Alessandrino and Casalese

<< Piedmont

The central part of the Province of Alessandria, around the provincial capital, is known as Alessandrino, while the northern section is called Casalese, centered around the town of Casale Monferrato. This area is occupied by small hills and is mostly rural, but still offers various interesting attractions in its main cities and a few other places.

Alessandria

Alessandria is a city in the Po Valley located at the center of the Turin–Milan–Genoa industrial triangle. The city was founded in 1168 by the Lombard League and named after Pope Alexander III. The town became a free comune and saw centuries of wars between local powers. After a long period of Milanese domination, the city joined the Duchy of Savoy in the 18th century. Alessandria was occupied by the Napoleonic Army in 1800, after the French victory in the Battle of Marengo, fought near the city. In 1814, the city was again under the rule of the House of Savoy and over the following decades it became one of the most important centers of the Italian Risorgimento, until the unification of Italy. Alessandria is now the third-largest city in Piedmont.

✪ Cittadella of Alessandria

The Cittadella is a historic star fort erected during the 18th century in Alessandria, and one of the best preserved fortifications of that time. The citadel was expanded during the French occupation, and at the time it was among the most important fortesses in the French Empire. In 1821, the garrison of the citadel revolted, sparking an insurrection that became pivotal for the Italian Risorgimento. After being decommissioned in 2007, the Cittadella can now be visited.

Alessandria Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Marco

The Alessandria Cathedral (Duomo di Alessandria) is the main religious site in the city. The church was originally erected in the Late Middle Ages and only became the city’s cathedral in the 19th century, after the previous cathedral was demolished during the Napoleonic occupation. With a height of 106 meters, the bell tower of this church is the third tallest in Italy.

Civic Museum of Alessandria

The 18th-century Palazzo Cuttica di Cassine, in the center of Alessandria, hosts the local Civic Museum. This museum hosts various exhibits on the city’s history, including a collection of archaeological findings, various Renaissance artworks, a section dedicated to the Napoleonic period, and more.

Borsalino Museum

The renowned Borsalino company, famous for its iconic hats, was founded in Alessandria in 1857. Now the Borsalino Museum showcases its history, hosting a collection of all the hats produced by the company.

Ethnographic Museum of Gambarina

The Ethnographic Museum of Gambarina (Museo Etnografico della Gambarina) is a museum of local history in Alessandria. The exhibition showcases the traditional rural life of the locals during the 19th and 20th century, and it houses many objects and memorabilia from that period.

Marengo Museum

The Marengo Museum is a history museum located near Spinetta Marengo, just outside Alessandria. The museum is dedicated to the Battle of Marengo, fought here during the Napoleonic Wars in 1800, and it hosts an exhibition on the history of that period and the battle.

Casale Monferrato

Casale Monferrato is a city located along the Po river between Alessandria and Vercelli, in the Province of Alessandria. The town was founded in ancient times but it emerged during the Late Middle Ages as a free comune. After fighting various wars with the neighboring powers, it became the capital of the Marquisate (and later Duchy) of Montferrat in the 15th century. In 1708 Montferrat was absorbed into the Duchy of Savoy. After the Italian unification, Casale Monferrato became an industrial center.

✪ Casale Monferrato Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Sant’Evasio

The Casale Monferrato Cathedral (Duomo di Casale Monferrato) is a historic church built in the 12th century in the center of Casale Monferrato. The church is a great example of the Romanesque Lombard style and it features two bell towers. The facade is richly decorated, while the interiors are adorned with numerous frescoes. Several artworks are stored in the church and the adjacent museum.

✪ Synagogue of Casale Monferrato

The Synagogue of Casale Monferrato was erected in the Jewish quarter of the city in the 16th century, and it is known for the many beautiful Baroque decorations that adorn its interiors. The synagogue also hosts two museums, the Museo degli Argenti, dedicated to traditional silver objects and artifacts, and the Museo dei Lumi, featuring a collection of menorahs.

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini is the main square of Casale Monferrato, adorned with an equestrian monument of Charles Albert of Sardinia, built in 1843. The road connecting the square to the castle hosts a tall Civic Tower, originally built in the 11th century and reworked during the Renaissance.

Palaiologos Castle

The Palaiologos Castle (Castello dei Paleologi) is a 14th-century castle in Casale Monferrato, built when the Marquisate of Montferrat was ruled by the Palaiologos family. The castle was later reinforced under the rule of the Gonzaga, and now it can be visited. The castle dominates a large plaza close to the Po river.

Church of San Domenico

The Church of San Domenico is a church erected during the Renaissance in Casale Monferrato, also featuring elements of the Gothic and Baroque style. The church houses several interesting artworks spanning from the 15th to the 18th century.

Civic Museum and Gypsotheca Bistolfi

The Civic Museum and Gypsotheca Bistolfi (Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi) is a rich museum hosted in a former monastery in Casale Monferrato. The Civic Museum is an art gallery housing several artworks, mostly paintings spanning a period between the Late Middle Ages and the 19th century. Meanwhile, the Gypsotheca Bistolfi features numerous casts and models made by sculptor Leonardo Bistolfi.

Serralunga di Crea

Serralunga di Crea is a tiny village located among the hills of the Province of Alessandria, best known for its proximity to one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy.

Sacro Monte di Crea

The Sacro Monte di Crea is a sanctuary located on top of a hill near Serralunga di Crea, and one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. According to tradition, it was founded around the year 350, and now it features a range of religious buildings including several decorated chapels. Numerous artworks and frescoes adorn the sanctuary, blending different styles.