today. Truffle hunters, producers and artisans are not simply exhibitors: many represent activities and families linked to the territory. When walking among the stalls it is therefore useful to stop and talk, ask where a product comes from and let the visit also become a meeting with people.

The prized white truffle: Tuber magnatum Pico

The absolute protagonist is the prized white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico. It grows underground in symbiosis with some tree species and depends on a delicate balance between soil characteristics, water availability, climate and environmental quality. It is not a standardizable product: each specimen has its own shape, size and aromatic intensity.

At the fair you can observe very different truffles, compare their scent and ask the hunters for information on the collection. It is a particularly useful opportunity for those who want to learn to recognize a quality product without relying only on price or size.

A fresh truffle must be compact, intact and intensely fragrant. The irregular shape is not a defect: it depends on the soil in which it grew. Always ask when it was harvested, how to store it and in how many days it is best to consume it.

The white truffle must be used quickly. If you buy it during the fair, already plan a simple dish for the evening or for the days immediately following. Eggs, fondue, tajarin, risotto and raw meat are classic preparations precisely because they leave room for aroma.

One of the strengths developed over the years by Trifola d’Or is the attention to the quality of the product displayed. The event collaborated with specialized structures for the verification of truffles intended for sale and for sensory analysis activities open to visitors.

This approach is important because it also makes the fair a moment of education. The visitor can learn to distinguish aroma, consistency, ripeness and defects and acquire useful tools to purchase truffles with greater awareness.

The fair is combined with the Trifola d’Or competition, dedicated to the best specimens presented by truffle hunters. The regulation provides for the evaluation of the prized white truffle and, according to the established categories, also of the black truffle, with prizes awarded to the specimens or compositions considered to be the best.

Attending the awards ceremony is interesting even for those without technical skills. It allows you to see high quality specimens brought together and understand which characteristics most attract the attention of the commission.

Behind every truffle there is the work of the trifolao and his dog. The search requires in-depth knowledge of the forest and truffle grounds, while the dog must learn to identify the scent coming from the ground without damaging the product.

The culture of truffle hunting and extraction in Italy is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. At Trifola d’Or this culture is told through meetings, educational activities and itineraries that take the visitor beyond the purely commercial dimension.

One of the most interesting places to reach during the fair is the Tabui Educational Tartufaia, in the panoramic area of San Pietro. It is a space designed to explain the relationship between truffles, soil, vegetation and environment and is regularly included among the attractions of the event.

The visit allows you to understand that the truffle is not simply something that appears on a stall in November. It arises from a specific ecosystem and from conditions that must be preserved. For those visiting Murisengo with children it is also one of the simplest ways to transform the day into an educational experience.

The Romanesque Tower of San Pietro

Next to the truffle area is the Tower of San Pietro, what remains of an ancient medieval church. The stone structure stands alone on a grassy hill and is one of the most recognizable places in the Murisengo area.

The tower is normally included in the visit itineraries organized during the fair. Reaching it also means leaving the crowds of the center for a few moments and seeing the village from a completely different perspective, among meadows, woods and hills.

The location of San Pietro is particularly interesting on clear days. The tower, the open landscape and the profile of the town allow you to immediately understand the hilly structure of this part of the Monferrato. For those who love photography it is one of the most important stages.

The Castle of Murisengo and the Crenellated Tower

The Castle dominates the village with its large size and characteristic crenellated tower. The structure has undergone changes over the centuries and today is private property; it is opened on the occasion of events or visits organized according to methods that must be verified from time to time.

In 1813 the castle hosted Silvio Pellico, who during his stay in Murisengo worked on Francesca da Rimini. Even when the interiors are not accessible, the external visit and the passage near the complex help to understand the history of the country.

The parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate is one of the landmarks of the village and appears in the cultural itineraries proposed during the fair. Near the church there is also a viewpoint from which to observe the surrounding hills.

Stopping here is especially useful during central hours, when the main streets of the fair can be crowded. It only takes a few minutes to move from the market to a quieter space and rediscover the landscape behind the products encountered on the stalls.

The former Oratory of San Michele, along the route under the castle, is used as a cultural and exhibition space. During Murisengo events it can host exhibitions, meetings, tastings and events dedicated to art.

