From Bra by e-bike in search of the Masche (local witches)

The e-bike tour is ideal for a full-day excursion, discovering Roero and its wooded landscapes. The e-bike tour is not technical in nature, making it suitable for anyone who wants to spend a day immersed in wild nature while discovering typical Piedmontese products and folklore, searching for traces of the Masche.

This e-bike route is designed to evoke ancient atmospheres and visit places where you can relive the mysterious atmospheres of ancient legends of Masche, the Piedmontese witches. The Masche are indeed witches but they aren't always malevolent or evil entities. Piedmontese Masche are mischievous, capricious - be careful not to make them angry, as they become vindictive. Unlike regular witches, Masche can also be good; they are healers, capable of curing people and animals, and can even save lives in danger.
Even today, sayings and expressions about them are still used, the most famous being "There are Masche around," typically used when something disappears, objects fall inexplicably, or strange noises are heard in the attic or between the beams and roofs of ancient houses. With an adventurous spirit, hop on the electric bike in search of the Masche!

The bike itinerary ideally starts from Bra; arriving at Bra railway station is convenient, where you can pick up your pre-booked e-bike and start your day tour. Bra is the birthplace of Slow Food and is famous for its cheese. The Cheese festival brings together enthusiasts and producers from around the world. Year-round, you can taste the famous "Bra Duro" and "Bra Tenero" cheeses accompanied by Bra sausage, another culinary excellence of the city. During the warm season, you can stop at a deli to buy Bra cheese and sausage, prepare a good sandwich, and enjoy a break from cycling by stopping along the way for a picnic.

On the e-bike, you reach Pocapaglia, home of Masca Micillina, one of the most famous, if not the most famous, Masca of Piedmont. Pocapaglia is the heart of Roero, its countryside dominated by the "Rocche," harsh hills of sand and clay that, together with the immense wooded lands, make the panorama unique, creating a fantasy fairy-tale landscape. Could these natural elements have created the right atmosphere for the legend? If you've visited the Barbaresco Langa, you've surely seen the Rocche of the Seven Brothers and Lady of Langa, also "Rocche" but completely different. The trail followed by e-bike continues through woods and cultivated fields; among rustling leaves and singing wind, you might (perhaps) hear the voice of Masca Micillina.

Masca Micillina (Michelina) was born in Barolo and married a farmer from Pocapaglia. The poor woman had a frightening appearance: she was small, with a wrinkled face, almost bald, even toothless, and when she walked, she had a slow and crippled gait - in short, the classic witch appearance.
It wasn't her appearance that earned her the "title of Masca," but rather a series of discomforts and strange events she caused to the village inhabitants. One day a young man crossed her path, fell, and while running away in fear, noticed he had one foot facing forward and one backward; another time, Micillina touched a girl's back, and the next day she started developing a hump, and there were more such incidents...
To these strange events was added Micillina's ability to avoid being found by anyone, not even her husband, who spread the word that he had married a Masca.
Micillina was condemned to burn at the stake, and the sad sentence was carried out in Pocapaglia on the hill now called Bric d'la Masca, where some dark spots can still be seen today (many believe it's blood, but it's actually oxidized iron). This is an excellent panoramic point to stop and admire the landscape, listen to the sound of the wind, and who knows, maybe hear Micillina's voice!

Continuing pedaling on the e-bike, you encounter woods and steep cliffs near the Rocche, alternating with fields and cultivated areas; surely the harsh and wild landscape gave the right popular inspiration to the birth of Masche legends. The landscape changes completely near Sommariva Perno, where the countryside is populated with vineyards and numerous orchards, and how can we not mention the famous and sweet strawberries of Sommariva Perno. During strawberry season, a stop at local producers for a delicious snack is highly recommended. The bike ride continues towards the villages of Baldissero d'Alba, Monteu Roero, and Ceresole d'Alba.

The final stop of the self-guided e-bike tour is Sommariva del Bosco or Sommariva Bosco, the border gate of Roero. Sommariva Bosco hosts the important fair "Amè l'Amel" (Love Honey), during which you can find local and non-local producers specialized in beekeeping offering the chance to taste many different kinds of honey. If the bike ride doesn't coincide with the fair, it's possible and recommended to stop at local producers and taste the excellent honey of Sommariva Del Bosco directly on-site. On the bike, you return to Bra, the beginning and end of the electric bike tour.