Taking the "Monferrato scenic route", you run into the Gabiano Castle (Castello di Gabiano), a mandatory stop for anyone who would like to have an idea of the castle architecture from this part of Piedmont. Built during the Middle Ages at the request of Aleramo, the Marquis del Monferrato, it was damaged, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. The castle is made-up of a large, solid, quadrangular tower that supports one corner of the main crenellated structure topped-off with small, circular towers rising up in the park. A long line of families have owned of the castle, from the Montiglio, to the Gonzaga, to the Durazzo and, finally, to the Cattaneo Adorno family, who still hold ownership today and, along with their prestigious wine production, manage a lovely art collection together with valuable halls of arms, both carefully maintained.
