MONUMENTS

The Castle owned by the Roero family of Cortanze since the fourteenth century and renovated by them at the end of the seventeenth century, has now largely lost its original appearance and has taken on the features of an elegant country residence. On the north side, however, the sixteenth-century fortress, with openings for cannons has remained almost intact. The Castle is dominated by the massive cylindrical tower adorned with hanging arches and Guelph merlons (castellations) and by the typically eighteenth-century portal surmounted by the coat of arms of the Roero di Cortanze. The Calosso Castle is linked to the story of Sant 'Alessandro Sauli, bishop of Pavia (Diocese on which Calosso depended at the time) who in 1592, during his pastoral visit, was struck down by a sudden and serious illness. He was first hosted by the parish priest of Colosso and later by the owner of the Castle, Ercole Roero di Cortanze. On 11th October, 1592 Alessandro Sauli succumbed to the illness and died. His death made such an impact that in 1683 the Chamber of the Castle in which he died was converted, at first, into a public oratory and later into a chapel. It has now become a tradition that the every 11th October the owners of the castle commemorate his death with a Holy Mass in his memory. The castle has always been privately owned and has almost always been inherited through the female line, starting from the Roero di Cortanze, the Colli di Felizzano, the Gavigliani, the Gloria and the Ferretti of Castel Ferretto. We have now reached the Balladore - Pallieri, family who are the current owners. The Castle is part of the "Open Castles" circuit, and on the open days the owners accompany tourists through the ancient hall, with typically eighteenth-century stuccoes, the Chapel dedicated to Sant'Alessandro Sauli, the underground fortified rooms and the garden from where you can enjoy an enchanting almost 360 ° view.