Nestled among the hills at an altitude of about 200 meters, on an alluvial plain formed by debris carried over centuries by the Orba stream—now long covered with grass—the village rises on its right bank.
The area is rich in natural springs, and the particular soil composition, especially the marls belonging to a geological formation known as the “gypsum-sulfur complex,” gives some of these springs a distinctly sulfurous character.
Recognized by the scientific community, their therapeutic properties have been known locally since the mid-1700s, when the waters were used to treat rheumatism, kidney stones, and stomach ailments.
Fittingly, the village coat of arms depicts a fountain with flowing water.
There are five springs within the municipal territory: Sovrana, Albedosa, Feja, Cannone, and Lavagello, the last of which emerges near a tourist complex. Interestingly, chemical analyses carried out in 1951, 1959, and 1994 recorded different results, showing variations in the waters’ composition over time and, with them, the range of conditions they were believed to treat.
The village has ancient origins, likely Roman. Its first castle was probably erected around the year 1000 by the Lombard Obertenghi dynasty but was completely destroyed in the 1500s. Today, the more recent Torre Buzzi, built in a late Gothic style, stands in its place.
The current castle was built in the 13th century by the Marquises of Monferrato and later modified in the 17th century by the Adorno family of Genoa. Towering over the village, its austere mass is softened by elegant mullioned windows with slender columns and finely carved marble arches. Another typical feature of the era is the round openings above the windows, known as occhi di bue (“ox-eyes”). Inside lies a large square courtyard running along the inner perimeter, with a fine triple loggia reached by an external staircase. The battlements are the swallow-tailed Ghibelline type, in contrast with the squared Guelf battlements.
The original village was enclosed by defensive walls and had three gates; later, a second ring of walls was built around the castle and the ricetto.
A ricetto is a medieval fortified complex typical of Piedmont, made up of clustered houses enclosed by walls with defensive towers around the castle. Of the original three gates, two are still standing: Porta Berlina, dating back to the 14th century, and Porta Gagliarda.
Among the religious buildings are the Church of Sant’Innocenzo, near the cemetery, built around the year 1000 over the remains of a pagan temple and preserving 15th- and 16th-century frescoes; the 14th-century Church of Sant’Antonio Abate; and the original Romanesque Church of San Lorenzo, which was extensively remodeled in the 18th century.
Just outside the village stands the Church of San Rocco, probably dating back to the 1300s. Over the centuries, it was repeatedly used as a leprosarium.
