Experience Alessandria: History, Museums and Landscapes

When you consider Alessandria as a destination in southern Piedmont, you encounter fortress architecture, museums, art and very diverse landscapes. The Province of Alessandria lies in the south of Piedmont, at the centre of the triangle between Turin, Milan and Genoa. Its character includes plains, hills and mountain areas, each with different histories, traditions and cultures. This makes it possible to shape a journey here according to your interests: with a focus on urban history, historical collections, scientific topics or active days among vineyards and hilly landscapes.

Fortresses and historical sites

One outstanding historical destination is the Cittadella di Alessandria. It is considered one of the most important European monuments of permanent 18th-century fortification architecture. Its construction is connected with the Treaty of Alliance concluded after 1703 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Those interested in military history and architecture will find here an introduction to the political and architectural context of this era.

The Forte di Gavi likewise combines a distinctive structure with a long history of conflict. The fortress has a star-shaped polygonal layout with six pointed bastions connected by curtain walls. Certain historical records concerning the castle date back to the 12th century; the fortress was also the scene of conflicts between Tortona, Genoa and Alessandria. The province also includes castles and palaces of historical, artistic and architectural significance.

Museums of the city, art and memory

The Borsalino Museum is a multimedia museum dedicated to the history of the Italian hat brand Borsalino. It opened in 2023 on the initiative of the City of Alessandria and the Fondazione Borsalino. The Marengo Museum focuses on the Italian campaign of 1800 and the Battle of Marengo, including its causes, developments and consequences. It is located at the centre of the battlefield near the village of Marengo and is housed in Villa Delavo, which was built in 1847 as a monument to the emperor.

At the Marengo Museum, the battle is vividly presented through videos, maps, graphic works, weapons and objects, figures in historical uniforms and films. Palatium Vetus is considered the oldest public palace in the city of Alessandria. Its historic seat, remains and art collection have been made accessible again to citizens, students and tourists. Parts of the original medieval core have been uncovered, including triforium windows, frescoes and interior decorations. The art collection comprises more than 800 works dating from the 15th century to the present day.

The Sale d'Arte are open to the public and display important works and art objects from the collections of Alessandria. On view are late-medieval wall frescoes from the late 14th century, inspired by the stories surrounding King Arthur. The rooms also present paintings by Giovanni Migliara (1785–1837) and explore 19th-century genre and landscape painting. For independent visits, an accessible side entrance with a ramp and lift is available; the exhibition rooms can be visited independently.

Experiencing science in an engaging way

The Teatro delle Scienze comprises the Museo di Scienze Naturali, a planetarium and an astronomy laboratory. Along the natural history tour, you encounter rocks, minerals and fossils. The exhibition is complemented by a true-to-scale model of the river landscape in the Alessandria area. The planetarium projects a starry sky with 6,500 stars and enables simulations of constellations and celestial movements. The entrance and interior spaces of the Teatro delle Scienze are easily accessible for people with disabilities; there is also a restroom suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Hills, vineyards and trails

The Province of Alessandria offers trekking and cycling experiences through vineyards and historic villages as well as across varied landscapes. The Percorso Borsalino begins at Palazzo Rosso and passes the historic Borsalino hat shop on Corso Roma in Alessandria. The route then continues along the panoramic Strada Comunale Bricchi, with the paved road partly turning into an unpaved path.

For a tour through the hilly landscape, there is the Anello di Rivarone: a circular trail in the hills around Rivarone, accessible from Alessandria via the provincial road SP80. The CAI 575 circular trail at I Calanchi di Merana leads through spectacular erosional badlands and to numerous geological formations locally known as “Murion”. In the broader Piedmont context, the UNESCO vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato preserves wine-growing and winemaking traditions that have developed over the long term.

Orientation for planning your journey

The Province of Alessandria is connected by the A21 Turin–Piacenza, A26 Genoa Voltri–Gravellona Toce and A7 Milan–Genoa motorways. These transport routes provide a practical point of reference when you want to combine different cultural destinations and landscapes. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine your preferred travel focus: museums and historical sites, scientific topics or excursions into the hills, vineyards and geological landscapes. This allows you to arrange your days in Alessandria according to your own rhythm.

Other places in the surrounding area

Corteranzo, Borgo San Martino, Ponzone, Acqui Terme, Casasco, Giarole, Guazzolo, Orsara Bormida, Ovada, Rosignano Monferrato, Sarezzano, Terruggia, Camino, Fabbrica Curone, Monleale, Treville, Tagliolo Monferrato, Spigno Monferrato, Serravalle Scrivia, Pontecurone, Pecetto, Girasole, Gavi, Gabiano, Cassine, Casale Monferrato, Alfiano Natta, Alessandria, Oviglio, Alice Bel Colle, San Sebastiano Curone, Cremolino, Borgoratto Alessandrino, Montecastello, Mirabello Monferrato, Frassineto Po, Sant'Agata Fossili, Momperone, Montaldo Bormida, Prasco, Bandita, Montecapraro, San Salvatore Monferrato, Strevi, Vignale Monferrato, Serralunga Di Crea, Quattordio, Grognardo, Lobbi, Spinetta Marengo, Cuccaro Monferrato, Poggio Maggiore, Ponzano Monferrato, Solonghello, Fabiano, Lu, Melazzo, Sanico, Novi Ligure, Terranova, Garbagna, Montacuto, Rocchetta Ligure, Camagna Monferrato, Cavatore, Volpedo, Spineto Scrivia, San Giuliano Vecchio, Olivola, Quargnento, Valmacca, Trisobbio, Bacchetti, Castelnuovo Bormida, Cadepiaggio, Garadassi, Cantalupo Ligure, Paderna, Brignano, Sala Monferrato, Cardona, Tortona, Borgo Adorno, Carpeneto, Predosa, Cereseto, Mazzarelli, Castelletto D'orba, Voltaggio, Bistagno, Masio, Ozzano Monferrato, Borghetto Di Borbera, Cassinelle, Frassinello Monferrato, Pietra Marazzi, Arquata Scrivia, Villanova Monferrato, Bosio, Mombello Monferrato, Conzano, Silvano D'orba, Sale, Ottiglio, Murisengo, Castelnuovo Scrivia, Gamalero, Pasturana, Carbonara Scrivia, Castellazzo Bormida, Cassano Spinola, Pontestura, Ponti, Rocca Grimalda, Valenza, San Cristoforo, Ricaldone, Monticelli, Palazzina, Lerma, Caldirola, Fresonara, Figino, Odalengo Piccolo, Montemarzino, Merana, Pozzolo Formigaro, Mongiardino Ligure, Malvicino, Occimiano, Tassarolo, Fubine, Capriata D'orba, Carrosio, Montaldo Cosola, Bosco Marengo, Ombra, Morano Sul Po, Ciglione.

To the higher-level travel overview: Piedmont.