Comune Ozzano Monferrato

via Santa Maria, 1 - 15039 Ozzano Monferrato (AL)
Tel. +39 (0142) 487.153
Fax: +39 (0142) 487.038
E-mail: segreteria@comune.ozzanomonferrato.al.it
http://www.comune.ozzanomonferrato.al.it/
https://www.facebook.com/ozzanoeventi/
Walks around Ozzano Monferrato

Since 2014, Ozzano Monferrato has been one of the nine municipalities included in the Core Zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Vineyard Landscapes of Piedmont," part of the "Monferrato of the Infernot." The Infernot is a small underground chamber entirely carved into the rock, usually accessed from the cellar. In these small chambers, constant temperature and humidity, along with the absence of light, ventilation, and noise, once ensured ideal conditions for storing bottles of the finest wine.

Thanks to these characteristics, its panoramic location, and the preservation of the ancient village, Ozzano Monferrato has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club.

The town, with its historic center of houses perched on the hill and dominated by the church and castle, extends between the plain and the vineyard-covered hills of Monferrato, which can be explored through pleasant walks, on foot, or by bicycle.

The history of Ozzano Monferrato is tied to the power struggles between the Bishops of Vercelli and the Marquises of Monferrato. In 1521, the fiefdom was purchased by Mercurino Arborio Gattinara, Grand Chancellor of Emperor Charles V. This commission is likely responsible for the remarkable frescoes in the Parish Church of San Salvatore, among the largest Renaissance cycles in Piedmont. The historic center of the village displays a medieval layout, with the exceptional Casa Bonaria, a 15th-century residence still in use today.

But the history of Ozzano Monferrato also offers fascinating insights into the more recent past: notable examples of industrial archaeology, linked to the lime and cement mining industry, are showcased in the MiCeM - Miners and Cement Mines of Casale Monferrato exhibition space. Ozzano's rich industrial archaeological heritage can be discovered along the Fontanola River Valley, home to the most important architectural and technical remains linked to the history of the lime and cement industry, which originated here between the 19th and 20th centuries. The first site you encounter is the former Milanese and Azzi factory, built in 1894, with its six vertical brick kilns, divided into a battery of four and a battery of two. Further along, you'll find the former Marchino Italian Cement Union plant, followed by the homes of the Bergamo workers who came to Monferrato to replace the striking Monferrato residents.

For the most beautiful views of the surrounding hills, we recommend the 19th-century gardens of Villa Barbano and the Castle, featuring a centuries-old cedar of Lebanon. These gardens are now privately owned but are open during guided tours of the village.