Millesimo between the Middle Ages, karst landscapes and the Bormida Valley

Millesimo combines a medieval historic center with karst landscapes in the Bormida Valley area. The Centro Storico has the shape of a triangle: the castle stands at its apex, while the Palazzo dei Del Carretto forms the base.

Historic Center and Medieval Buildings

In the Centro Storico, the remains of medieval walls with towers and four entrance gates are clearly visible. The buildings include the Ponte della Gaietta, also known as the “ponte vecchio,” one of the few fortified bridges in Italy. Il Castello del Carretto was built by Enrico II to defend the settlement. Its oldest parts are the stone tower, the keep and the eastern wall; they date from the second half of the 13th century.

Churches, Museums and Regional History

Villa Scarzella houses the Museo Napoleonico. It also contains a permanent exhibition about the mountain communities, archaeology and anthropology of the Bormida Valley area. The villa is also home to the visitor center for Bric Tana and Valle dei Tre Re. The visitor center presents the geological, archaeological and faunal features of the park.

S. Maria Extra Muros is a Romanesque basilica from the 12th century with three naves and a five-story bell tower from the 15th century. Its furnishings include an elaborate baptismal font dating from the time the church was built, as well as frescoes in the Gothic style. Another cultural and historical feature is the Millesimo menhirs: three stones stand a few meters apart in a commanding position above the valley below.

Bric Tana and the Karst Landscape

The municipality is home to Bric Tana Regional Park, with wooded hills, small mammals and numerous karst features. These include large sinkholes with caves, gorges and small blind valleys such as Valle dei Tre Re. In Bric Tana, limestone needles rise above the Bormida River; the small regional park features both surface and underground karst formations.

Circular Trails and Tana dell’Orpe

The trail network of Bric Tana and Valle dei Tre Re Park is located in Millesimo and is divided into three short and two long circular routes. Tana dell’Orpe is the area’s most important karst cave and has been explored over a total length of 373 m. From Millesimo, it is easy to reach on foot or by mountain bike via the signposted trails of Bric Tana Regional Nature Park. At the same time, the cave is a stop on a circular route in the park area and contains significant archaeological finds from the Bronze Age.

Annual Festivals

Every year, Millesimo hosts the Festa Nazionale del Tartufo during the last week of September. The 2025 edition included food stalls, markets, truffle hunts and show cooking. At Millesimo’s patron saint festival on July 16, the statue of Madonna del Carmine is carried in a procession.

Discover More Places

If you would like to compare more places, you can also find Quiliano, Capitolo-costa, San Bartolomeo, Piana Crixia, Ranzi, Bardino Nuovo, Zuccarello and Stella.

For the higher-level travel overview: Savona.