Volpedo: Pellizza’s Art Between the Piazza and the Hills

In Volpedo, Pellizza’s artistic environment meets paths through the hills. If you would like to experience culture not only indoors, but also in the townscape and landscape, you will find several different points of connection here for planning your trip.

Pellizza’s Life and Work in Volpedo

The Museo didattico is a permanent public exhibition dedicated to presenting Pellizza’s life as a person and artist. Its thematic focus is therefore directly on the artist and his surroundings.

The Studio-Museum offers another perspective. It preserves the character of a 19th-century studio and contains work tools, everyday objects, books, correspondence, photographs, and significant works by Pellizza.

The connection to Pellizza also remains present in the townscape: Piazza Quarto Stato in Volpedo is named after the painting “Quarto Stato.” A lamppost marks the exact spot where Pellizza set up his easel. This makes the square a tangible point of reference between the name of the painting and the place where it was created.

Art Along Paths and at Stations

The “Luoghi pellizziani” circular trail leads through the streets of Volpedo. Large-format reproductions of Pellizza’s works are set against the landscape sections that inspired them. Here, art appears not only as an exhibit, but also in relation to the views of the town.

The “Luoghi pellizziani” circular trail now comprises 18 stations. Each panel is supported by a replica of the easel Pellizza used for painting outdoors. This recurring design element visibly connects the individual stations with his working method.

The Sentiero della Montà di Bogino is a 5 km circular trail through the hills of Volpedo. Along its route are eight reproductions of Pellizza’s works. This trail therefore connects the hilly landscape with another selection of his paintings.

Additional circular trails numbered 150, 152, 153, and 154 lead through the landscape and hills around Volpedo. These trails therefore form a focus in their own right for anyone who would like to explore the town beyond its streets and squares.

Palaces, Castle, and Gardens in the Surrounding Area

Several historic buildings with different designations are located around Volpedo: Palazzo Guidobono is a palace, Episcopal Palace is also a palace, and Palazzo Gounela is another palace. Castello Visconteo is a castle in the same area. The names therefore represent different architectural destinations in the vicinity of the town.

Several gardens are also located around Volpedo. These include Giardini Piazza Castello, Giardini Sandro Pertini, and Giardini Piazza San Bovo. In the wider regional surroundings of Volpedo, there is also Monte Giarolo, a mountain. The view thus extends from gardens within the town to a landscape feature in the wider area.

Getting to Volpedo

Volpedo can be reached via the Tortona motorway exit on the A7 Milan–Genoa or the A21 Turin–Piacenza–Brescia. You then follow the brown tourist signs bearing the inscription “Volpedo. Musei di Pellizza.” This signage directs the journey toward the town and its Pellizza-related destinations.

More Destinations

Brignano, Tortona, Cassano Spinola, Camagna Monferrato, Sale, Casasco, Quargnento, Monleale

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.