Visit Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato is located on the plain between the extreme eastern slopes of the hills of the Po and the right bank of the river, and it preserves the polygonal perimeter of the ancient fortified walls. The Old Town, although significantly restructured over the centuries, is very interesting because of the palaces of many noble and bourgeois families who rebuilt or adapted the buildings, and build new churches.
Tour of Casale Monferrato: From the Fortress to the "Krumiri".
A visit to Casale Monferrato can start from the great square castle, built between the 19th and 20th centuries, when a part of the outer walls of the castle were knocked down. The massive Fortress, with the city tower and symbol of the town, probably dates from 1000; it belonged to the Paleologi, and it is located on the Po River. It has a quadrilateral plan, corner towers, and is surrounded by a moat. The fortress is a remarkable example of 15th century military architecture * espcially to visit are the dungeons and towers. We know that the original building quadrangular, with corner towers and the so-called “Large Tower” [“Torre Grande”].To the walls are coupled the so-called “bertesche” (wooden turrets with loop-holes, located in the highest points of the castle to spy on the enemy and fight him under cover); the complex was defended by a moat outside.
Casale Monferrato cathedral: the most important religious building in Casale Monferrato, the cathedral is an example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture and rich in works of art. The 13th century façade has two bell towers and the interior has five aisles - the narthex (entrance), with its barrel and cross vaults, is enriched by a women's gallery with triple lancet windows. Of great artistic value are the Romanesque capitals, the mosaics, and the crucifix in silver leaf suspended over the presbytery - the Christ is formed by a wooden support covered with lamina of silver and copper with the wooden cross decorated, like a royal crown on his head, with precious stones and crystals of different colours. The chapel of Saint Evasio (in the right aisle) is rich in a wide variety of marble, the work pf B. Alfieri (eighteenth century).
The Civic Museum: located in the old Monastery of Santa Croce, is decorated with frescoes by Guglielmo Caccia in the cloisters (known as “Moncalvo”, Caccia (1568-1625) was a painter who played a significant role in the period of the Counter-Reformation) and contains valuable collections of paintings, ceramics and wooden sculptures. The Museum is divided into several sections, including the plaster casts Museum, with interesting works by Leonardo Bistolfi (1859-1933, an exponent of the Italian Symbolism), and the Art Gallery, containing works by Moncalvo, Carlo Musso (1907-1968, a Romantic painter particularly appreciated for his portraits), Pietro Francesco Guala (1698-1757, a Baroque painter, also a great portraitist) and other paintings dating from the 15th to the 20th century, and a collection of paintings by Angelo Morbelli (1854-1919, a realist painter, who later joined the "Divisionism", characterized by a strong social commitment); also the Archaeological section keeps some finds from the Bronze Age.
Among the other notable monuments of Casale Monferrato are the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1595 and with an impressive interior that testifies to the importance of this community. There are also many Baroque palaces, including those of St. George, the Town Hall, Gozzani Palace of Treville, and the Ottolenghi and Mumico Palaces. A walk in the old town also reveals some glimpses of ancient courtyards certainly deserving to be better known.
Close to Casale Monferrato there are further churches and monuments worth visiting, but first find time to enjoy the local cuisine! One local highlight is the famous "Krumiri" of Casale Monferrato (cookies made of wheat flour, butter, eggs, and vanilla). Usually we enjoy them as a sweet after a meal, with coffee and tea, or even with a small glass of White Grappa.