Calliano Monferrato: sights, history and trails

The coat of arms and gonfalone of the municipality of Calliano were granted by decree of the President of the Republic no. 3252 of 6 April 1987.^[3]

The gonfalone is a drape party of white and blue.

Inhabitants registered^[4]

According to ISTAT data at 31 December 2009, the resident foreign population was 89 people. The nationalities most represented by their percentage of the total population living were:

• Albania 32 (2,29%)
• Romania 26 (1.86%)
• Morocco 15 (1,07%)

Calliano stands out, like other common Piedmontese, for its Palio of donkeys, known as "Paglio bragliante", which is usually held in October each year.

In the municipal district, commonly called Piazza del Palio, the race is disputed between the donkeys and the grooms, representing the ten districts of Calliano. The race is preceded by the historical procession with the acrobatics of the flag-wavers and traditional dances and songs.

The winners of the Paglio

• A.N.P.A.: National Association of Animal Protection Environment - Territorial Section and Provincial Command Guards for the Ecozoophilic Police Service.

Calliano had a local television in the 1980s, Tele Comunità Calliano, owned by the local Parish and of course religious. The issuer carried out a lot of self-production but progressively entered economic crisis. The epilogue of the important cultural experience was the sale of transmission plants (which allowed a discreet coverage of the hilly territory) to a consolidated regional reality from the same editorial line of reference: the Turinese Telesubalpina.

In fact, the closure of CTC (Tele Comunità Calliano) was caused by the entry into force of Law 223, of 6 August 1990, better known as Mammì law, which, imposing on every private broadcaster to become, in fact, a commercial TV, put out law all those realities that had only a local and non-commercial purpose. Not at all, the last broadcast aired on 31 July 1990. On that occasion, the director responsible for the issuer, rev. Luigi Venesia, unequivocally clasped the reasons for closing. The CTC budgets, which were periodically made known by parish information bodies, would probably ensure the existence of the issuer in the form in which it was conceived, if the legislation on this matter had not changed.

In addition to the Palio degli asini, Calliano is also known for donkeys, a particularly renowned and tasty variant of Piedmontese agnolotti. In fact, the filling is characterized precisely to be constituted by pure ass meat. Every year, Calliano's pro spot participates in Festival of the Astigian festivals presenting in addition to the agnolotti, other dishes and local wines. Also in the country during the year there are two festivals: at the end of June the Assian Agnolotto Festival, while at the end of August the stew. For info you can visit the site of the local Pro Loco.

The hills around the village are rich in vineyards (barbera and grignolino) that draw on the geometries slopes that make this territory particularly fascinating.

• Calliano
• Callian

Judo Olimpic Asti A.S.D. has carried out courses at this Municipality.

From this course a star named Annalisa Cavagna became Italian Champion in the category Esordienti B.