What to see and what to do in Basso Monferrato

It is an imposing 15th century military construction with a hexagonal plan, four round towers and an encircling moat.

The theatre stands at the north eastern corner of Piazza at the end of Via Saffi. It was opened in 1791 with a performance of La Moglie Capricciosa, an opera buffa by Vincenzo Fabrizi. It took a period of six years to be constructed through Abbot Agostino’s design. It is horse shoe-shaped with four tiers of boxes and a gallery.

At the south east corner of the Piazza lays this elegant baroque church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It’s a master of work of Giovanni Battista Scapitta and was completed after his death by Giacomo Zanetti. It is marked by an elliptical cupola and a façade curvilinear both in plan and elevation.

The Palace, dating back to the 15th-16th century, was the residence of the Marquise Anna of Alençon. From that period was the remarkable Renaissance courtyard, surrounded by circular brick columns with cubiform capitals, a porch with pointed arches and coffered ceiling.

The historic center of the town is centered here at Piazza Mazzini, previously a Roman forum site. It is named after Giuseppe Mazzini, who was a key republican figure of the Risorgimento. It is dominated by an 1843 equestrian statue of King Charles Albert dressed in Roman costume.

This brick tower 60 meters high and of a square plan dates back to the 11th century. It suffered heavy fire damage in 1504 but was reconstructed six years later producing the now taller structure including the current bell chamber. The tower is adjoined by the church of Santo Stefano which stands on a small square on the east side.

The Castello di Casale is located in the historic center of the municipality of Casale Monferrato. It was built around 1357 at the behest of John II Paleologist. In the middle of the 1400s, its function was changed and consequently also its structure. Later it was reinforced for war and military purposes. It is currently in excellent condition and it is possible to admire it in all its grandeur.

The Castle of Camino was built during the 11th century for reasons of defense. In the 19th century the building was restored according to the style of the French school of Viollet Le Duc, adding also a courtyard and a small chapel. Today, the Castello di Camino is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Italy.

The Synagogue of Casale Monferrato was built in 1595. The property is in Piedmontese Baroque style. In 1969, after having undergone some changes, it was declared a national monument by the Piedmont Region. On the first floor, a Museum is set up with quotations from the Bible and on the second floor, there is the library, with ancient manuscripts and prayer books.

The Citadel was built in 1590 at the behest of the Gonzaga to defend the town of Casale Monferrato from various Spanish attacks and from the Savoy Kingdom. It was often the scene of various attacks over the years. Today, only the so-called 'powder' remains, since the original structure was dismembered to leave room for the construction of the city.

The Silver Synagogue of Casale M. dates back to 1595, a splendid example of Piedmontese rococo maintained in its entirety. From the inside of the patio, you can access the Gineceo where the 'Museum of Lumies' is located

It is located a little to the east of the east of the Piazza Mazzini square. The cathedral was founded in 742, rebuilt in early 12th century and was consecrated in January 1107 by Pope Paschal II. It occupies the place where a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter was once located.

It was erected in 1413 by the Marquis Teodoro Paleologo of Monferrato. It was part of the defensive and sighting system of the Marquisate of Monferrato.

The most beautiful palazzi in the town and part of Giovanni Battista’s great work, it is a long and gently curved façade which follows Via Mameli’s path. These are only few of the present palazzi’s in this center.