The Gaietta bridge and the old town of Millesimo

The bridge and its gate

The bridge crosses the Bormida and ends at a gate with a guard tower crowned with Ghibelline battlements. It was the western entrance to the village and, by its shape, served to control access. The village was founded in 1206 by Enrico II Del Carretto. The bridge appears on the municipal coat of arms and is also called «Ponte Vecchio».

The date is the most uncertain point. The 1206 founding deed already mentions the bridge, and some sources think the structure dates from the 13th century or even the 12th. The tower is dated in different ways: for some it belongs to the original layout, one guide (from 2016) says it was added at the end of the 15th century. The sources do not cite a document that settles the matter, so we leave it as a doubt.

What happened to the bridge

Floods of the Bormida have changed the look of the bridge more than once. In 1744, after a flood, one of the two arches of the old bridge collapsed together with a small tower. In the 19th century the fallen part was replaced: one source gives 1878 for a new bridge, later replaced by a suspended footbridge, still there next to the historic bridge. The sources are not clear about this sequence, and a recent article reports the footbridge as closed to the public: look at it without counting on crossing it ⚠️.

A walk through the old town

The centre is small. There are no official walking times: below is the order we suggest, designed so you do not have to backtrack.

1. Bridge and river bank

Start at the bridge and the Bormida bank: from there bridge, gate and village fit in the same photo. Then go in through the gate.

2. Piazza Italia and the Town Hall

From the gate you reach Piazza Italia, with its arcades and shops of local products: hazelnut cakes, cheeses, cured meats, truffle sauces. On one side stands the Town Hall, the former Del Carretto palace, where the family went to live after 1553. A guide mentions armour, an altar tied to Pope Pius VII’s stay in August 1809 and a room linked to Bonaparte. There are no confirmed hours for going inside ⚠️.

3. The castle and Villa Scarzella

Then climb towards the Del Carretto castle, dismantled in 1553. At its foot is Villa Scarzella, with the Napoleonic Museum and the museum of the Bric Tana Park. Hours and entry are not confirmed: ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) ⚠️.

4. Santa Maria extra muros

End the walk by going down to the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, just outside the old core. Sources disagree on its dates (from 998 to the 12th century).

When to go

The bridge can be seen all year and is free: there are no hours. For museum and castle visits choose days that do not coincide with big events, in particular early October, when the National Truffle Festival is held (2 to 4 October in 2026) and the centre fills up. After heavy rain do not go near the river bank.