Considered the most famous Romanesque monument in the Province of Asti, the Abbey of Saint Mary of Vezzolano was built in about the XIth century, during a period of fervent reform which saw the construction of a large number of religious complexes in Piedmont. The foundation may be attributed to a group of local noble families, who were interested in the buildings not only for religious purposes.
According to historical and archaeological research, Vezzolano was an area of settlement from the time of the Romans.
Nowadays, one of the reasons it is so fascinating, lies in its splendid isolation, on the gentle slope of a valley, partly hidden by hills and meadows. It is approached by a road which passes beside and above it, so that it may be admired first from above, with the harmony of its extensive roof tiles and the complex of the apse, before seeing it from the front.
The Romanesque-Lombard façade, built in terracotta and sandstone, is enlivened by three rows of blind loggias and decorated with capitals and statues. The interior is early Gothic form with French derivation.
