The Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, also known simply as ‘la Madonna’, is one of the oldest religious buildings in the Spigno Monferrato area. Its origins date back to the early Middle Ages: as early as 991, it is mentioned in the Deed of Donation amongst the assets of the Abbey of San Quintino, whilst in 1170 its importance was further confirmed by Galdino.

Over the centuries, the church was at the heart of local religious life. Following its annexation to the Bishopric of Savona, regular masses were celebrated there from 1199 onwards with a permanent chaplain, a sign of the significant role the place of worship played for the community.

However, by the 16th century, the building was already showing clear signs of decay. On 17 July 1565, during a pastoral visit, Bishop Giovanni Ambrogio Fieschi judged the church – identified with a high degree of probability as Santa Maria in Turpino – to be in need of radical intervention, ordering the construction of a new sacred building. It is likely that Santa Maria della Visitazione retained its role as a parish church until 1579, when it was gradually replaced by the new church of San Giovanni Battista, built thanks to donations and bequests from the community.

The very location of the church, situated at a strategic point in the area, suggests an even more ancient origin. It is indeed possible that the original castrum of Turpino once stood on this site, before being abandoned and relocated to the more defensible site of nearby Montecastello.

Today, Santa Maria della Visitazione stands as a precious testament to the medieval history of Monferrato, a place steeped in memory where faith, the local landscape and changes in settlement patterns intertwine. Although its original role has ceased, it continues to tell, through its traces, the deepest roots of the community of Spigno Monferrato.