Tassarolo between Wine Country and Coinage History

Tassarolo lies on hills at the transition between the plain and the Apennines. The landscape is strongly shaped by viticulture and complemented by traditional cultivated areas and remaining woodland.

Rule, Church and Coinage

The Castello di Tassarolo was built around a round tower that had already formed part of the Byzantine Limes. In 1560, Tassarolo was elevated to a county and was granted, among other things, the privilege of minting its own coins. In the papal bull of 13 April 1143, the church of Tassarolo was placed under the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria di Castiglione in the Diocese of Parma.

Tassarolo's origins as a Roman village, or vicus, are linked to Libarna through archaeological finds. Its coinage history also includes the building known as “La Zecca,” where Spinola coins were minted.

Experiencing the Castello di Tassarolo

A bookable tour of the Castello di Tassarolo begins in the village square. It includes the prisons, the chapel, the courtyard, the Aula Magna decorated with frescoes, and the mint with a coining screw dating from 1300. The itinerary connects different areas of the Castello, allowing you to explore both its architectural history and the role of coin minting in Tassarolo directly in one place.

Hilly Landscape and Notable Trees

The Quercia Verde di Tassarolo is designated as a tree of significant public interest. The “Rovere verde di Tassarolo” is a natural hybrid of downy oak and cork oak. Its trunk circumference is 400 cm and its height is 18 m.

Wine and Local Specialties

Tassarolo is one of the historic municipalities of the Gavi DOCG. In 2006, the Castello di Tassarolo switched to biodynamic agriculture. Those interested in cultivation and wine production can explore these subjects at Azienda Agricola Rugrà: by prior telephone arrangement, tours of the winery are offered, including visits to the vineyards and explanations of grape cultivation.

At the traditional Sagra di San Rocco, the local SuperAgnolotto is one of the specialities. The Sagra del Nibiö e del SuperAgnolotto returns to Tassarolo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 19, 20 and 21 June.

Music and Golf as Further Perspectives

Tassarolo has joined the “Borghi della Musica” project, a network of municipalities that offer concerts and musical initiatives in the Province of Alessandria. At the 2026 “Carlo Capriata” International Prize, the string ensemble of the Orchestra Classica di Alessandria will perform under the direction of Giulio Laguzzi. The “Carlo Capriata” International Prize was established in 2004 and reached its 23rd edition.

For golf enthusiasts, the Golf Colline del Gavi course is located at Località Fara Nuova 7, 15060 Tassarolo (AL). For directions, the Novi Ligure or Serravalle Scrivia exits on the A26 are recommended, followed by the route towards Novi Ligure and Tassarolo. The Castello course has a short par-3 hole with the Castello di Tassarolo in the background. The green is relatively level and is played with a 6–7 iron.

Further Destinations for Orientation

For further orientation, you can also view Frassineto Po, San Cristoforo, Poggio Maggiore, Cremolino, Valenza, Garbagna, Terranova and Monleale.

For the overarching travel overview: Alessandria.