Millesimo: Medieval Old Town and Karst Landscape

Millesimo combines a medieval old town with karst features. In the Centro Storico, the settlement has a triangular shape: the castle is located at its tip, while the Palazzo dei Del Carretto forms the base. In the same old town, the traces of medieval walls with towers and four entrance gates are clearly visible.

Medieval Traces and Notable Buildings

The Ponte della Gaietta is also known as the “ponte vecchio” and is one of the few fortified bridges in Italy. Il Castello del Carretto was built by Enrico II to defend the settlement. The oldest parts include the stone tower, the keep and the eastern wall; they date from the second half of the 13th century. Another special feature is the menhirs of Millesimo. They consist of three stones standing a few metres apart in a commanding position above the valley below.

Museums, Churches and Orientation in the Old Town

Villa Scarzella in the medieval old town of Millesimo houses the Museo Napoleonico, a permanent exhibition about mountain dwellers, the archaeology and anthropology of the Val Bormida area, as well as the visitor centre for Bric Tana and the Valle dei Tre Re. As the visitor centre of the Bric Tana Regional Nature Park, it presents the park’s geological, archaeological and faunal features. S. Maria Extra Muros is a Romanesque basilica from the 12th century with three naves and a five-storey bell tower from the 15th century. Its furnishings include an ornate baptismal font dating from the time the church was built, as well as frescoes in the Gothic style.

Karst Landscape and Trails in Bric Tana

The Bric Tana Regional Park is located within the municipality of Millesimo and features wooded hills, small mammals and numerous karst formations. These include large sinkholes with caves, gorges and small blind valleys such as the Valle dei Tre Re. In Bric Tana, limestone needles rise above the Bormida River; the small regional park features both above-ground and underground karst formations. The network of trails in Bric Tana and Valle dei Tre Re Park is located in Millesimo and is divided into three short and two long circular routes.

The Tana dell'Orpe is the most important karst cave in the area and has been explored over a total length of 373 m. It is a stop on a circular route in the Bric Tana Park area and contains significant archaeological finds from the Bronze Age. From Millesimo, the cave is easily accessible on foot or by mountain bike via signposted trails in the Bric Tana Regional Nature Park.

Festivals Throughout the Year

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

Further Places for Travel Planning

Garlenda, San Pietro D'olba, Casanova Lerrone, Marina di Andora, Spotorno, Cisano Sul Neva, Carcare and Ceriale

For the higher-level travel overview: Savona.