It is one of the places that demonstrate how the fair has gradually transformed into a widespread event. Instead of concentrating everything in a single square, Murisengo distributes activities and visits to different points of the village.

In the hamlet of Corteranzo there is the small church of San Luigi Gonzaga, an elegant baroque building nestled among the vineyards. Local tourist sources attribute it to the project by Bernardo Antonio Vittone and underline its particular shape, developed in overlapping levels.

In the most recent editions of Trifola d’Or the church was included among the visits offered to participants. If the year's program includes it, it is worth taking advantage of it because it allows you to get to know a part of the area that remains outside the main route of the fair.

One of the most recognizable gastronomic events is the Pasto del Trifolau, a catering formula that offers traditional dishes and preparations designed to enhance the truffle. The menu changes with the editions and is published on the official website.

The atmosphere is deliberately convivial and less formal than a restaurant. You can choose the dishes, sit in the designated spaces and experience lunch as part of the fair. If you want to add fresh truffles, check the instructions provided by the organization.

The white truffle is at its best in simple, hot but not boiling preparations. It is sliced ​​raw when served and requires no elaborate sauces. An egg, a fondue or a fresh pasta allow you to perceive the aroma better than overly complex dishes.

Trifola d’Or is home to numerous agri-food producers, wineries and artisans. The fair route therefore becomes a large Monferrato specialty market, in which the truffle remains the protagonist but dialogues with wine, cheeses, cured meats, honey, hazelnuts, sweets and other local products.

It's a good time to buy products to take home, but also to gather ideas for your trip. Ask where the company is located and note the countries that occur most often: they can become the next day's stops.

The TargatoMurisengo & surroundings project brings together local productions and realities and is also enhanced through temporary stores and initiatives linked to the truffle season. It is a way to give continuity to the fair and make local products recognizable even beyond the two main Sundays.

It is useful for the visitor because it allows them to distinguish what truly belongs to the local supply chain from what comes from other territories. If you want to take home something that tells Murisengo, look for these productions.

The fair normally offers in-depth moments dedicated to the organoleptic properties of the truffle. The sensorial seminars help to understand aromas, quality, conservation and gastronomic use and are also suitable for those starting from scratch.

In recent editions, some meetings have also been offered in English, consistently with the international dimension achieved by the event. Choose the seminar you are interested in from the program and book your place.

The outdoor component is one of the most interesting aspects of the Trifola d’Or. Recent editions have proposed naturalistic excursions of the Camminare il Monferrato program, with routes that lead out of the center and cross the hills linked to the truffle culture.

Taking part in an excursion allows you to see the area at the best time of the season. In November the leaves change color, the woods are humid and the air has completely different scents compared to summer. It is the ideal context to understand why the truffle belongs so deeply to this landscape.

In addition to guided walks, the event can include trekking and other outdoor activities in the days close to the fair. The routes change and must be checked every year, but the idea remains the same: to take the visitor to where the truffle is born instead of just telling them about it in the square.

In November it is important to have shoes with good grip and waterproof clothing. Mud, leaves and humidity can make even technically simple sections slippery.

During the fair, storytelling paths are organized that accompany visitors to places of interest in the country. Recent editions have also involved tourism students, with itineraries between Madonna delle Grazie, Torre di San Pietro, Tartufaia Tabui, castle, San Michele and Sant'Antonio Abate.

The formula is particularly effective because it allows you to visit Murisengo without having to build a route yourself. In less than an hour you can get to know places that, walking alone among the crowds of the fair, would risk going unnoticed.

The Trifola d’Or is also designed as a village festival. Musical band, exhibitions of contemporary artists, shows and workshops for children normally accompany the gastronomic and cultural programme.

Activities vary each year and should not be considered permanent. If you are traveling with children, check the specific program and organize the day by alternating moments in the market with quieter experiences, such as the Educational Truffle Plant or the Tower of San Pietro.

Arrive early, ideally in the first opening hours. Start from Piazza della Vittoria and observe the truffle stalls when the crowds are still low. This is the best time to talk to sellers and compare specimens.

