Agriturismo Cascina Merlanetta

Located in Casal Cermelli, Cascina Merlanetta is an organic farm located in a nature reserve overlooking the Orba River, where it offers its guests a unique experiential tourism practice: gold panning in the Orba River, as well as animal watching activities.

The property covers an area of about 50 hectares and offers its guests stays in totally independent rural apartments and in a camper parking area, equipped with all services.

Cascina Merlanetta produces, and has been the protagonist of the varietal recovery project of an ancient-medieval Savoy cabbage native to the municipality of Casal Cermelli that has become part of the Slow Food Ark products.

Cascina Merlanetta is the ideal place to experience a stay in the rustic and natural surroundings. The property has independent accommodation, created from the renovation of an old stable for horses in an old farmhouse with a closed courtyard.

The independent apartment(56 sqm), fully furnished, without any architectural barrier is equipped with: independent heating system, wood stove, fireplace, air conditioning, Wifi included. The large kitchen consists of: gas oven (5 burners), electric oven, large sink, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, sitting area with TV, kitchen table 6 seats, 5th bed and furniture. The laundry room consists of: large sink, washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board. The bathroom consists of toilet, bidet, sink, shower, accessories. The bedroom is equipped with: large loft bed (4 places ), TV and furniture.

Cascina Merlanetta has acamper area within an organic farm.Directly from the RV area are paths that take visitors both into the open countryside and along the creek; from here the horizon sweeps over unspoiled countryside and cultivated fields interspersed with avenues and woods from where, without difficulty, quietly parked on a perfect plateau, it is also possible to catch a glimpse of the wild animals that make up the local fauna (hares, foxes, wild boars, deer and even wolves).

The camper area is equipped with 10 pitches, equipped with individual water and electrical connections and unlimited consumption, drains for gray water (directly into ground system) and black water into collection tank.

There is apicnic area and handicapped-accessible air-conditioned premises consisting of: bathroom complete with toilet with hand shower, sink and shower for unlimited consumption. Laundry room is equipped with dryer, washing machine and iron with ironing board. Small kitchen equipped with dishwasher, sink, electric induction stove, oven, refrigerator and microwave oven. Wifi included for internet browsing.

Cascina Merlanetta offers itself as a location for ceremonies and events.

The facility consists of halls equipped with all necessary facilities. Food and beverage handling rooms, gardens and outdoor parks , and large parking lots are available, with the possibility of also using from the large shed, built to host exhibitions and sample fairs. At the client's disposal is a catering service of his or her own choosing or the possibility of relying on one of those that usually collaborate with Cascina Merlanetta.

Cascina Merlanetta offers guests a unique experience and an unforgettable memory to take home: a practice of experiential tourism will pass on the ability to become true gold diggers. With the knowledge gained, it is also possible to carry out this activity later in life, probing the sands of the rivers that may be found along the way. It is therefore a hobby that can one day allow the making of a pure convoro jewelry found by the guests themselves.

Cascina Merlanetta is home to the historical and interactive museum "Oro dell'Orba," where it is possible to learn about the history and take courses to learn how to use the various techniques of gold panning and then, try your hand at it directly on the stream bed. Here one learns how to use the prospector's plate before reaching the Orba Creek Nature Reserve, where the course to become an expert prospector and the qualifying course in the wild with a subsequent certificate of qualification will be given.

Adjacent to the prospector's museum, it is also possible to visit the "Porti d'i Barlafìs," which is a very rich collection of rural civilization tools used in past centuries by the local population.

The second form of experiential tourism proposed by Cascina Merlanetta, in addition to the experience to become a gold prospector, isanimal watching: walking through the paths between the organic fields, one reaches the course of the stream and, equipped with binoculars for daytime vision or a thermal imaging camera for night vision, one can safely observe wild animals undisturbed in their natural behavior from a distance. This practice is carried out at first light or alternatively during the night (at least two hours after sunset) when the animals are most active. The experience lasts about 2 hours, and along the way, at a 'rest area in the nature reserve, a simple coffee prepared with the old Neapolitan and some drinks are offered. The most suitable time for such an activity is when the vegetation is as bare as possible (autumn, winter, spring) when visibility even within the bush is greater.

The facility is 8 km from Alessandria, 29 km from Acqui Terme, 30 km from Nizza Monferrato. Cristoforo ColomboAirport in Genoa, the nearest airport, 67 km away.