Comune Odalengo Piccolo

piazza Piemonte, 1 - 15020 Odalengo Piccolo (AL)
Tel. +39 (0141) 919.126
Fax: +39 (0141) 919.900
E-mail: info@comune.odalengopiccolo.al.it
http://www.comune.odalengopiccolo.al.it/

Odalengo Piccolo is located south of the Cerrina Valley road, to the right of the Stura River.
The town, which extends over an area of 760 hectares, consists of many small hamlets scattered throughout the wooded and vineyard-growing area: Serra, where the town hall is located; Vicinato, with its parish; Pessine and Marco with their "castles," and Palmaro, with the Astronomical Observatory. For this reason, it has also been called a sprawling town, "Odalengo Piccolo, the town that isn't there."
In ancient times, it was referred to as Odalengo da Prato, after the name of the local lords, loyal vassals of the Marquises of Monferrato.
The toponym Odalengo likely derives from the Visigothic name Ardila, followed by the Germanic suffix -ing. The local dialect has preserved the pronunciation of the name Audaleng.
Medieval documentation widely refers to the name Oddalengo, which actually refers to two localities located opposite each other on two hills in the lower Monferrato, divided into Piccola and Grande. A decree from 940 mentions "Audalingo" (B.S.S.S. 28, p. 97); the etymology of the current name certainly remains uncertain.

The municipality is made up of several residential areas that presumably arose under the protection of a fortress: in the Pessine village is the so-called Castello, a privately owned noble house currently undergoing renovation. On the portal of the Pessine Castle, an ancient stone, the symbol of the town, depicted the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God (which appears on the municipal coat of arms), and bears the date 1386.
In Pessine, there is a small church dedicated to San Sebastiano, which features a simple temple-like façade surmounted by a triangular tympanum. The village of Visinalis, now known as Frazione Vicinato, existed as early as the late 13th century and was built around the church dedicated to Saints Mary and Peter. The imposing Town Hall is located in the village of Serra. Not far away is the small church dedicated to Saint Peter, which dates back to the early 19th century. A castle also likely existed in the locality of Case Marco, which today appears as a privately owned 15th-century fortified house, guarding the ancient Napoleonic road.
The natural environment, characterized by lush woods and vineyards, lends itself to hiking trails.
The Superga-Crea Itinerary passes through the village. Specifically, about two hundred meters from the Astronomical Observatory, there is a picnic area in Spina Christi, dedicated to the founder of this route, Cesare Triveri.
In the woods not far from Case Marco, there are nature trails that pass by the ancient Praulino and Colombaccio springs, surrounded by the oak and black locust trees of the Moglia forest. Toward Alfiano Natta, you'll find the Sassa spring, nestled in a small wood, and the Ollare and Fontanafredda springs near Cascina Buco.

The municipal astronomical observatory has been operational since the summer of 2006. Open to school groups and researchers, the observatory is equipped with cutting-edge instruments. It is located in Bricco, at the highest point in the area, a location chosen for its protection from light pollution.

In Odalengo, there is a genetic conservation center for old Monferrato apple cultivars called "Melamangio in Monferrato," which preserves more than 150 apple varieties, including Marcun, Ciucarina, and Canditina.

(Text extracted from the municipality's website)