Murisengo: sights, history and trails

The coat of arms and gonfalone of the municipality of Murisengo Monferrato were granted by decree of the President of the Republic of 18 March 1985.^[5][6]

The gonfalone is a shredded drape of blue and yellow.

Corteranzo, an independent commune until 1928, had a civic coat of arms silver, to the natural juniper plant, green terrace; with the golden head, to the eagle of black, crowned of the same, supported by the blue band, loaded with three gold stars. The juniper plant is a reference to the Giunipero family of Corteranzo.^[7]

To celebrate the history and imponence of this ancient castle remained the large tower, restored (perhaps rebuilt) in 1510, cited in a plate on the tower and now lost, and again in the 19th century: the tower is probably the oldest part of the building, whose first indirect certifications date back to the XI and XII century, but that was entirely rebuilt from the 17th century.

With the fall of the Marchesi del Monferrato, the castle suffered many damages and subsequent reconstructions that led him to lose his primitive "form". The castle belonged first to the Radicati di Brozolo, then to the family Scotland from 1420 until 1883, when it passed to the husband of Donna Tarsilla Scots, Francesco Guasco Gallarati Marchese di Bisio and Francavilla, today identifiable in the village Francavilla Bisio.
After a long restoration, a private contractor, the castle from mid-2012 is available for guided tours during events, events, exhibitions and ceremonies^[8].
In 1813 Silvio Pellico wrote the tragedy Francesca from Rimini.

The source of sulphurous water, called "La Pirènta", is located east of the country, at the roots of Montelungo, and originates from a tufa-calcareous soil. Sulphurous water is oily to the touch and transmits a smell of hydrosulphurized gas; once it was successfully used in gastrointestinal disorders and skin diseases of a misty and herpethic nature.

Between the end of the 18th and early 19th century, here a spa was built, which became a popular tourist centre, then resized in the period between the two world wars.^[9]. The area was subsequently converted to industrial use and today houses a powder magazine.

Still at the beginning of the 19th century water was transported into two stone tanks in which, in summer, hemp was macerated.^[10]. Today the pools are no longer visible and the water flows from a single lion's mouth set in a neo-Gothic style fountain, dating back to 1859^[11].

Located at the gates of the village, on top of a grassy hill, is the residue of an ancient Romanesque church.
Around it has been created a large green area with equipped path and explanatory signs on the history, legend and botanical truffle.^[12]

At the entrance of the village, on the road from Villadeati, there is an ancient chalk quarry which, once its long extraction activity ended, was transformed into a spontaneous naturalistic area and an amphitheater was installed for outdoor shows and theatrical performances.^[12]

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  Murisengo Castle
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  Castello di Murisengo, commemorative plaque of the stay of Silvio Pellico
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  St. Michael Archangel Church
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  Fountain "La Pirènta"
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  Tower of San Pietro and green area
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  Park on disused chalk quarry area
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  Murisengo from the hill in front

The municipality had a strong decrease of the population over the last century, equal to a loss of 43% of residents since 1921.

Inhabitants registered^[13]

Here is the truffle fair, which has been held every year in November since 1967, with great public influence.

In the town there are four villages: San Candido, Corteranzo, Sorina and Casa Battia^[14].

Corteranzo was an independent commune until 1928, the year of its annex to the municipality of Murisengo. This place was named after the noble Ranzo^[15] and presents the important Church dedicated to San Luigi Gonzaga inside the cemetery, attributed to Bernardo Vittone.