Spinetta Marengo: History Surrounding the Marengo Museum

Spinetta Marengo Between Battlefield and Park

Spinetta Marengo takes you to a place where the history of the Napoleonic era is directly connected with an expansive landscape. The Marengo Museum is located at the centre of the battlefield, near the village of Marengo, in Villa Delavo. It tells the story of the 1800 Italian campaign and the Battle of Marengo, making this historical period accessible through different forms of presentation.

At the museum, the history of the battle is conveyed through videos, maps, graphic works, display cases containing weapons and objects, mannequins in historical uniforms, and film footage. Villa Delavo itself features perspective decorations on the exterior by the Lombard master Gabetta and interior decorations by Paolo Maggi. In this way, the historical theme in Spinetta Marengo is combined with a tangible architectural and artistic setting.

Monuments and Places of Remembrance

The Marengo monumental complex includes a 55,000-square-metre park with centuries-old trees. This park contains an ossuary dedicated to the heroes of Marengo and a bust of General Louis Charles Antoine Desaix. In front of the museum there is also a memorial column topped with a bronze eagle. It was erected in 1801, taken away by the Austrians after Napoleon’s downfall, and returned to its original location in 1918.

Another special feature is the pyramid made of triangular cast-iron tiles by Alex Donadio, erected in 2009. It commemorates the glory of the victory and the soldiers who fell in battle, above all General Desaix. The medieval Torre degli Stortiglioni was built by the Stortiglioni family in the ancient settlement of Marengo and is associated in popular tradition with the Lombard Queen Theodelinda. The tower is visible from the grounds of the Marengo Museum.

Meadows, Walks and Special Offers

The Albero di Napoleone, a historic plane tree, stands on Via Marengo. It is more than 200 years old and approximately 40 metres tall; its location is about 900 metres west of the Marengo Museum. For walks across the historic battlefield of Marengo, the meadows around Spinetta Marengo are recommended. This makes it possible to experience the historic landscape beyond the museum’s rooms as well.

La Pederbona offers guided visits of its animal husbandry facilities in Spinetta Marengo with the Peddy Express. A culinary connection to history is provided by the “Napoleon & the UNESCO Monferrato” offer: on the day of the visit, it enables guests to taste “Pollo alla Marengo”, which must be ordered in advance. Events also draw on the past. During a documented re-enactment of the Battle of Marengo, around 100 participants brought the events surrounding Villa Delavo, its park and the surrounding fields in Spinetta Marengo back to life. On the occasion of the 225th anniversary of Napoleon’s Battle of Marengo, a series of events featuring historical re-enactments and performances was also held in Spinetta Marengo.

For practical orientation, the Marengo Museum has free parking for cars next to the entrance. More destinations for travel planning: Carpeneto, Girasole, Treville, Gabiano, Silvano D'orba, Trisobbio, Carbonara Scrivia and Mirabello Monferrato.

To the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.