Discover Tortona: Art, History and Nature

Tortona can be explored through a wide range of cultural themes: archaeological finds, 19th- and 20th-century art, maritime memorabilia and traces of an ancient fortress all shape what the town has to offer. There is also an extensive green space beside the historic centre and an MTB loop between Tortona and Castelnuovo Scrivia. If you are looking for a hotel in Tortona, these highlights offer a practical guide for planning your trip: you can focus on art and collections, the town’s history, or outdoor activities.

Art and Collections in Tortona

The Museo civico di Tortona houses archaeological finds from Julia Dertona and the surrounding area, as well as collections covering palaeontology and palaeoethnology. These different fields offer several ways to explore the collection, rather than limiting it to a single period. The Museo civico also includes an art gallery with works from the 19th and 20th centuries.

“Il Divisionismo” focuses on a distinct art-historical theme: the permanent exhibition opened on 26 May 2012 and documents a fundamental period in Italian art between the 19th and 20th centuries. Separate from this is the collection at the Pinacoteca della Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Tortona. It brings an original group of paintings by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo into dialogue with later, carefully selected acquisitions of works by important artists. Together, these art collections offer a reason to include different approaches to collecting and historical periods in your travel plans.

Maritime History and Puppet Theatre

The Museo del Mare di Tortona displays the German ENIGMA cipher machine, a historically significant object. The museum also houses memorabilia from the 1900 North Pole expedition of Duca degli Abruzzi Luigi Amedeo di Savoia. In total, it contains around 1,500 exhibits. The size of the collection and its specific examples point to a range of historical themes, from a cipher machine to memorabilia from a polar expedition.

Another cultural highlight is the reconstructed workshop of puppeteer Peppino Sarina, with numerous materials used in puppet theatre performances. Alongside art collections and maritime exhibits, puppet theatre offers another distinct theme to explore in Tortona.

Parco del Castello and Tortona’s History

Parco del Castello is an extensive green space in the hilly area of Tortona, right beside the historic centre. At its highest point stands the Torre, a landmark of the town. Some ruins in the park are remnants of the ancient fortress that once towered over the settlement, until Napoleon ordered its destruction in 1801. Here, a modern-day town landmark, visible ruins and the history of the former fortress come together in the same area.

Parco del Castello also includes Bosco del Lavello, a rare example of an urban forest. When planning your stay, this green space adds an area of nature within the town to its historic highlights. Another historic site in Tortona, the Basilica Santuario Madonna della Guardia, was consecrated on 29 August 1931.

Cycling Route and Getting There

The MTB-SCRIVIA route is a 24.10 km loop from Castelnuovo Scrivia to Tortona and back. One important point for planning: in some places, the signage is poor because of flooding and vandalism. Bear this in mind and check the route information before setting off.

Tortona railway station is served by Italo high-speed trains, with direct connections to Genoa, Milan, Rome and Naples. The Swiss Federal Railways’ Zurich–Genoa EuroCity also stops there. As train services and routes can change, it is advisable to check the timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Fabbrica Curone, Montecapraro, Rosignano Monferrato, Treville, Casale Monferrato, Gamalero, San Salvatore Monferrato, Castelnuovo Scrivia.

For the main travel overview: Alessandria.