The best walks and hikes around Stroppiana

Coffee shop, Bistrot. Emporium.

One of the industrial archaeology sites linked to the production of cement and bricks that characterized Casale Monferrato between the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Giovanni II Paleologo, Marquis of Monferrato, ordered the current castle to be built and work continued until 1357. When Casale assumed the role of capital of the Margraviate of Monferrato and obtained the title of city in 1474, it also changed castle, seat of the court, after the restoration with the marquises Guglielmo VIII (1464-1483) and Bonifacio V (1483-1494). When Giovanni II Paleologo died, the Gonzaga of Mantova took control of Casale. The castle was strengthened by new military techniques, so the walls and the plan shape were adjusted so that it became hexagonal (which we can still see today). The towers were also strengthened and four new ravelins were added. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the castle returned to its role as the seat of the court. The Dukes of Mantova, who were busy negotiating with Savoia, stayed there. Later it became the principality of Duke Carlo II Gonzaga-Nevers (1637-1665), who holidayed there many times with his entire court, which gave a boost to the cultural life in Casale. Due to the crisis of the Gonzaga dynasty, the castle was on the verge of decline. The city fell to Savoia in 1708 and the castle became a barracks. In the mid-19th century, Casale was fortified in preparation for a war against Austria and the castle became a defensive structure. The eastern ravelin was demolished, creating the current Piazza Castello, which became an open-air market zone. With the unification of Italy, the other three ravelins were also demolished.

Santa Croce was originally a Gothic church, to which a neoclassical facade was added in 1748, designed by the Casalese architect Francesco Ottavio Magnocavallo. Today it is a deconsecrated church whose internal space has been converted into an original setting for shops, restaurants and a bar. The MyCafe is not only a popular stop for an aperitif, but also organizes evenings of music and entertainment. The complex is located on the main pedestrian street in the city center.

This beautiful church was built in 1220, during a prosperous period. The style is a combination of Northern Gothic (vertical towers and octagonal bell tower) and the typical style from the Po Valley (triangular gable, arches and use of brick). The facade, a colorful whole of stone and marble, is flanked by high towers and has three vaulted porches; The tympanums are probably by sculptor Benedetto Antelami. The very massive bell tower (right) dates from the 15th century. The sober interior with three naves has a choir with wooden inlay and the funerary monument (14th century) of Tomasso Gallo, first abbot of the basilica (second chapel in the right transept). The left aisle leads to the monastery buildings and to the cloister, which offers beautiful views of the complex.

In addition to the Basilica of Sant' Andrea and the Cathedral of Sant' Eusebio, also interesting are the Avogadro Tower, Piazza Cavour with its porticoes, the statue of Cavour and the nearby Torre dell'Angelo visible from the square.

The Basilica of Sant'Andrea is one of the most important and well-known monuments in Vercelli. It is the first Gothic monument in Piedmont, one of the earliest in Italy in this style, an example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, in which local Romanesque and the novelties of Cistercian Gothic coexist. It has the dignity of a minor basilica. It was begun in 1219 by the will of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri and completed in 1227. Source: Wikipedia