Natura 2000 site
ZSC Verneto di Rocchetta Tanaro
Rocchetta Tanaro
At the foot of the Rocchetta Tanaro hills, a rare wet black alder wood survives. Verneto preserves a fragment of the Tanaro plain’s former wetlands. It is a small, delicate habitat to discover with care rather than as an improvised walk.
Between the hills and a former Tanaro bend
Natura 2000 site IT1170005 lies east of Rocchetta Tanaro where the Monferrato hills meet the alluvial plain. Part of it occupies a former Tanaro oxbow known since the Middle Ages. Surface water and a high water table keep the ground wet for many months, creating conditions very different from the nearby hillside nature park.
The alder wood
The name comes from verna, the local word for black alder, Alnus glutinosa. In the wettest ground, alders form an almost pure wood, a rare reminder of vegetation once found across the plain’s flooded areas. Black locust, English oak, maples and elms appear on slightly higher ground. Spring-fed channels and ponds add aquatic habitats for amphibians, insects and other water-dependent wildlife. Some alder stands have not been coppiced for over sixty years.
From woodland rescue to WWF oasis
A riverside walk in 1990 drew attention to the threatened wood. WWF purchased its central core and established the strict reserve in 1997, later enlarged through agreements and donations. The WWF area covers about four hectares within the wider Natura 2000 site. The path is named after Giacomo Bologna and starts near Santa Maria de Flexo, known as the Ciappellette church.
Seasonal access to the woodland
The path uses timber boardwalks and a contour section before descending into the alder wood, but it is impassable for long periods of the year. Flooded ground is part of the woodland’s natural cycle, not an obstacle to bypass off trail. Check conditions with the municipality or local contacts before travelling. If the path is closed or submerged, limit your visit to the church and safely accessible points outside the wood.
Places to discover
Open a place on the map to find your bearings. Follow permitted access routes and signs on site.
Oasi WWF Il Verneto
The alder wood’s most sensitive core; enter only when the path is accessible.
Open in Google Maps · Oasi WWF Il VernetoSanta Maria de Flexo · Chiesa delle Ciappellette
Country church near the start of the Giacomo Bologna path, linked to the history of the former Tanaro bend.
Open in Google Maps · Santa Maria de Flexo · Chiesa delle CiappelletteSentiero Giacomo Bologna
Boardwalk path towards the alder wood; it may remain impassable for long periods, so check first.
Open in Google Maps · Sentiero Giacomo BolognaBefore you visit
Are Verneto and Rocchetta Tanaro Nature Park the same area?
No. Verneto protects a small wet alder wood on the plain; the nature park lies on the hills and has its own loops from Sant’Emiliano. Access and conditions differ.
Is the path always walkable?
No. Flooding can make it impassable for long periods. Check conditions before travelling and do not leave the path to bypass water, mud or closures.