During its 23 rd meeting, held on 15 th July 1563, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) decreed that a “Seminarium
perpetuum” be set up in all dioceses, so that the Bishop might “àlere et religiose educare et in sacris
disciplinis instituere” 2 candidates for the priesthood. Following this directive, and despite various
oppositions and hurdles, seminaries were established within the Church. In Italy, the greatest
advancements were reached thanks to St. Carlo Borromeo’s endeavor (1532-1584), Milan’s Archbishop and
faithful perpetrator of the Council’s decrees.
The first Bishops of the Seminary of Alba were Mons. Marco Girolamo Vida and Mons. Leonardo Marini. As
a matter of fact, Mons. Vida held the diocese from 1533 to 1566 and he was its last Bishop without
seminary, even though he was the one who organized its administrative apparatus and allocated funds and
benefits. As for Mons. Marini, who had already been Lanciano’s Archbishop, he was one of the Council’s
most zealous priests. He was sent to Alba (where he held the diocese between 1566 and 1572) by St. Pio V,
who knew the city quite well, having stayed at the local convent of St. Domenico, of which he was prior
from 1545 to 1547, during Mons. Vida’s episcopate. Additionally, Mons. Marini maintained a great
friendship with St. Carlo Borromeo.
The Episcopal Seminary was officially established in 1567 by Mons. Leonardo Marini. Originally, it hosted 14
clerics (number that increased to 20 before construction had been completed). These data were acquired
through Mons. Marini’s letters to the Archbishop St. Carlo, dated 1567: “Alba, 30 th March 1567 - … I have
not found any cleric in this church: only treasurers were nominated for the seminary, I earlier appointed
fourteen clerics, and then other two which makes it sixteen, and I hope to God that they will show
themselves to be fruitful plants” (St. Carlo epistolary – Letters from Marini to St. Carlo – Ambrosiana Library
13 (25)). After a few months, he then continued: “Alba, 3 rd December 1567 - ...I have appointed priests
about 20 clerics”. (therein – Ambrosiana Library 16 (31)).
The Seminary of Alba was then one of the first to be established in Italy (and in the world), after those of
Milan (1564), Rome (1565) and Turin (1566).
The original building was adjacent to the Bishop’s palace, as later stated by Mons. Paolo Brizio, Alba’s
Bishop from 1642 to 1665. In 1658, he wrote the first seminary’s Regulation, which modernized clerics’
lives with a strong call to studying, spirituality and a righteous life.
Under the Carmelite Mons. Vasco’s control, who held the diocese between 1727 and 1750, the Seminary
was expanded to accommodate over 100 clerics.
Mons. Virgilio Natta, Alba’s Bishop from 1750 to 1768 and later Cardinal, expanded the Seminary even
further, ordering the construction of clerics’ rooms, a big refectory and a main hall.
It was with Bishop Mons. Giuseppe Maria Langosco di Stroppiana, who held the diocese between 1778 and
1788, that the building was completed – precisely a few months after his appointment – in 1778.
At the beginning of the 19 th century, the Seminary went through a period of serious decay, due to marauding and tampering. Alba’s diocese was suppressed and, in 1803, the Seminary’s possessions were
transferred. Indeed, the Seminary itself was employed to host French military troops, who plundered it.
A petition was sent to Napoleon for its reopening, which occurred in 1818. As for the renovation, it
started in 1819.
During the second half of the 19 th century, the city’s ancient core was involved in various projects, all
aimed at shaping the Langhe’s capital into a modern urban center. First, priority was given to align and
regularize central streets and squares, as a necessary step towards that urban decency which had – for
over twenty years – been longed for. One of the first and most important actions in this direction had to
do with the area where the seminary laid. In 1844, graduated for only three years but already held in
high regard (in view of his academic studies and his contacts with the Turin’s milieu), Archbishop Busca
replaced engineer Vandero in the project for the upgrade of the episcopal seminary, for which a new
building, overlooking the square, had been planned.
Busca’s project, which considered the demolition of some secondary sections of the seminary’s prior
building, consisted of a new orthogonal sleeve to be attached to the existing colonnade, rearward of the
square. The sleeve was then built a little further than planned, thus creating a more suitable background
for the new Theatre Square, which was later erected. In that area, when the additional sleeve was put
up, there still were old buildings, all pertaining to the seminary but passed on to the municipality in 1857
and later demolished, which freed the new edifice’s facade.
The facade was completed in 1851, while the further extension, enabled with the building of an internal
sleeve, dates to the second half of the 19 th century. Such early project contributed to the increase of the
young Alba’s architect’s professional admiration, and he would also make a fundamental contribution to
the city renovation in the 19 th century.
The religious house “The Seminary” is located in the very heart of Alba city center. It is only 10 minutes away from the railway station and it is reachable by car. The entrance of the car free park is on the backside of the building in Corso Michele Coppino, 43.
To contact us please fill in the form in the section “Reservation” (accessible also by clicking on the afollowing link prenotazioni ) or write an e-mail to info@seminarioalba.it or call us to the following number + 393669061492.
To contact the Library S. Tommaso, please write an e-mail to the following address bibliotecadiocesana.alba@gmail.com
Where we are“The Seminary” is a biannual bulletin which focuses on church and actuality. It is strictly linked to the...
“The Seminary” is a biannual bulletin which focuses on church and actuality. It is strictly linked to the...