HISTORICAL OUTLINE
Moncalvo is a town of roman origin . During the centuries it was
owned by the Church of Asti, the Graffagni family and the Marquis
of Monferrato, who made it the chief town of his marquisate.
Later, it belonged to the Marquis of Saluzzo, and then to the
Paleologi family of Monferrato (1309). Moncalvo suffered several
foreign occupations, and eventually it returned to the Gonzaga
family of Mantova, that awarded it as a feud to Galeazzo of
Canossa, in 1604, to Rolando Natta in 1619, to Filiberto, Marquis
of Ceva, in 1671 In 1691 the town was plundered by the Imperial
troops led by Eugenio of Savoia. Moncalvo definetevly passed
under the dominion of Savoia family in 1704. Vittorio Amedeo III,
with the "Patentes" issued on 9th August 1774,
proclaimed it "Town", reconfirming the title that
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantova, had ascribed to
Moncalvo on 23rd March 1705. By 1908 Moncalvo has 5 communal
hamlets: Castellino, S.Vincenzo, Patro, S.Maria, Gessi and
Stazione; in 1995 its inhabitants were 3447.
Coat of Arms Shield parted per fess, gules and argent,
ensigned with a coronet of 12 pearls ( 7 pearls visible).
CITIZENS OF NOTE
Monsignor Giuseppe Bolla (1885-1952): parish priest, military
chaplain, musician.
Vincenzo Buronzo (1884-1976): senator, man of letters (pupil of
Pascoli), politician.
Guglielmo Caccia, called "Il Moncalvo" (1568-1625):
painter.
Gabriele Capello (1806-1877): cabinet-maker at the Court of Carlo
Alberto.
Agostino della Sala Spada (1842-1913): man of letters, lawyer,
author of "Mondo Antico".
Carlo Francesco Ferraris (1850-1924): senator, politician,
Minister of Public Works.
General Carlo Montanari (1863-1915): soldier, died in Plava,
awarded a gold medal for bravery.
Franco Montanari (1905-1973): ambassador, diplomat, mecenàte.
Rosa Vercellana "Bela Rusin" (1833-1885): morganatic
wife of Vittorio Emanuele II.
Professor Giuseppe Gavello (1872-1926): clinician and benefactor.
Monsignor Placido Tadini (1759-1847): cardinal, bishop of Biella
and archbishop of Genoa.
Baron Ferdinando Dal Pozzo (1768-1849): politician, Secretary of
State for the Home Department of King Carlo Alberto
MONCALVO SIGHTSEEING BUILDINGS
Palazzo Testafochi (18th century palace, built around a late
medieval nucleus).
Town-Hall (17th century; ex Convent for Ursulines, built around a
pre-existent nucleus).
Palazzo dal Pozzo (17th century mansion).
Palazzi Manacorda (15th century lacunar ceiling).
Casa Lanfrancone (remains of a gothic façade).
Casa called " dei Marchesi del Monferrato" (15th
century , brikworks).
Teatro Civico (built on the ruins of a 17th century Guard
-House).
Ruins of the Castle(medieval Castle, residence of the Marquises
of Monferrato; after the demolition on the end of the 19th-
century, only the powerful towers remained).
Villa Foa (Middle-class residence, with a fine view on the town
).
CHURCHES
Parish Church of S. Francesco (apse:13th century; façade:1932;
tel.: 917450).
Church of S.Antonio (17th century).
Church of Madonna delle Grazie (first half of the 18th century).
Church of S.Marco.
Church of S.Giovanni.
Church of S.Pietro in Vincoli, called "La Pieve"
(romanesque style; on the outside wall stands the close copy of a
3rd century roman tombstone. The original is at the Town
Library).
Church of S.Maria delle Peschiere (1624, hamlet of S.Maria).
Oratory of S.Rocco (17th century).
Church of S.Caterina d'Alessandria (hamlet of Castellino).
Church of S.Croce ( hamlet of Patro).
Inside the churches a great number of
interesting works of Art, expression of "Manierismo
padano" (Guglielmo Caccia and Po Mannerism school) can be
admired.
FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Third Sunday in May: Feast of S.Antonio (Patron Saint).
Third Sunday in June :Festival of Monferrato Cuisine.
July: Open-air jazz concerts in Piazza Carlo Alberto.
Summer: Horse-Tournament of Monferrato.
Third and fourth Sunday in October: "Fiera del
tartufo", or Truffle Fair ( the 42nd in 1996)
October-November: Dialect Drama Season.
From November to March: Modern Drama Season in collaboration with
Teatro Stabile of Torino.
Second working Thursday in December:" Fiera del Bue
Grasso", or Fair of Cattle (Oxen).
History and Art exhibitions.
Costume Parades in connection with the participation to the
"Palio of Asti".
Antique-trade market (every month , first Sunday).
Classical music and Organ concerts in the churches.
For further information please call:
0039.141. 917505/ 917427
EATING AND DRINKING IN MONCALVO
Local wines from Monferrato hills around Asti and Casale: white
wines, "moscato", barbera DOC, grignolino DOC, freisa
DOC, malvasia.
Co-operative society of wine-growers "Sette Colli",
strada Casale 4, tel.: 0039.141.917206
"Tartufo bianco" (White truffle) of Moncalvo
"Bollito misto" (Mixed boiled meat: seven cuts of beef
plus seven extra meats served with seven sauces)
"Agnolotti monferrini"
"Finanziera" (chicken and veal giblets with mushrooms
and capers)
"Fritto misto" (A mixed fry of brains, sweetbread,
liver, lungs, fritters)
"Tirà" (country pie)
"Bunèt" (sort of pudding)
HOW TO GET TO MONCALVO
From Asti and Casale: leave the motorways, follow the country
road N.457 of Moncalvo
From Alessandria: follow the country road N.31 (Quargnento,
Fubine, Casorzo, Grazzano, Moncalvo)
From Vercelli: Leave the motorways, proceed along the country
road N.455 "di Pontestura", and follow the signposts to
Moncalvo
From the capitals of region (Torino, Milano, Genova): take the
motorways to Asti, Vercelli and Casale)
Moncalvo can be reached from Alessandria
and Asti also by coach (ARFEA) and by rail along the Asti-Mortara
line (Tel.: 0039.141.916093)
CURIOSITY
In the small hamlet of Patro an old, popular tradition of
handmade polychrome terracotta, called "subjèet d'
Patro" (satirical subject whistles, auspicious of good wish)
is handed on. Primo Favarin is the sole craftsman in Moncalvo
still preserving this tradition. (Tel. 0039.141.916092)
