MASSERANO

Masserano has had a colourful history which is still evident in some of its valuable buildings, many churches and quaint village square surrounded by porticos in the old Borgo. In the 15th century it became an earldom, later a marquisate, and eventually a principality under the kings of Savoia. The Palazzo dei Principi was built in 1597 by the Marchesa Claudia di Savoia and now houses the Town Hall. In the old market place the mint (demolished in 1799) coined its own ducats for the principality until strife between the ruling family and the village people in 1624 led to its closure. The 15th century Collegiate Church with its newly restored facade stands to the left of the single main street Viale Roma, which leads downhill to the Beccheria where once upon a time all the village butchers had their shops under the ancient porticos. This leads into the heart of the old village the Borgo Antico much of which dates from the 13th century. Below this again can be seen the Church of San Teonesto which dates from the 11th century and stood outside the town's walls and fortifications, leading to the construction of the Collegiate Church as the villagers were afraid to go to evening mass leaving the safety of the village.