Casale Monferrato: Castles, Synagogue and Art

Casale Monferrato is a destination for travelers who want to combine historical power, sacred art and river landscapes in a single journey. Construction of today’s Castello di Casale Monferrato was begun by Giovanni II Paleologo and completed in 1357. After Casale received city status in 1474 and became the capital of the Marquisate of Montferrat, the Castello was remodeled and served as the seat of the court.

Sacred Spaces and Special Insights

The Sinagoga di Casale Monferrato was inaugurated in 1595. After several expansions and renovations, it features a Piedmontese interior in the Baroque-Rococo style, shaped by careful restoration in 1969. Guided tours of the Cattedrale di Sant'Evasio are available by prior reservation. On the second weekend of each month, during “Casale città aperta,” a volunteer accompanies the public on a tour of the cathedral. The Museo del Tesoro del Duomo (“Sacrestia aperta”) is located in the cathedral and offers a historical and architectural tour of the museum rooms, as well as an exhibition featuring a selection of silverwork and a small picture gallery. The Museo degli Argenti is located in the synagogue’s former women’s gallery, the Matroneum, as well as on the first and second floors of the two buildings that make up the museum complex.

Painting, Sculpture and Palaces

The Pinacoteca of the Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi displays approximately 250 works, including paintings and sculptures. The Gipsoteca Leonardo Bistolfi comprises 170 sculptures and illustrates the sculptor’s entire artistic development. The Palazzo San Giorgio and Palazzo Gozani di Treville palaces are also located in the immediate vicinity of Casale Monferrato. The Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi and the Comunità Ebraica di Casale Monferrato are likewise situated nearby. The cultural spectrum therefore extends from historic spaces and religious heritage to a focused exploration of art and sculpture.

Fortress and the Po River Landscape

The Cittadella di Casale Monferrato was inaugurated in 1590 as an imposing hexagonal fortress. The Bosco Pastrona offers a different setting: it lies on the right bank of the Po in the Ronzone district of Casale Monferrato. The Giardini della Stazione gardens and the Parco Fluviale del Po e dell'Orba Sede Operativa park are also located nearby. In the wider regional area are the Giardini Aldo Moro and Giardini Camurati gardens. Those who want to give culture and landscapes different levels of emphasis can include these places as separate focal points in their travel plans.

When choosing a hotel in Casale Monferrato, you can therefore be guided by your preferred themes: the history of the Castello and the Cittadella, the synagogue, cathedral and museums, or the Po-related landscape.

More destinations

For further travel planning, you can find the following here: Montacuto, Bacchetti, Bosio, Occimiano, Guazzolo, Castelnuovo Scrivia, Novi Ligure and Murisengo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.