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 The Monferrato is a small region in Piedmont, situated between Turin and Milan, which offers to the visitors many evocative natural and cultural landscapes. It is a hilly territory which offers sights of vineyards alternated with woods and punctuated with farmsteads. Country houses, towers and ruins crown almost every rise. The multitude of Churches and Chapels awake a mystic and architectural charm. The Monferrato is thus a place where history, art, architecture, traditions and crafts all live side by side in an extraordinary landscape that is yours to discover. Recent history Monferrato was a contended region from the Middle Ages. Numerous castles and fortifications were erected, as a great expression of the powerful marquises of the Monferrato and their feudal system. In the 1500's, with the extinction of the Paleologi's dynasty, the autonomy of the marquisate was stopped and the dominion of the territory was held by the Gonzaga. To the beginning of the 1700's Monferrato was finally transferred to the Savoia's control. In 1800, Napoleon brought back in Marengo one of its most famous victories, during the Italy campaign; in the 1800's Monferrato was theatre of the Italian Risorgimento Motions, taking part with its men to Italy’s unity. Agricultural tourism You can admire along the beautiful fields and hills small villages that hark back to the ancient charm of the local stone, but also churches in the middle of the vineyards. The gentle, rolling “sea of hills”, is cloaked in woods and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Even the agricultural valleys in Monferrato are picturesque with their flooded rice-fields and the famous vineyards from where come the best European wines as the Barbera, the Freisa and the Grignolino. The River Po runs between the plains, drawing them together with the calming flow of its waters; this setting provides fantastic opportunities to stay in enchanting castles, farmhouse accommodation, bed & breakfasts and charming hotels. In the west of the region, the Valle Cerrina and the Moncalvese area are famous for the wild woods and the truffle festivals. To the east is Valenza, the world capital of goldsmithery and jewellery-making and home to the Parco del Po, an unspoilt area where you can enjoy the beauty of the local nature and of the river Po. These enchanting spots, which are often unknown, offer to the visitors who want to discover them their roaming spirit, sampling flavours, smells and colours and give an opportunity to find wellbeing, relaxation and a different way of spending one’s holidays and free time in marvellous castles or evocative farmhouse accommodations and charming hotels. In the centre of this area is Casale, the capital of Monferrato, which has some of the most beautiful Piedmontese Baroque buildings, unique in Europe. By car, on foot or by bicycle, the Monferrato Casalese area invites you to get to know it, discover and savour it, and extends its warmest welcome to all visitors. Casale Monferrato Casale, with its 39,000 inhabitants, is the economic and historical, but also political and administrative centre of the Monferrato region. This town has a well developed industrial fabric, specialised in machines for graphic design, wood working, refrigeration, publishing, food, and cement production. But Casale is above all a town of art, history, and culture. For centuries this town has hosted families that have played central roles in the political, dynastic and war events of Piedmont: the Aleramicis, the Marquis of Monferrato, the Gonzagas, the Savoias. The ancient centre features a mediaeval core with some Renaissance roads. Casale is also the seat of a monthly antiques market, of several exhibitions and cultural events. A traditional product of Casale is a special type of cookies, the famous Krumiri, traditional biscuits that have become the symbol of Piedmontese sweet titbits. Back to the Top
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