Discover Valmacca: History and Nature Along the Po

Valmacca combines historic buildings with a landscape shaped by the Po and its birdlife. This gives you a destination with a range of highlights: its history stretches from the fortified settlement of 1447 to today’s town hall in the castle, while the riverbanks offer opportunities for nature observation and longer walks. This picture is complemented by religious art, local festivals and the hamlet of Rivalba.

Castle, fortified settlement and old village structures

Valmacca’s town hall is housed in a castle built in the 15th century. In 1925, Prince Emilio donated the castle to the municipality of Valmacca to serve as the town hall.

As early as 1447, the fortified settlement of Valmacca consisted of a castle, an adjoining ricetto, and another settlement area that was probably also protected by fortifications. Torre d’Isola presents a different historic structure: the medieval building has a central section with a small tower rising from it, an adjoining single-storey section and surrounding houses from the old village. Torre d’Isola lies on the edge of the Po riverbank and offers wide-ranging views.

Sacred art with clear historical traces

The parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in 1589 through the efforts of the noble Sannazzaro and Scozia families. The consecration of the parish of Santa Maria is dated 24 May 1605 and was signed by Cardinal Federico Borromeo. In the Rosary Chapel of the parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary stands a gilded statue surrounded by 15 Mysteries created by the Moncalvo school.

Valmacca’s religious history also includes the Chiesetta della Madonna delle Grazie. It was built around the middle of the 16th century along the old “valmacchina” road to Casale Monferrato. Inside is a fresco of the Virgin Mary, and local devotion remains vibrant. These diverse testimonies are particularly suited to travellers who do not wish to consider architecture, ecclesiastical art and local history separately.

Po Riverbanks, birdwatching and Rivalba

The Valmacca area forms part of the Zona di Protezione Speciale Fiume Po – tratto vercellese alessandrino. Torre d’Isola is also of interest because of its location on the edge of the Po riverbank and the numerous bird species found there, especially during migration and wintering.

For walks, the Sentiero Valenza–Rivalba offers a particular focus. It follows the Po riverbank for a considerable distance and provides the opportunity to observe a diverse range of birdlife. The path ends in Rivalba, a hamlet of Valmacca. When choosing a hotel for your trip, you can therefore first decide whether historic buildings, sacred art, the river landscape or birdwatching should be the focus of your days.

Festivals and the local annual cycle

In Rivalba, the celebrations of San Rocco traditionally include an animal blessing and a procession through the village. Valmacca also hosts the Sagra dell’Asparago on the third Sunday in May. Both dates combine religious or local traditions with the public life of the village and give your stay a seasonal dimension.

Other destinations you can discover: Brignano, Olivola, Momperone, Spinetta Marengo, Carbonara Scrivia, Castellazzo Bormida, Frassineto Po and Lerma.

For the broader travel overview: Alessandria.