LA CASTIGLIA
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Majestic castle transformed into exhibition rooms open to the general public.
The majestic castle of the Marquises of Saluzzo towers over the town and surrounding area. The highest point in the old town, the Castiglia is a remarkable symbol of the marquisate's power and wealth. Built in the 13th century, the popular name Castiglia derives from the plural of the Latin word castella (castle) and refers to the group of fortified buildings that stood on the same site prior to its construction. Originally, this structure had a purely defensive function, but in the 15th century Marquis Ludovico II decided to transform it into a seigniorial residence. The large angular corner tower, which still bears the Saluzzo coat of arms and the effigy of the imperial eagle, dates from this period. The French occupation of the marquisate (from 1549 to 1588) and annexation to the Duchy of Savoy marked the beginning of the castle's slow decline. In the 18th century, the Castiglia became a barracks, and later, in the 19th century, a prison. The consequences of this change of use were not long in coming, and many of the interior decorations were unfortunately lost. Since 2006, the entire château has been the object of a skilful restoration project to recover, consolidate and renovate its spaces, and transform them into exhibition halls for the general public. Two museums have opened their doors: in the basement, a museum evoking the time when the Castiglia was a prison, and, on the third floor, the Museo della civiltà cavalleresca.
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