Perched at 377 meters above sea level in the Ovada area of Monferrato, the village of Morsasco has about 600 inhabitants and is equally distant from Acqui Terme and Ovada, both reachable by car in around fifteen minutes.
The small medieval center occupies a hilltop, surrounded by woods and cultivated land, and bordered at the base by the Carmagna stream, which flows into the Bormida further downstream.
Its origins are similar to many Monferrato villages: probably inhabited in prehistoric times, it was certainly the scene of battles between the Ligurian Stazzielli tribes and the Roman Empire. The first documented mention dates to 1224, when the village was donated (or brought as a dowry) by the Marquises of Bosco, specifically by Agnese, to Federico of the Malaspina family of Cremolino, descendants of the Obertenghi.
The fief remained with the Malaspina and related families for over 300 years before passing to the Gonzaga, sharing the historical events of this part of Piedmont. In 1708 it came under the jurisdiction of the House of Savoy and the Kingdom of Sardinia, later becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy and then the Republic.
The village is dominated by its castle, whose exact date of construction is uncertain. It seems that in the 13th century, the inhabitants of a Celtic-Ligurian settlement built a tower to defend a ricetto. On the ruins of this tower, the manor was likely built, which, after numerous renovations and modifications, is the castle we see today.
The castle followed the fortunes of the families in power. One notable figure is Giovanni Battista Lodron, husband of a Malaspina, who resided in the castle until 1555. Lodron, a colonel under Charles V, led the Landsknecht troops—infamous for inadvertently bringing the plague to the region. During this period, the castle was enlarged and embellished with grand staircases and elegant halls. In the 18th century, further modifications added a 25-meter-long, 8-meter-wide court for the game of pallacorda, giving the castle its current appearance as a noble residence.
After various vicissitudes, in 1916 the castle was acquired by the Pallavicino family of Genoa, who restored it and created the surrounding park. Today it is privately owned by naval architect Aldo Cicero. The castle features beautifully frescoed rooms, intricate decorations, monumental fireplaces, private chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine, rooms for smoking and preserving food and meats, ancient prisons, and wine cellars with wooden barrels capable of holding 20,000 liters each. For years, it hosted a falconry event and is now open for visits, along with the panoramic park.
The entire village retains a medieval atmosphere, particularly in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the former political center, where above the gate leading to the castle stands a clock tower attached to what is remembered as the “Executioner’s House.”
Among the ecclesiastical buildings, notable is the 16th-century parish church of San Bartolomeo, with a single nave and richly decorated interior. Just outside the center is the Church of San Vito, possibly the oldest building in the municipality, perhaps predating the village. Highly venerated, San Vito is Morsasco’s patron saint and protector of exiles and prisoners; the church also served as a lazaretto during plague outbreaks, reminiscent of Manzoni’s accounts.
Finally, there is the church of San Sebastiano and San Rocco. The latter was invoked against the plague and later against natural disasters. Its exact date is uncertain, presumably before 1600, though it was likely rebuilt in more recent years.