Montaldeo
Thrilling Journey in the castle dungeons.

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Montaldeo, the ancient Mons Alpherius, is in a dominant position on the valleys leading towards the territories of Ovada and Gavi and has maintained through the centuries, many features of the medieval village. The fortified castle, known as Doria Castle, is to guard the leveled up and the surrounding hills in a square structure with small towers at the corners and a higher bastion battlements supported by a cornice, supported by arches.
The building underwent several damages due to frequent conflicts and, although the primitive sructure dates at the time  of the Marquis of Monferrato domination, the architectural parts visible today are due to the reconstruction of Alessandrini, which took place in 1271, after the destruction perpetrated by the Genoese.
The government of Alexandria showed, in the late fifteenth century, deleterious to the point for the population to find the strength to rebel in 1528 and to organize a bloody revolt that brought the country to be part of the states Monferrato.
It is said that during the riot, all components of the Trotti family were thrown into the pit that was, and still is, in the center of the village.
Later, after a period of subjection to the noble Genoese Grimaldi, the territory of Montaldeo passed to the Doria family, which still owns the castle, now as private residence. It contains collections of weapons and furniture worth visiting, as are the dark prisons underground that still retain evidence of horrendous torture methods of the past. The visit is granted on request.
The strain of an illustrious family originated in Montaldeo, the Mazarino, returning in the Monferrato from Sicily before 1261, probably because relatives of the Aleramicis, then lords of Montaldeo.
The country also boasts the beautiful Parish Church of St. Martin, mystical chapels and oratories. Local productions: vineyard areas, it is famous for its Dolcetto and for several popular white wines.

 

      


Il castello