Castelletto d'Orba: History, Sulphur Springs and Family Experiences

Castelletto d'Orba combines local history, religious architecture, sulphur springs and Parco Acquatico Lavagello. The historic centre is characterised by narrow lanes leading up the hill.

Traces of the Castle and Fortified Settlement

Borgo della Torniella is one of the oldest districts of Castelletto d'Orba, within the old Ricetto. The Ricetto was a fortified area beside the castle of Castelletto d'Orba. Porta della Berlina is a 14th-century gateway that still stands today. Porta della Gagliarda was restored in 1889 by Alfredo d'Andrade. Castello di Castelletto d'Orba has a square ground plan and features of the Piedmontese Gothic style. Torre Buzzi was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the site where the town's first castle is thought to have stood.

Churches and Frescoes

The parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate was built in the 14th century and has a Baroque ground plan. Its crypt contains the tomb of Sant'Innocenzo; the bodies of the martyrs Teodoro and Faustino have been kept in a left-hand side chapel since 1798. The Church of San Lorenzo was rebuilt in the 18th century in a Baroque-inspired style with three naves.

From the 12th century, a monastic church was under the authority of the Ligurian monastery of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte, which was under the patronage of the Doria family. Its walls are covered with fresco cycles created at different times by various artists. The building dates from the 15th century and contains significant frescoes reminiscent of those in the Church of San Giovanni al Piano di Lerma.

Springs, Oil-Making Tradition and Events

The Museo del Torchio di Bozzolina preserves a press dating from 1716 used to produce walnut oil. A few metres away is an old cellar equipped exclusively with wooden fittings; the components are labelled with terms from the local dialect. Some springs in Castelletto d'Orba contain sulphur because the area's marls belong to a geological formation described as gypsum-sulphur-bearing. There are also numerous sulphurous healing springs discovered in the 18th century by the physician Gian Battista Barberis and the pharmacist Giulio Bava, which are of tourist interest to the town.

In August, Borgata Bozzolina is associated with the Passeggiata sotto le stelle evening walk. In September, Castelletto d'Orba hosts the Festa dell'Uva e del Vino. In October, the Festival Terra e Vino, featuring folk dances and folk music, takes place in the town.

Water-Based Family Experiences

Parco Acquatico Lavagello in Castelletto d'Orba offers swimming pools, water slides, a Caribbean lagoon, a children's area and leisure facilities. The Rapid River attraction is enjoyed using inflatable rings or inflatable boats.

Other destinations for planning your trip to Italy include Tassarolo, Montacuto, Mombello Monferrato, Trisobbio, Serravalle Scrivia, Pasturana, Spinetta Marengo and Quargnento.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.