San Giorgio Monferrato
Casale Monferrato: a brief introduction to the city
Welcome to Casale Monferrato, one of the most important centers of the province of Alessandria in Piedmont, Italy. With a population of 32,252 inhabitants, Casale Monferrato is the second most populous municipality in the province after Alessandria. The city is famous for its strategic location, the hills of Monferrato, and its lively industry. In this article, we will guide you to discover the physical geography of Casale Monferrato.
Physical geography
Territory
Casale Monferrato sits on a flat area of 86.32 km², at the foothills of the Monferrato hills. The city is considered the historic capital of this wine region. Thanks to its location, Casale Monferrato is close to the provincial capitals of Vercelli, Alessandria, Asti, and Novara, and within the industrial triangle.
Orography
Although Casale Monferrato is located in the Po Valley, it sits on a set of relatively low hills. The town hall is at 116 meters above sea level, while the lowest altitude reached within the municipal territory is 96 meters, and the highest altitude is 299 meters.
Hydrography
The Po River is the main watercourse that runs through the municipal territory of Casale Monferrato. There are also two other important watercourses: the Lanza canal and the Mellana canal, which run through the city.
History
Origins
The history of Casale Monferrato dates back to Roman times when the town became a Roman municipality and the most important center of the district. However, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the invasions of the barbarian people, Casale Monferrato became a medieval municipality.
Paleologi Era
From the 15th to the 16th century, Casale Monferrato became the capital of the Paleologi family. This noble family made Casale Monferrato an artistic and cultural center, building magnificent palaces and decorating the churches of the city.
Gonzaga Era
Casale Monferrato then passed to the Gonzaga family, who built the Cittadella, one of the largest and most prestigious fortresses in Europe. The Cittadella is still one of the main symbols of Casale Monferrato.
Contests and Risorgimento
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Casale Monferrato was contested between the French and Spanish. During the Italian Risorgimento, the city was one of the defensive strongholds against the Austrian Empire.
Geology
According to the Geological Map of Italy, the territory of Casale Monferrato is mainly made up of terraced gravel-sandy or muddy alluviums. There are also sandy-gravel alluviums fixed by rivers and residues of sandy-gravel terraced alluviums. To the west-southwest of the city lies the "Casale Monferrato Formation," composed of alternating calcareous and more or less marly sandstones, fine calcareous sandstones and micaceous sandstones, Fucoid limestones and predominantly dark-brown plastic clays.
Conclusions
Casale Monferrato is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. With its strategic location, the Monferrato hills, and its lively industry, it is a city where one immediately feels at home. If you have already visited Casale Monferrato, we hope this article has helped you discover some new aspects of the city. If you have not had the opportunity to visit this splendid city, we invite you to do so soon. We are sure you will not regret it!
