Crescentino Between History, Churches and River Landscapes

Crescentino combines a historic town center with religious sites, wetlands and river landscapes.

Historic Center and Sacred Art

The civic tower in the historic center was probably built toward the end of the 14th century. Arcades line the central street and shape the town center.

The parish church of Crescentino is dedicated to the Beata Vergine Assunta, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The main altar features an altarpiece of the Assumption of Mary by Claudio Francesco Beaumont.

The historic surroundings also include the Santuario della Madonna del Palazzo. It was built along the Roman road from Pavia to Turin. During its reconstruction, Crescentino Serra relocated the entire bell tower to a new site in 1776.

Festivals and Historical Traces

The 50th Carnevale Storico Crescentinese took place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, and Sunday, February 8, 2026, and included a traditional masked parade through the streets of Crescentino. In San Genuario, the parish church stands on the site of the former abbey church; its Romanesque bell tower and the rear part of the apse have been preserved. In the hamlet of Lignola in Crescentino stands the Romanesque church of San Pietro, considered the oldest church in the area.

Another site is the long avenue leading to the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie, also known as the Santuario della Madonnina: it is decorated with 15 marble statues and a marble fountain with three basins.

Wetlands and Riverbanks

The Palude di San Genuario Special Protection Area also includes part of the municipality of Crescentino. Slow-flowing canals, springs and spring pools characterize the wetland; typical wetland plant and animal species are found there. North of the town, the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie lies among the rice fields.

At the Baraccone area, where the Po and Dora Baltea meet, the river landscape and protected status come together. Baraccone is designated both as a Site of Community Importance and as a Special Protection Area, and it also includes part of the municipality of Crescentino. An asphalt road leads from Galli to the left bank of the river; there, the clear water of the Dora Baltea meets the darker water of the Po. The riverside forests in the Galli area consist mainly of poplars, willows and acacias; individual elm trees, as well as cornelian cherry, elderberry and blackberries, are also found there.

Cycling Routes for Travel Planning

The “Mappa cicloturistica Capoluogo e Frazioni” cycling map for Crescentino shows a red route approximately 30 km long. In addition, a proposed cycling loop starting from Crescentino connects the Palude di San Genuario and Isola Santa Maria on the banks of the Po. The distance of approximately 30 kilometers gives cyclists a specific benchmark when planning their daily stage.

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