Information on the village’s origins is limited, but its strategic position overlooking the surrounding territory and along the Via Aemilia suggests that it may have been permanently settled by the Romans as early as the 2nd century BCE, if not earlier.
Orsara was part of a lush area known as “il grande Nemus,” rich in forests and surface waters, on the right bank of the Bormida River. The landscape features natural caves carved into the soft local rock, which may have given rise to the legend of bears coming from the Apennines, possibly inspiring the name “Ursaria,” or land of the bears.
From the 13th century onward, human activity gradually transformed the landscape: forests gave way to cultivated fields, and vineyards for wine production became widespread. The first sporadic written records of Orsara date back to 1014 and 1155, after which its history is better documented.
At the top of the rock stands the castle, which, unlike many in the region, has had a relatively linear succession of owners: the Malaspina family until 1530, the Ladrone counts until 1598, and the Ferrari counts until 1922. It is currently owned by the Reconditi family of Genoa, who have opened it for guided visits on special days as part of the “Castelli Aperti” network and the union of castles between the Orba and Bormida rivers.
The castle, likely built in the 13th century around a pre-existing square watchtower, is first mentioned in documents from 1196. It was expanded in the 14th, 17th, and 18th centuries, with the addition of an octagonal tower and a cylindrical tower incorporated into the perimeter walls. Surrounded by a two-level garden with centuries-old trees, it was gradually transformed into a noble residence and today features elegant interiors with majolica floors, frescoed walls, period furnishings, and a valuable library. The former damp and cold dungeons have been converted into wine cellars, storing wines now produced on-site by the owners.
Lower down, within the medieval ricetto, stands the Oratory of the Annunciation, the village’s oldest church, probably dating from around the year 1000 in Lombard Romanesque style. The parish church, dedicated to San Martino, the town’s patron, dates to 1660. Each November it hosts the Vitello Intero festival, now over 20 years old, during which two whole Piedmontese calves are slowly roasted on a spit from morning until evening, continuously basted with a local sauce.
Also in the village is the Chapel of San Sebastiano, modestly furnished and opened only on special occasions. Numerous walking and mountain bike trails depart from the village center, offering access to a largely intact natural environment dotted with charming country churches.
