Santo Stefano Belbo is a charming town in the province of Cuneo. Its territory extends along the edge of the Langhe, across a landscape rich in hills. The most famous son of Santo Stefano Belbo is the writer Cesare Pavese, whose birthplace now houses an important museum and gives its name to the celebrated “Pavese Trail,” which passes through the landscapes and places featured in his famous books. From an artistic standpoint, the imposing remains of the Romanesque Abbey of San Gaudenzio, at the foot of Moncucco Hill, are well worth noting. The building recalls the period when Benedictine monks not only cleared the land for vine cultivation but also offered hospitality to pilgrims. Of remarkable beauty, on the summit of the hill that seems almost to have landed above the town centre, stands the Moncucco Sanctuary, dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows. Every year, on 4 August, the signal to light the bonfires that illuminate the hilly landscape is sent from here—a highly evocative and romantic tradition.
The settlement of Santo Stefano Belbo probably dates back to after the year 1000, but it is certain that the town was of considerable importance during the feudal period, as evidenced by the ruins of one of the towers of the ancient castle. The town comes alive throughout the year with characteristic wine-and-food events and festivities, including the noteworthy “Cubiot” Fair (cubiot meaning couples of lovers), held at the beginning of December. Among the stalls and tastings set up along the streets, visitors can enjoy the amusing figure of the “bacialé,” a character from Langhe tradition who was accustomed to acquiring an abundance of coats thanks to his skill as a romantic matchmaker among the young people of the area. Santo Stefano Belbo, the town of the “good life,” is half an hour from Alba, Barolo and Barbaresco, 40 minutes from Asti, and one hour from Liguria. Milan and Turin can be reached in just over an hour, and Genoa in two hours.