Nestled in the rolling hills of the Monferrato region, Casale Monferrato is known as the historical capital of the Monferrato region since, for centuries, it was the political and cultural centre first of the marquisate and then of the duchy, and still retains the charm of an ancient noble town.
Don’t expect the classic cosy village of lower Piedmont: Casale is a real town, whose attractions are spread out in various parts of the centre and can be reached on foot with short walks.
Let’s discover together what to see in this charming town in south-eastern Piedmont.
How to get there
Reaching Casale Monferrato by car is easy.
The town is located along the A26 Genoa-Gravellona Toce motorway and, depending on where you are coming from, you can exit at ‘Casale Monferrato Sud’ or ‘Casale Monferrato Nord’.
- From Turin: about 1 hour (A4 A26)
- From Milan: approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes (A7 A26)
- From Genoa: about 1 hour and 15 minutes (A26).
The historic centre is subject to a 24-hour Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL), so we recommend parking outside and continuing on foot.
There are plenty of car parks close to the centre, both free and paid. The largest are:
- Piazza Castello Car Park: Located behind the Paleologi Castle, it offers both free and paid parking areas. Please note: closed on Tuesdays and Fridays until 15:00 for the weekly market.
- Multi-storey car park: Accessible from Via Sant’Anna and Via Monzeglio, it is a covered structure ideal for prolonged parking.
You can also reach Casale Monferrato by train as it has a railway station, and by bus on the STAT line.
What to see in Casale Monferrato
Piazza Castello
Piazza Castello is the ideal starting point for exploring Casale Monferrato.
The square is overlooked on one side by the Paleologi Castle, a majestic medieval fortress that today hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events, and on the other by the baroque-style Church of Santa Caterina, which houses the polychrome marble sculpture group of the ‘Vergine Assunta’ by Gian Battista Bernero.
Also in Piazza Castello is the Municipal Theatre, built in 1791.
A small gem of neoclassical architecture, the theatre is internally decorated in gold and red and houses elegant boxes. It is still used for performances and concerts.
Piazza Mazzini and Civic Tower
From Piazza Castello, head towards the nerve centre of Casale, Piazza Mazzini, framed by historical buildings and dominated by the Civic Tower, the town’s symbol.
Sixty metres high, the tower can be visited during the Casale Città Aperta days: the climb is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Monferrato.
Due to the presence of the equestrian statue of Carlo Alberto, Piazza Mazzini is also called ‘Piazza del Cavallo’ (Horse Square).
At the entrance to Via Roma, don’t miss a real Casalese institution: the Krumireria Antica Drogheria Corino, where you can taste the traditional Krumiri biscuits.
Cathedral of Sant’Evasio
From Piazza Mazzini walk along Via del Duomo, arriving at the spiritual heart of the city: the Cathedral of Sant’Evasio, a magnificent example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, a must-see!
Although some documents testify to its existence before the year 1000, the Cathedral was only consecrated in 1107, subsequently undergoing several restorations.
Its façade stands out for the presence of the columns of Liutprand and Theodolinda, the Lombard rulers who commissioned its construction, and for the relief with Jesus between Saints Evasius and Lawrence.
Inside, one can admire the stained glass windows in the chapels of the Blessed Sacrament and St Evasius, as well as a rich decorative apparatus.
Finally, the Cathedral Treasury Museum exhibits ancient mosaics from the 12th century, jewellery, liturgical furnishings and handicrafts.
Admission to the Duomo is free, for up-to-date opening times have a look here.
Church of San Domenico
The Church of San Domenico is one of the most significant examples of religious architecture in Piedmont, second in importance only to the city’s Duomo.
Its construction began in 1472 at the behest of Marquis Guglielmo VIII Paleologo, who wished to create an important religious centre in Casale Monferrato, based on a design by Bartolomeo Suardi, known as Bramantino.
Work was completed in 1506 by his brother Boniface III, and the church was consecrated in 1513.
The Lombard-style façade is made of exposed brick with buttresses and an elegant Renaissance marble portal decorated with a lunette depicting the Madonna and Child.
If you find it open, take a step inside to admire important Renaissance and Baroque paintings and a valuable 16th-century funeral monument.
Opening hours: Sundays from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6.30 p.m. Free admission.
Synagogue and Jewish Quarter
Another of Casale’s jewels is the 18th-century Synagogue, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Located in the heart of the Jewish ghetto, inside it houses gilded ceilings, Baroque decorations and a museum with documents and objects from the Jewish community of Casale.
For up-to-date opening hours and prices, visit the official website.
Bistolfi Civic Museum and Plaster Collection
Art lovers, know that the Museo Civico houses important paintings from the Piedmontese Renaissance and works from the 19th century.
One wing of the museum is dedicated to the Gipsoteca Leonardo Bistolfi, with dozens of plaster sketches and works by the famous symbolist sculptor born in Casale.
For up-to-date opening hours and prices, visit the museum website.
What to see in Casale Monferrato: Church of Sant’Ilario
The Church of Sant’Ilario is dedicated to Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a 4th-century bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Its foundation probably dates back to the late antique period, with a mention in a papal bull of 1184.
In the 19th century, engineer Crescentino Caselli carried out a neoclassical renovation of the façade, while architect Giuseppe Ferrari d’Orsara designed the extension with the addition of the dome and the new bell tower.
Worth seeing inside are two paintings by Nicolò Musso and a copy of the Shroud, kept in the parish since the 19th century.
Curiosity: originally, the church was located outside the urban centre of Casale Monferrato, next to the inner moat but not within it.
Map of the itinerary on foot
Casale Monferrato: festivals
If you love wine and art, mark two events on your calendar: the Wine Festival and Casale Città Aperta.
Hosted in the Paleologi Castle in September, the Wine Festival takes place in Casale as it is recognised as the capital of DOC wines.
Cultural, commercial and entertainment initiatives, as well as food and wine stands, enrich the historic centre during these days.
Casale Città Aperta, on the other hand, is an opportunity to discover the city’s rich historical and cultural heritage, thanks to the opening of monuments and museums, some of which are usually closed to the public. Give it here.
Interested in a vineyard tour?
Eternot Park
1.5 kilometres from Casale Monferrato is the Eternot Park, a public green area inaugurated on 10 September 2016.
Step into it: the park was conceived as a place of remembrance for asbestos victims. In fact, it stands on the former site of the Eternit factory, Europe’s largest factory for the production of asbestos products that operated from 1907 to 1986.
The name ‘Eternot’ is a play on words that combines the idea of eternity linked to asbestos (‘Eternit’) with the desire for a future without it (‘not’).
The park offers a nice play area for children and some tables for picnics, with a drinking fountain.
In the centre of the park you will then find the Eternot Nursery created by artist Gea Casolaro, symbolising rebirth through the cultivation of plants such as the Davidia involucrata, also known as the ‘handkerchief tree’ due to the shape of its flowers resembling white handkerchiefs, the symbol of asbestos victims.
From Casale you can reach the Eternot Park, located in the Ronzone district, either by car (free parking nearby) or by bicycle along the cycle path.
How long to stay in Casale Monferrato
One day is enough to visit the main places of interest in Casale Monferrato, but the surrounding area, characterised by picturesque villages and hills dotted with vineyards, hazelnut groves and rice fields, definitely deserves a few more days! Discover what to see in Monferrato.
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