The starting point of any tour should be Alessandria, the Provincial Capital rich in artistic heritage, including the famous Cittadella with its ample piazzas and 18th-Century palaces.
There are many religious sites of remarkable artistic value, such as Sacro Monte di Crea, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site; the Santa Croce complex in Bosco Marengo; the Romanesque Abbey of Santa Giustina in Sezzadio; and many churches and shrines all around the countryside, e.g. the evocative Parish Church of Santa Maria in Viguzzolo.
Roman relics can be found in Libarna, near Serravalle Scrivia, and in Acqui Terme, a town renowned for ages for its art and health spa.
One of the most important sites is Casale Monferrato, boasting prestigious architecture and churches, particularly the Duomo, one of the most remarkable Romanesque-Lombard cathedrals of Piedmont.
Be sure to visit the hills, and their vineyards and imposing castles (Vignale Monferrato and Camino).
Valenza, a small town built on the banks of Po River, is famous for its gold and jewelry production. Gavi, a small town slocated on the border between Liguria and the Pianura Padana, is dominated by an imposing castle that once was the fortress of the Republic of Genoa. The Roman remains and artistic monuments of Tortona offer an interesting journey into the past, while Ovada is surrounded by remarkable castles.
The Marengo Museum is dedicated to an historical Napoleonic battle (it lies in Spinetta Marengo, a district of Alessandria).
Sports lovers, rather, should visit the Campionissimi Museum in Novi Ligure, dedicated to Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi, two local cycling champions.
