CASA ARCASIO
_JPG.jpg)
Hospitality and artistic production in Monferrato
A historic building in the center of Cassine, Casa Arcasio is a hub of culture and artistic production. It offers hospitality and organizes artist residencies and cultural projects, welcoming people from around the world to spaces rich in charm, tranquility, and inspiration. Located in the heart of a medieval village in the UNESCO-listed Monferrato area, it is easily accessible from Milan, Genoa, and Turin.
Its location, steeped in history, and the thoughtful organization of its spaces make Casa Arcasio an ideal place for reflection, creative encounters, photo shoots, and unique events.
THE HOUSE
Casa Arcasio was built in the Middle Ages as an urban farm; it is a walled quadrilateral with three courtyards, a Renaissance loggia, a master's area, service areas, and cellars.
It was embellished by subsequent owners, in particular by Alessandro Arcasio, a 17th-century poet and chief physician who gave it its name.
Casa Arcasio offers cultural projects to residents and visitors, involving young international professionals in various artistic disciplines. Support for artistic and social science research, the valorization of the area and its incredible history, and the involvement of residents are the cornerstones of its offering.
Donate to help us grow
IBAN IT55Y0306234210000003045746
Arcasio House for Cassine ETS
PROPOSE A RESIDENCE
Residencies at Casa Arcasio last from 3 to 20 days between April and October and accommodate up to 17 people. The house is equipped with spaces for individual and group work; performances in the courtyard can accommodate up to 150 people and indoors up to 60 people.
USE OUR SPACES
Casa Arcasio welcomes families and small groups for retreats or summer schools. The variety of spaces and furnishings makes it suitable for photo shoots and events.
The Spaces
Casa Arcasio extends across multiple floors and distinct areas, allowing for community activities, small group work, and privacy. The recently completed renovation has resulted in nine bedrooms, sleeping a total of 17, and six bathrooms. The spacious, frescoed living rooms are uniquely furnished, while the seven living rooms and sitting rooms are spacious and feature exposed beams. The windows offer breathtaking views of the rooftops of the old town, the spectacular Church of San Francesco, and the surrounding countryside. The tower and terrace offer 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. The dining room, kitchen, and woodshed allow for shared moments. A separate apartment overlooking the loggia and private garden provides complete independence from the main wing of the house. The garden across the street completes the property. The property can accommodate up to 100 people for seated lunches or dinners.
THE STORY
Casa Arcasio was built in the Middle Ages as an urban farm; it is a walled quadrilateral with two courtyards, a secret garden, a Renaissance loggia, a master's quarters and a separate living quarters, an infernotto, and a network of cellars.
It was embellished by subsequent owners, in particular by Alessandro Arcasio, a 17th-century poet and chief physician, who gave it its name.
The house has been owned by the current family since the mid-19th century. It has been a place of innovation: it housed Cassine's first post office at the time of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy and one of Italy's first meteorological observatories. It has been a primary residence and a holiday home; it has hosted the town doctor and postman. It has been a center of affection and family history; the spaces, furnishings, and photographs tell the story of the bond with the home of various generations.
THE PEOPLE
The current family that owns the house has passed it down through the female line. Great-great-grandmother Ernestina received Casa Arcasio as a wedding gift from her father; her daughters Dora and Angelica lived there and, once married, used it as a beloved holiday home.
Of Dora's daughters, Federica and Ernestina, the former inherited the house's love and lived there with her children during the war; Federica's children, Ernestina and Gian Mario, began the renovation, which is now under the direction of Ernestina's daughter Paola (pictured). Paola has two daughters.
Projects
Casa Arcasio develops cultural projects that enhance Cassine's cultural heritage, often closed to the public. Initiatives, either independently or in partnership with various cultural organizations, allow visitors and residents to visit the house, churches, museum, and several historic buildings, and enjoy cultural experiences in an unconventional way.
Collaboration with research groups from different universities (IMT Lucca – Bocconi University – Gothenburg University) allows for a structured and systematic reflection on the culturally based development of small towns.
Duemila30 Lab is a residency for selected young international videomakers interested in sustainability. Co-designed with the Quindici19 association, it has been held at Casa Arcasio every July since 2024. During the ten-day residency, the videomakers explore the local area, write the story for a short film, shoot, and post-produce, under the guidance of a group of international instructors and with the collaboration of the town. On the final evening, the screening of the short films is accompanied by a communal dinner. The following week, the shorts will be screened at the Duemila30 sustainable film festival held in Milan.
_JPG.jpg)
Espresso Masterclass is a chamber music residency for selected young professional ensembles working with world-renowned teachers. During the three-day event, music lessons are open to the public and schoolchildren. On Friday and Saturday evenings and on Sunday, concerts in the town's splendid churches and homes (open for the occasion) offer a unique opportunity to connect with these magical and inaccessible places. A performance by the town band closes the event. Casa Arcasio participates in the festival's organization, provides hospitality for musicians and teachers in the town's homes, and is the main venue for study activities.
The 2025 edition celebrates the initiative's 5th anniversary with an extraordinary program.
Since 2024, Casa Arcasio has coordinated the openings and planned activities for the FAI Spring Days. The initiatives include:
Reading Marathon – readings of classic authors of Piedmontese origin.
Special openings of:
Church of St. Francis
Museum
Churches normally closed
Courtyards of private houses
Hidden places of the country
They talk about us
Beautiful Italy: Cassine in Music (September 2023)
Artribune : Tourists and Sustainability in Italian Villages: A Study from Monferrato (October 2024)
Anchor Week : Cassine: 2024 Espresso Masterclass (September 2024)
Anchor Week : Ten directors at Casa Arcasio for Duemila30 Lab: there's even an Oscar winner (June 2024)
Artribune : Monferrato, an artistic residency for young directors (June 2024)
Ancora Week : Traveling Exhibition: Racing with Fausto Coppi (May 2024)
Il Piccolo : Cassine: the town turns pink and opens its homes to the Airone (May 2024)
Ancora Week : With Espresso Masterclass Cassine hosts music and offers its history (September 2023)
Ancora Week : Cassine, with Espresso Masterclass, is the capital of classical music (September 2022)
ArcheoCarta : Cassine: Palazzo Zoppi, the Church of San Giacomo, and other medieval buildings
How to reach us
Cassine is a medieval village of about 2,500 inhabitants surrounded by woods and vineyards with a notable tangible and intangible historical heritage, both public and private.
It's just over an hour's drive from Milan, Genoa, Savona, and Turin, and twenty minutes from Alessandria. It can be reached by train and bus from these locations.
It is an hour's drive from Genoa Airport, 1.5 hours from Linate, Malpensa, and Turin Caselle Airports, and two hours from Orio al Serio Airport.
A