Passerano: Castle, Churches and Hilly Landscape in Monferrato

Passerano Amid Hills and History

Passerano lies among the hills of the lower Monferrato in the Province of Asti. The town therefore provides a clear landscape setting for a trip in which you can consider the regional landscape and architectural history together. Its cultural points of interest range from coin minting to the castle, church and historic gardens.

The Antica Zecca and the Castello

The first coins were minted at the Antica Zecca di Passerano from 1589 onward. The mint operated until 1598; in that year, the Duke of Savoy withdrew the right to mint coins because counterfeit coins continued to be produced. If you would like to trace local history through specific developments, this site connects early coin minting with a political decision and the historical circumstances behind it.

The Antica Zecca currently houses the municipal library. The Castello di Passerano dates from the 14th century and was probably built by the Conti Radicati on the ruins of an earlier structure.

The Castello di Passerano is considered the most important monument in the municipality. It has a closed, imposing appearance that rises above the town and the surrounding landscape. The medieval tower was converted into a bell tower in 1704. The complex thus allows you to observe different historical periods, from the 14th century through the tower’s transformation in the early 18th century.

Church Architecture and Garden Culture

The Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo Apostoli has a late Baroque façade made of exposed brick and a matching terracotta bell tower. The church building consists of three naves and is illuminated by natural light from finely designed oval windows.

The inner courtyard garden of the Castello di Passerano is designated as one of the historic gardens of Monferrato. This adds an aspect of designed garden culture to the view of Passerano, forming a focus of its own alongside the castle and church architecture.

Schierano and Primeglio

In Schierano, a hamlet of Passerano Marmorito, the Panchina Gigante Verde Pastello was inaugurated on April 7, 2019, on the hill called “Il Mondo.” Also in Schierano, the Baroque Chiesa di San Grato Vescovo is a sight worth seeing.

In Primeglio, the former public weighing station was converted into the “peso dei pensieri,” where small pictures bearing motivational sayings are displayed. The well-maintained park of the Castello di Primeglio is also home to an old, stately Lebanon cedar. Primeglio thus presents two different local features: a repurposed former everyday function and a striking element of the park landscape.

Landscape and Route Connections

Boschi di Muscandia is a damp, green area that stretches through the landscape of the Basso Monferrato. In connection with the hills of the lower Monferrato, this creates a landscape theme that complements the stone and religious buildings with a green regional setting. Those weighing different interests for a stay will find points of connection here between natural landscapes, history and architecture.

The fourth stage of the Fossil Walk runs along the foot of Radicati Castle and ends in the center of Passerano. For you, this route may serve as a reference point if you would like to explore historic places and landscapes along a route-themed itinerary. Passerano can therefore be planned from several distinct perspectives: through its coin-minting history, its buildings, its hamlets or the regional landscape.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip to Italy

San Michele, Vigliano D'asti, Moasca, San Marzanotto, Serravalle, Montemagno, Boglietto, Scurzolengo

For the higher-level travel overview: Asti.