Gabiano Castle – a manor within a UNESCO site

History and description

Dating back to the 9th century, as attested by a document attributed to Charlemagne, Gabiano Castle has been recognized since 2014 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monferrato. The manor is composed, on the outside, of ancient walls, towers, and labyrinths—most notably the Boxwood Labyrinth designed by Cusani in 1930—as well as a medieval village. Inside, it features richly decorated rooms, such as those frescoed by Latino Barilli, including the Hall of the Cavalcade depicting Matilde and Giacomo Durazzo, and a historic wine cellar where today guests can stay and enjoy food and wine experiences. Over the centuries, the castle passed through the hands of several owners, including the Montiglio and Gonzaga families, before becoming, in 1624, the property of the Durazzo family, who still own it today.

Curiosities

Restored mainly by architect Cusani, who reconstructed some lost elements inspired by other Piedmontese castles, the building is also closely tied to the region’s winemaking tradition. Its historic cellar produces not only the Gabiano Riserva—awarded a gold medal at the 1937 Universal Exposition—but also several local wines such as Monferrato Rosso and Barbera d’Asti Superiore, cultivated on steep slopes. The boxwood labyrinth, a quintessentially romantic feature of the estate, lies at the center of the park, contrasting with both the manor and the surrounding nature, and offering a symbolic interpretation of the medieval concept of the labyrinth as forest or artificial grove.

Access

Open exclusively by reservation, the castle can be visited at the cost of €30, with free entry and specific reductions available. Visitors may also book lunch or dinner at the “3 Orologi” restaurant, also accessible only by reservation.

How to reach it

Located in the province of Alessandria, the site can be reached by car from Turin or Milan via the A4 motorway towards Chivasso, by train to Crescentino station, or by bus on lines 101 and 205.

Set in a spectacular panoramic location, Gabiano Castle is one of the oldest sites in Piedmont and an ideal starting point for exploring the wonders of Monferrato.

Photo credits: Awd (Wikipedia) - Licensed by CC 3.0