Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
At the beginning of the 14th century, on the site, the noble decurional family of Alessandria Bagliano built a castle, called "Casalis Balianorum" and from this the hamlet itself took the toponym of Casalbagliano. This castle was described by Ghilini (1589-1668) as "a beautiful and comfortable palace, which, built with judicious and elegant architecture, represents the shape of a castle". The manor was used to defend nearby Alessandria, in fact, it did not allow the French troops to force the passage towards the city in the wars of 1643 and 1657. It was therefore a strong and threatening castle, even after almost four centuries of history. It was the residence of the Bagliani until the death of the last descendant, the Marquis Raimondo Luigi (1750-1825). Towards the middle of the 19th century, the Marquis Carlo Inviziati di Branciforte noted the sumptuousness of this ancient castle, restored it from the ravages of the centuries and made it a home for himself and his family, surrounding it with a vast park and enriching it with paintings, sculptures and very precious art objects. The castle "was an open and noble place hospitable to citizens of the highest culture, almost a cenacle of encouragement and protection for pure Art and Science". The castle then passed to the Petitti di Roreto family and from them to the Paravicini family who lived there until the beginning of the 20th century. Sold to private individuals, the castle was acquired by the Municipality of Alessandria, the current owner. During the First World War it was used as a military hospital and then as the headquarters of the local branch of the fascist party. Still intact and efficient throughout the first half of the last century, it was gradually stripped and completely abandoned, thus facilitating its rapid degradation. During the last flood (November 6, 1994) the water and mud of the Tanaro further damaged the precarious castle, which was already in bad condition. Given its current very dangerous state, the castle is fenced off and not accessible to the public.
At the beginning of the 14th century, on the site, the noble decurional family of Alessandria Bagliano built a castle, called "Casalis Balianorum" and from this the hamlet itself took the toponym of Casalbagliano. This castle was described by Ghilini (1589-1668) as "a beautiful and comfortable palace, which, built with judicious and elegant architecture, represents the shape of a castle". The manor was used to defend nearby Alessandria, in fact, it did not allow the French troops to force the passage towards the city in the wars of 1643 and 1657. It was therefore a strong and threatening castle, even after almost four centuries of history. It was the residence of the Bagliani until the death of the last descendant, the Marquis Raimondo Luigi (1750-1825). Towards the middle of the 19th century, the Marquis Carlo Inviziati di Branciforte noted the sumptuousness of this ancient castle, restored it from the ravages of the centuries and made it a home for himself and his family, surrounding it with a vast park and enriching it with paintings, sculptures and very precious art objects. The castle "was an open and noble place hospitable to citizens of the highest culture, almost a cenacle of encouragement and protection for pure Art and Science". The castle then passed to the Petitti di Roreto family and from them to the Paravicini family who lived there until the beginning of the 20th century. Sold to private individuals, the castle was acquired by the Municipality of Alessandria, the current owner. During the First World War it was used as a military hospital and then as the headquarters of the local branch of the fascist party. Still intact and efficient throughout the first half of the last century, it was gradually stripped and completely abandoned, thus facilitating its rapid degradation. During the last flood (November 6, 1994) the water and mud of the Tanaro further damaged the precarious castle, which was already in bad condition. Given its current very dangerous state, the castle is fenced off and not accessible to the public.
