Torre Civica di Montà

Montà’s Civic Tower stands beside the gate of the old town. Built by the commune of Asti after 1257, it marked the community’s civic identity and served as the home of Montà’s bells before the parish church acquired its own campanile in the eighteenth century.

Why it matters

Unlike many surviving towers in Piedmont, Montà’s tower belonged to the commune rather than a castle or church. The municipality associates its construction after 1257 with the town’s status under Asti and its position at the gate of the old villa. Its former role as the home of the community bells also reflects its place in civic life.

What to notice

The tower’s position beside the old gate links it to the historic entrance of the villa. Its brick construction is a plain civic counterpart to the region’s castle and church towers. A panoramic balcony behind the tower opens views across the Roero and toward the Rocche del Roero.

Context and history

In the thirteenth century, Asti extended its authority across the hill country north of the Tanaro. The Comune di Montà dates the tower to after 1257 and describes it as a sign of the community’s independence from local feudal lords. Its civic bells remained here until the parish church acquired a campanile in the eighteenth century. The tower survives beside the old town gate as a landmark of Montà’s medieval history.