Ozzano Monferrato: Castles, Churches and Industrial History

Castles, Churches and Townscape

Ozzano Monferrato combines a long architectural history with the industrial heritage of lime and cement production. The origins of the Castello di Ozzano Monferrato are probably connected with the period of castle building around the year 1000. The oldest visible section dates from the 15th century: a brick wall with three split merlons at the top. On the eastern side of the Castello are hanging gardens dating from the 19th century. The approximately 20-metre-high bell tower is a freestanding brick structure with a square floor plan and rests against a tuff wall.

Art in the Churches

The present structure of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta dates from the 18th century. Its interior mainly contains altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. The parish church of San Salvatore preserves fragments of frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, some of which are attributed to Spanzotti's workshop. San Salvatore was also recognised by the competent heritage authority as a significant work of art.

Lime, Cement and Industrial Archaeology

The Valle del Rio Fontanola is home to architectural and technical evidence of Ozzano Monferrato's lime and cement industry, which developed there between the 19th and 20th centuries. This includes the former Milanese e Azzi plant, built in 1894, which has six brick vertical kilns. The kilns are divided into a group of four and a group of two installations. Another way to explore this subject is MiCeM, a museum with an exhibition area of approximately 250 square metres that explains the geological and industrial origins of lime and cement production in the Casalese Monferrato area.

Crafts and Distinctive Buildings

The local cultural character also includes chiacchierino, known in Italian as frivolité. It is an old form of shuttle-made bobbin lace or needlework with a well-established tradition in Ozzano Monferrato. Casa Bonaria-Simonetti is a rare example of a late Gothic residence and adds another clearly defined feature to the architectural landscape.

Historically Focused Walking Tours

Along the historical and art-historical walking route, visitors can see preserved traces of Ozzano Monferrato's Renaissance walls, with brickwork and stepped decorations. The route also includes the only surviving defensive tower in Ozzano Monferrato. As visitors explore the town, masonry, fortifications and religious art each stand out with their own historical focus.

The “Panorami e Ciminiere” route offers panoramic views and leads to numerous buildings that bear witness to the period when Ozzano Monferrato and the surrounding towns were an important centre of cement production. The Valle Fontanola is both an area of industrial archaeology related to cement production and a place where this industrial history can be discovered and explored.

Practical Information

Visitors can park at the station in the hamlet of Lavello. An information board about the “Panorami e Ciminiere” route is located nearby. Ozzano Monferrato is connected to Casale Monferrato by bus services operated by Autolinee STAT Turismo and to Turin by a line operated by GTT. The historic village can be visited as part of Castelli Aperti or on a guided tour by prior reservation.

More Destinations

More destinations to compare: Capriata D'orba, Carbonara Scrivia, Gabiano, Odalengo Piccolo, Sant'Agata Fossili, Garbagna, Serralunga Di Crea and Olivola.

Back to the main travel overview: Alessandria.