Moncrivello
Welcome to Moncrivello: a friendly introduction to the Piedmontese commune
Welcome to Moncrivello, an Italian commune in the province of Vercelli with a population of 1376 inhabitants. Today, we will guide you through the history and attractions of this beautiful Piedmontese village.
Origins of the name
The toponym Moncrivello derives from the first historical documents on the village, dating back to the 12th century. In an imperial diploma issued by Frederick Barbarossa in 1158, the name "Montecrivellum" is mentioned. However, the name could also have been interpreted as "Moncravellum" or "Monscaprarum", meaning "goat mountain", as reported in a subsequent diploma of the Emperor Henry VI in 1191.
History
The village and its castle
In the 13th century, Moncrivello already had a fortified castle and, although it was sold to the municipality of Vercelli, it remained under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Vercelli. In 1394, the Bishop of Vercelli, Lodovico Fieschi, obtained the feudal rights over Moncrivello, together with Masserano and Crevacuore, for his brother Antonio with the approval of Pope Boniface IX. However, the hegemony of Antonio Fieschi was unhappy to the point that the people of the village, in 1399, withdrew from his dominion by submitting to the House of Savoy, represented by Amedeo VIII.
During this period, the fortress essentially had a military role. However, it was Yolande of France, who married Amedeo IX of Savoy and daughter of Charles VII of France, who transformed the fortress into a noble residence. The Duchess preferred the castle of Moncrivello, where she died in 1478. The transformation of the castle led to the creation of the walls adorned with battlements, the spiral staircase, the coffered ceilings, and the terracotta fireplaces.
The history of the Castle is particularly linked to some noblewomen who became spouses of the Duchy of Savoy. After the renovation of the castle, Carlo I of Savoy married Bianca di Monferrato, who became a widow in 1490 at only eighteen years old, and then regent of the Savoyard State. Carlo III of Savoy, called il Buono (1504-1553), gave the manor to his wife, Beatrice of Portugal, and with his death, ended the period of maximum splendor of the castle. The struggles between France and Spain caused the castle to fall into the hands of men-at-arms; in addition, the manor was long contested throughout the 17th century by various Piedmontese noble families.
The castle definitively passed to the Del Carretto family in 1692, remaining until 1817 (or 1825) when it was devastated by a devastating fire. There was a long period of neglect, but in 1972 it was rebuilt by private individuals and is now visitable and used for cultural and tourist promotion initiatives.
Conclusions
We have come to the end of our tour through the commune of Moncrivello. We hope that this guide has given you an idea of the historical and architectural beauties of this Piedmontese village. Don't forget to visit the castle and admire the beautiful crenellated walls, the splendid spiral staircase, the coffered ceilings, and the terracotta fireplaces. We can't wait to welcome you to Moncrivello!
