Castello di Rocca Grimalda
Castle on a rocky spur above the Orba valley, lived in by its owners, with guided visits to the Baroque garden, the chapel, the salon and the cellars.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The castle stands on the summit of a rocky spur, in a strategic position controlling the roads between the Oltregiogo ovadese and the Alessandria plain. Over the centuries the building grew up around a massive circular tower dating from between the 12th and 13th centuries, built under the Malaspina family. Originally it was a polygonal structure for garrison troops; it then passed to the marquises of Gavi and, in 1431, to Gian Galeazzo Trotti, a mercenary captain in the service of the Visconti, and was converted into a noble residence.
In 1570 it was bought by the Genoese patrician Battista Grimaldi, whose family owned it for more than two centuries; at the end of the 18th century they completed it with the west façade and gave the village its definitive name, Rocca Grimalda. The tower, with five rooms stacked one above the other, long served as a prison and still bears soot and graffiti left by its prisoners on the walls. The large chapel, still in use, has interiors decorated with trompe-l'oeil and polychrome stucco.
The garden, enlarged in the mid-18th century as a lookout over the Orba valley, follows the Baroque layout: an Italian garden, a romantic grove and a secret garden of aromatic herbs. Today the castle belongs to a large family of Ligurian and Piedmontese origin, who have restored it and live in it; visits are led by the owners and include the garden, the salon, the drawing rooms, the chapel and the cellars.
Highlights
- Guided visit by the owners
- Baroque garden with a view over the Orba valley
- Chapel decorated with trompe-l'oeil and polychrome stucco
- 12th–13th-century circular tower once used as a prison
- Salon and drawing rooms of the residence
- Cellars with wine tasting
Permanent exhibition
- Visita guidata al castello e al giardino – Guided route through the Baroque garden, the salon and drawing rooms, the chapel and the cellars of the residence.
- Operated by
- Famiglia proprietaria
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6children up to 18 years |
| Children & teens | €6Reduced rate for children up to 18 years. |
Free admission: On the ADSI national days (24 May 2026) a free guided visit in reduced form is offered.
The standard ticket includes a wine tasting.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The castle is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
The castle and its park can be rented for private events and weddings.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | All visits are guided by the owners; visits in English and French are possible on request. Animals are allowed. The castle also offers accommodation in apartments and B&Bs. |
