Discover Ovada: Culture, Wine and Genoese Character

Ovada lies at the confluence of the Orba and Stura rivers. Its historic centre has a typical Genoese character and combines sacred art, historic buildings, parks and regional wine culture. If you are looking for a place with several different reasons to visit during your trip to Italy, Ovada offers a clearly distinctive cultural and scenic diversity.

Historic Centre and Notable Buildings

Palazzo Maineri is a large Genoese-style building dating from the second half of the 17th century. It includes a stone staircase and a room on the piano nobile that preserves an 18th-century fresco with a stucco frame. The Chiesa Parrocchiale N.S. Assunta also contains a polychrome marble work serving as the main altar, created according to a design by Antonelli.

The Loggia di San Sebastiano is now used as a venue for cultural events. The Oratorio dell’Annunziata also combines architecture, art and religious history: it houses a polyptych of the Annunciation dated to 1500 and attributed to Agostino Bombelli, although not without difficulty. The Oratorio is associated with the Confraternity of the Santissima Annunziata, which was first mentioned in 1214.

Religious Art and Remembrance

The Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista houses the Cassa di San Giovanni. The processional sculpture by Anton Maria Maragliano depicts the beheading of John the Baptist. Ovada’s religious identity also includes the Processione di San Giovanni Battista, a traditional popular religious event that attracts visitors every year.

The Casa Natale di San Paolo della Croce preserves original structural elements and houses relics of the saint. The Museo Paleontologico is located in a former 14th-century church built in honour of Saint Anthony the Great. In Ovada, religious evidence from different periods is therefore found alongside a museum whose historic building is itself part of the visitor experience.

Parks, Wine and Regional Products

Parco Villa Gabrieli was created together with its Liberty-style villa between 1910 and 1913 and is home to rare tree species from different parts of the world. Parco Comunale Sandro Pertini was established in the second half of the 19th century, when the gardens and kitchen gardens of Palazzo Maineri and Palazzo Scassi–Buffa were brought together.

The Enoteca Regionale di Ovada e del Monferrato is based in the cellars of a palace. It offers technical wine tastings, bottle sales and events focused on wine and the region. At a market in Ovada, “La Corte dei Contadini” also offers Km0 products. This gives you direct access to wine and regional produce, without treating the culinary side separately from the town’s historic character.

Cycling Route and Arrival

The Strada dei Castelli dell’Ovadese is a cycling route that starts in Ovada and returns there. Ovada railway station is served by the Acqui Terme–Ovada–Genoa and Alessandria–Ovada railway lines. These two verified connections help you distinguish between exploring by bicycle and arriving by train, without conflating the respective options.

More Places for Trip Planning

If you would like to plan your trip beyond Ovada, here are some other destinations: Castelletto D'orba, Sala Monferrato, Pecetto, Borgoratto Alessandrino, Pozzolo Formigaro, Tagliolo Monferrato, Spigno Monferrato, Serralunga Di Crea.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.