The Last "Battle" of the Castello di Robella

A guided tour on Liberation Day

On Liberation Day, the Castello di Robella offers a special guided tour with an evocative title: The Last "Battle" of the Castello di Robella. The initiative takes place in the small town of Robella, in the Province of Asti, in the heart of the Piedmontese Monferrato, and takes visitors inside the manor to discover memories and documents related to the Resistance war.

The memory of the VII Autonomous Division "Monferrato"

The central theme of the visit is the history of the VII Autonomous Division "Monferrato", a partisan formation that was born right here in these hills. After the armistice of September 8, 1943, young people from the surrounding countryside chose to oppose the occupation: among them Carlo Gabriele (nom de guerre "Gabriele") and his brother Sergio Cotta, together with Luigi Arialdo Radicati di Brozolo, created a small band destined to transform into a full-fledged division.

The castle and its history are intertwined with those difficult years: in November 1944, the commanders' families were captured as a reprisal, and the structure was looted by German soldiers and those of the Republic of Salò. The tour recounts this chapter through testimonies, photographs, and archival materials.

A castle with medieval origins

The Castello di Robella boasts a centuries-old history: the first mentions date back to the 11th century, while the original fortified structure dates between the 12th and 13th centuries. Over the centuries, the fortress was transformed into a noble residence, enriched by an 18th-century wing and the famous iron observatory designed in 1823 by engineer Carlo Bernardo Mosca, which offers a 360-degree view of the Alpine arc, from Monte Rosa to Monviso.

An intimate event by reservation

The tour is held in the late afternoon and is reserved for small groups: reservations are mandatory. It is the ideal opportunity to combine the discovery of one of the most fascinating historic residences in the Monferrato with the story of a fundamental page of local and national history, in a place where the memory of the Liberation is still very much alive.

• Guided tour of the castle interiors
• Story of the Resistance and the VII Autonomous Division "Monferrato"
• Period documents and testimonies
• Panoramic view from the observatory over the Alpine arc