Montaldo Torinese has about 750 inhabitants and is located 24 km from Turin.
The earliest record of Montaldo dates back to 1159 when it was granted by Frederick Barbarossa to the Bishop of Turin. In 1394, the condottiere Facino Cane seized the village after heavy looting. Later, it was subjected to various feudal lords.
Places of Interest
The Castle, presumably founded between 1011 and 1038 by Landolfo, Bishop of Turin, was completed around 1080 by his successors. In medieval times, it consisted of two wings in an “L” shape, to which the first defense walls and the tower structure were added. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the southern wing was built, and the facades began to transform. The castle served as the residence of the Barnabite Fathers of the Royal College Carlo Alberto in Moncalieri from 1861 to 1987. Currently, it houses a hotel with a wellness center.
The 18th-century parish Church dedicated to Saints Victor and Corona completes and embellishes the historic center of the village.
The Cemetery Chapel is the oldest church in the area and the heart of the oldest inhabited center of Montaldo. It was built near the current cemetery and rebuilt in 1741. The church’s layout is remarkable: a square part for the faithful and a circular part – with the apse – for the celebrating priest.
Napoleon’s Well. History tells that this well, never drying up even in dry periods, dates back to June 1800 when Napoleon’s troops camped here before the Battle of Marengo. Some soldiers, suffering from pneumonia, reportedly recovered after drinking its water, which was also used for its diuretic properties. This site is part of a soon-to-be-implemented cycle and pedestrian path called the Napoleon Path.
Barbarossa’s Oak. On Bric Andio – just above the current cemetery and on the border with Andezeno – stands a large oak tree planted in 1800, serving as a reference point for travelers heading to Montaldo. In 1158, a battle involving Frederick Barbarossa (Waiblingen, circa 1122 – Saleph, June 10, 1190), Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Italy, took place here. Legend has it that treasure is still hidden on the hill near the oak tree, stored in a pottery container containing gold coins.