Alseno: Via Emilia and Abbey History

A look at Alseno reveals historic routes, religious buildings and aristocratic residences. These landmarks highlight different aspects: the Via Emilia points to a medieval route, the abbey to monastic history, and several buildings to different phases of alteration. You can therefore plan your stay around the theme that interests you most, rather than grouping all the sites into a single period.

Historic Routes and Building Periods

The Via Emilia passes through Alseno and became part of the Via Francigena in the Middle Ages. This historic connection makes the road a tangible point of reference for the town’s history. There are also landmarks dating from widely different periods: the tower of Castelnuovo Fogliani dates from 1189. The present-day building of the Chiesa di San Martino in Alseno dates from 1443; the church existed before the castle was built.

Later changes take center stage at the aristocratic residences. In the 18th century, the Landi family converted Castello Landi into a prestigious residence. In the second half of the 17th century, Villa Sforza Fogliani was transformed from a castle into an elegant aristocratic residence, opening onto an Italian garden. For a sense of chronology, compare the two: Villa Sforza Fogliani was transformed in the late 17th century, while Castello Landi was transformed in the 18th century.

Abbey, Architecture and Monastic History

The Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba features Romanesque-Gothic architecture and has a cloister that is completely preserved on all sides. Both its architectural style and the surviving cloister offer important clues to its construction history. The abbey can also be compared with the aristocratic residences that were transformed later, without conflating their different building types and periods.

Housed in the monks’ former dormitory, the Museo dell’Abbazia di Chiaravalle offers an informative tour of the abbey’s history. The museum also explains the monastery’s agriculture-based production system. Another focus is the grange farms: agricultural estates or production units on the monastery’s lands. This extends the focus beyond the monastery’s history to its agricultural organization.

Plan Your Visit

The Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba is open to visitors in the morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and in the afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit. Tours for groups and schools must be booked; if you are planning one, make a reservation in advance.

There is a large parking lot for cars and coaches next to the abbey. From the Chiaravalle service area on the A1, the abbey can be reached via a walking path of about 600 meters. Also check current access and parking arrangements before your visit.

Infiorata and Regional Specialties

Every spring, the Infiorata is held in Chiaravalle on Corpus Christi. The monks lay a floral carpet featuring religious motifs along the entire central nave of the church. The annual event takes place on Corpus Christi, so its date varies from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around the Infiorata, check the event dates in advance.

The area’s culinary offerings also have a regional context: the Alseno area is part of the routes of the Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori dei Colli Piacentini. In the Bassa area, moisture is used to produce Culaccia, a Piacenza-style variation of Culatello. Together, the wine and food routes and this regional specialty offer another theme to explore during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Cortemaggiore, Castelvetro Piacentino, Casa Nuova, Bobbio, Podenzano, San Nicolò, Carpaneto Piacentino, Croce

For the main travel overview: Piacenza.