Check the times of sensory seminars and guided tours. Participating in an activity before lunch helps you better understand what you will see later on the plates and on the counters.

Dedicate the necessary time to lunch. Choose one or two traditional dishes and, if applicable, add fresh truffles. Alternate food and water and, if you taste wine, plan to return without driving.

In the afternoon reach the Tower of San Pietro and the Educational Tartufaia or choose one of the scheduled excursions. Ending the day outside the center allows you to take home not only the memory of the fair, but also that of the hills.

The second Sunday should not be considered simply a repeat of the first. The program may change for shows, guests, exhibitions, excursions and activities. If you've already visited Murisengo once, check out the different appointments and build your day around what you haven't seen.

It is also a good time to dedicate more space to the cultural or naturalistic part. You can start with a walk, visit the fair at lunchtime and leave the afternoon at a place in the town or a hamlet.

Murisengo is a very interesting basis for exploring the Monferrato Bass. Montiglio Monferrato, Moncalvo, Cocconato, Villadeati, Ponzano Monferrato and the Sacro Monte di Crea can be reached without long transfers and allow you to build an itinerary among truffles, Romanesque architecture, castles and landscapes.

With a night in the area you can dedicate one day to the Trifola d’Or and the next to the hills. Avoid including too many stops: in autumn the days are shorter and this area is better appreciated leaving room for stops, photographs and leisurely lunches.

The Superga–Vezzolano–Crea route

Murisengo is located along one of the stages of the Via Superga–Vezzolano–Crea, a hiking itinerary that connects important religious and scenic places in Piedmont. One of the sections leads right from Murisengo towards the Crea Sanctuary.

It is not necessary to cover the entire stage during the weekend of the fair. Even using the route as a reference for a short walk allows you to see the Tower of San Pietro and the rural landscape from a different perspective.

The event can also be enjoyable for families. The market is lively, but the presence of workshops, shows and spaces such as the Educational Tartufaia allows you to alternate crowded moments with activities more suitable for children.

The streets of the village have ups and downs and in the central hours some areas can be very busy. With small children it is best to arrive early and use the shuttles when available, avoiding unnecessary car journeys in the centre.

For those who love photography, Murisengo offers a much richer story than a simple close-up of a truffle. The market, the hands of the trifolau, the plates, the stalls and the crowd tell the story of the fair; the castle, San Pietro, the churches and the viewpoints tell the story of the place.

The best way to create a cohesive series is to alternate details and landscape. A truffle photographed on the counter acquires a different meaning if, a few images later, you show the forest, the Romanesque tower or the village dominated by the castle.

The International White Truffle Fair takes place in the center of Murisengo, involving Piazza della Vittoria, Via Umberto I, Piazza Boario, Piazza Lavazza, Via Marconi and other spaces connected to the event route.

Murisengo is located in Lower Monferrato, on the border between the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. The car is the most practical means of transport for those who also want to continue towards nearby towns and rural attractions.

In recent editions, large outdoor car parks are indicated in the areas of San Candido and Gallo, connected to the center with free shuttles. There are also closer rest areas and an unequipped camper area. Positions and services must however be verified for each edition.

The fair generally occupies the entire day on Sunday, from morning until late afternoon. Exact times may change and should be checked on the official website.

In addition to the Pasto del Trifolau and the refreshment areas of the fair, Murisengo and the neighboring municipalities have restaurants and facilities offering Piedmontese cuisine and seasonal menus. On the weekends of the fair it is advisable to book.

The second half of November can be cold, humid and foggy. Dress in layers and bring a waterproof jacket. Shoes with a suitable sole are also useful in the village and become indispensable if you want to reach paths and truffle grounds.

The Trifola d’Or manages to describe the truffle in a complete way because it does not separate it from the place where it is born. The product you see in Piazza della Vittoria is linked to the woods, truffle grounds, dogs, trifolau and a landscape built by centuries of agriculture.

Come for the scent of white truffles, but also dedicate time to everything around. Hop on a shuttle, travel to St. Peter's, walk to a lookout, look at the castle, and follow a path. Murisengo works best when the trade show is not the end point of the day, but the beginning of a journey into Monferrato.

Source: official reference of the event.