Odalengo Piccolo is located south of the Valle Cerrina road, on the right bank of the Stura Stream.
The village covers an area of 760 hectares and consists of several small hamlets scattered across a landscape of woods and vineyards: Serra, where the town hall is located; Vicinato, which hosts the parish church; Pessine and Marco, with their “castles”; and Palmaro, home to the Astronomical Observatory. For this reason, it is sometimes called a “diffused village,” earning the nickname “Odalengo Piccolo, the village that doesn’t exist.” Historically, it was referred to as Odalengo da Prato, after the local lords who were loyal vassals of the Marquises of Monferrato.
The toponym Odalengo likely derives from the Visigothic name Ardila, followed by the Germanic suffix –ing. In the local dialect, the name is still pronounced “Audaleng.”
Medieval documents often use the form Oddalengo, which actually referred to two settlements on opposite hills in lower Monferrato, distinguished as Piccolo and Grande. A 940 placitum mentions “Audalingo,” although the exact origin of the current name remains uncertain.
The municipality consists of small settlements presumably established under the protection of fortifications. In Borgata Pessine stands the so-called Castle, a private noble residence currently under restoration. Above its portal is an ancient stone, once a symbol of the village, depicting the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), also featured on the municipal coat of arms, dated 1386. In Pessine is also the small church of San Sebastiano, with a simple temple-style façade topped by a triangular pediment.
The village of Visinalis, today the hamlet of Vicinato, already existed by the late 13th century and was built around the church of Saints Mary and Peter. In Borgata Serra stands the impressive town hall, with the small early-19th-century church of San Pietro nearby. In Case Marco there was likely a castle, now a 15th-century fortified house, privately owned, guarding the old Napoleonic road.
The natural environment, with lush forests and vineyard-covered land, is ideal for hiking routes. The village is crossed by the Superga-Crea itinerary. About 200 meters from the Astronomical Observatory is a picnic area in Spina Christi, named after Cesare Triveri, the founder of the route. Nearby, in the woods around Case Marco, are nature trails leading to the old Praulino and Colombaccio springs, surrounded by oaks and locust trees of the Moglia forest. In the direction of Alfiano Natta are the Sassa, within a small wood, and the Ollare and Fontanafredda springs near Cascina Buco.
Since summer 2006, the municipal Astronomical Observatory has been operational. Open to school groups and researchers, it is equipped with advanced instruments and is located in Località Bricco, the highest point in the area, chosen to minimize light pollution.
Odalengo is also home to a genetic conservation center for old Monferrato apple varieties called “Melamangio in Monferrato,” preserving over 150 types, including Marcun, Ciucarina, and Canditina.
