Holiday apartment in Valmacca: History, Nature and Birdlife

In Valmacca, the history of castles and religious buildings meets the riverscape of the Po. Added to this are the Sentiero Valenza–Rivalba, with its longer stretch along the riverbank, as well as festivals in Valmacca and the hamlet of Rivalba. In Valmacca, architectural history, religious art, riverbanks, birdlife and local festival traditions come together.

Those interested in culture will encounter the castle serving as the town hall, churches with their specific works of art, and Torre d’Isola as a medieval building.

Castle History and Religious Buildings in Valmacca

Valmacca’s town hall is housed in a castle built in the 15th century. In 1925, Prince Emilio donated the castle to the municipality of Valmacca as the seat of the town hall.

In 1447, the fortified settlement of Valmacca consisted of a castle, an adjoining ricetto and another settlement area that was probably also protected by fortifications.

The Chiesa parrocchiale della Natività di Maria Vergine was built in 1589 through the efforts of the noble Sannazzaro and Scozia families. The consecration of the Santa Maria parish is dated 24 May 1605 and bears the signature of Cardinal Federico Borromeo. In the Chapel of the Rosary stands a gilded statue surrounded by 15 Mysteries created by the school of Moncalvo.

The Chiesetta della Madonna delle Grazie was built around the middle of the 16th century on the old “valmacchina” road to Casale Monferrato. Inside is a fresco of the Virgin Mary; local veneration remains alive. At the Chiesetta, the old road route, the fresco and the continuing local veneration come together.

Torre d’Isola is a medieval building with a central section and a small tower rising from it, an adjoining single-storey section, and surrounding houses from the old village.

Po Riverbank, Hiking Trail and Birdwatching

The Valmacca area belongs to the Zona di Protezione Speciale Fiume Po – tratto vercellese alessandrino. Torre d’Isola is located on the edge of the Po riverbank. From there, it offers a wide-ranging view; because of the numerous bird species, the site is particularly interesting during migration and overwintering.

The Sentiero Valenza–Rivalba follows the Po riverbank for a longer stretch and offers the opportunity to observe a rich variety of birdlife. The trail ends in Rivalba, a hamlet of Valmacca. The longer stretch is relevant information when planning observation along the riverbank. The trail thus connects the riverscape of the Po with the hamlet of Rivalba.

Festivals and Seasonal Events

In Rivalba, the celebration of San Rocco traditionally includes an animal blessing and a procession through the village. Valmacca also hosts the Sagra dell’Asparago on the third Sunday in May. The Sagra dell’Asparago is therefore tied to a specific seasonal date.

Discover More Places

You can also explore Pecetto, Fabbrica Curone, Olivola, Sanico, Corteranzo, Pozzolo Formigaro, Mongiardino Ligure and Spigno Monferrato.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.