Mombarcaro retains the imprint of a fortified hilltop village in its urban fabric. The city gate , traditionally known as the Eastern Gate, is the most visible vestige of the wall that once protected the town.
Crossing it means entering the historic center following the same passage used for centuries by residents, merchants, and travelers. It's a short visit, but it allows you to fully appreciate the relationship between defense, road, and houses.
What to see
Notice the medieval stone arch , the only clearly visible part of the fortifications. Sources date it to the 13th or 14th centuries, while the rest of the wall has been absorbed or erased by the village's transformations.
Immediately beyond the gate, alleys, passages, and houses extend, maintaining the compact structure of the settlement. The route helps us imagine how the entrance might have been guarded and closed.
Continue towards the centre and the panoramic points of Mombarcaro: from the high altitude of the town the view embraces the Belbo valley, the Alps and, on the clearest days, even the direction of the Ligurian sea.
