Maranzana: sights, history and trails

The town is pushed to the edge of the park called "Bosco delle Sorti" within which there are marked paths that can be reached on foot, by bicycle and on horseback.

In the centre of the village, on top of a hill from which you can enjoy a magnificent view, rises the castle of 1300 very well preserved, as well as the towers and the walls. Also in the village is the museum house of Giacomo Bove, an important Italian explorer lived between 1852 and 1887.

From studies made, the name Maranzana could be of predial origin, namely a noun that refers to a territory, a land. The media documentation proposes us: Marencanus (found on papers from 1188); Maranzana of 1199; Marenzana of 1257; Maransana 1353. Some scholars interpret it as derived from the Latin verb emere or from the personal Roman name emerentius or directly from emerential. The decisive name of Maranzana dates back no later than the 16th century, a period in which the term did not present further variations. In ancient times this territory was inhabited, according to legends, by the Celts who invaded Italy attracted by its rich agricultural products.

According to Livio, the Galli invaded Italy around 500 BC. and this area became Gallia Cisalpina. At the time Maranzana was born as a small settlement of shepherds and farmers. From the 5th century onwards, the invasion of Ostrogoths, Longobards and Franks continued. Until the 8th century Maranzana and the surrounding territories suffered devastation. In 900 these lands undergo the incursions of Saracens, then in 951 the Aleramic dynasty began which gave rise to Marquisate of Monferrato. In 1536 this marquisate passed to the Gonzagas of Mantua.

In 1670 Giacomo Ottaviano Francesco Ghilini (1619-1703), of the homonymous noble family Alexandria, acquires the title mark on the fief of Maranzana that will be kept until the death of the last Marquis, Ambrogio Maria Ghilini (1757-1832).
With the Treaty of Utrecht Maranzana, along with other lands, passes under the Savoy House and from that moment followed the fate of the Savoy history, participated in the Risorgimento and the events that bind the Piemonte to Italy until our days.

Recently Maranzana took the appellation of Country of the Babaci, or puppets in dialect, due to the presence in various places of numerous life-size stuffed characters produced by a group of skilled and willing women, as a welcome to visitors and tourists.^[4]

The economy is purely agricultural, with almost exclusive wine address. The only major industry is the social winery "La Maranzana" which produces fine DOCG wines such as Moscato, Cortese, Dolcetto, Barbera, Brachetto and Chardonnay that trades in Italy and abroad.

Below is a table relating to the administrations that have succeeded one another in this municipality.

• E. Colla, Maranzana in the centuries.