The municipality of Ales consists of the settlements of Ales and Zeppara. The latter hamlet enjoyed municipal autonomy until 1927 and is 2 km. from the main town. Ales lies at the foot of Mount Arci, where the Acuafrida Holm Oak Park is located, 800 meters above sea level. The historic capital of Alta Marmilla, it saw its agro-pastoral economy transformed following the transfer of the diocese of Uselis, with the construction of the Cathedral and the birth of the urban agglomeration joining the ancient village around the church of Santa Maria. Increasingly becoming a Service Center, Ales, has had a steady and significant turnover of population.
The presence of all orders of schooling originated in the 1600s with the first Elementary School, followed by the Seminary in 1700; the establishment of the Episcopal Magistral Institute by Bishop Tedde allowed for the training of many generations of teachers throughout the Marmilla region and beyond.
The urban planning and architectural aspect has changed considerably in the recent past, mainly due to major public and private investments, thanks to the Law on Old Towns. Ales anticipated the same law with the master plan adopted in the previous decade, and from a punitive perception, it turned into a great opportunity for profound renewal.
The 40-year presence of the municipal library, named after the Alerese painter Peppinetto Boy, who frescoed the dome of the Cathedral, the presence of several museums, historical archives, the birthplace of Antonio Gramsci, and the historic marching band of the early 20th century, which still involves many young people with sublime professionalism, constitute a strong cultural attraction for the community.
