Castello di San Sebastiano

The medieval Castle of San Sebastiano is to be found in Monferrato in the province of Turin, and visitors are invited to spend their holidays at this historical residence or choose the location for hosting their private events. In its grounds, there is an Italianate Garden featuring a parterre of box trees and roses. In its glory days, the castle was home to some 3,000 species of plants and flowers.

Today, there is still an orchard that serves as a reminder of fruit gardens harking back to medieval times, and there is a greenhouse next to the neoclassical temple, which provides access to a different section of the garden. The ‘tinaggio’, as it is called, is the room where vats containing grapes from the neighbouring vineyards were processed and stored during the fermentation phase. Wine production was historically a major resource in the area. It is now possible to organise banquets in this space, which is still imbued with the charming atmosphere of times gone by.

The history of Castello di San Sebastiano
Ancient walls, timeless scents, musky aromas and an abundance of flora and fauna. It is all too easy to conjure up the resounding clash of swords, hear the neighing of horses and imagine the clamour of soldiers in battle. The origins of the Castello date back to the early Middle Ages and the 10th century, when the town was under the rule of the Marquisate of Monferrato.

 The earliest documents relating to the settlement of San Sebastiano attest to its falling under the dominion of the Radicati family. The town was subsequently hotly contested during the wars for supremacy in the Piedmont region, initially fought between the Savoys and the Marquises of Monferrato, and later involving the Spanish and the French. There are no records existing today regarding the fate of the Castle during that period.

On the contrary, 1761 has been officially confirmed as the date when the Count of San Sebastiano, Paolo Federico Novarina, commissioned architect Bernardo Vittone, who was a leading exponent of Baroque architecture in the Piedmont region, to renovate the entire castle, after having seen him at work restoring the adjacent parish church. Count Novarina, who was Commander of the Piedmont regiment in 1763, took part in the Battle of Assietta in 1747, and on that occasion, to keep his soldiers steadfast in the face of the outnumbering French troops, he uttered the famous phrase: ‘Fieui, bugiè nen! (Men, hold your positions!)’. This incident gave rise to a term which is still used today to describe the people of Piedmont, namely “bougia nèn,” meaning ‘those who do not move’ and referring to their innate resilience.

The castle welcomed a number of illustrious visitors including Napoleon I, as Count Pietro Novarina was in fact a firm supporter of the French Republic. A rare plant, the ginkgo biloba, was planted in honour of the French Emperor’s visit in 1810 and can still be seen in situ today.

It is said that the Count of Cavour, who was both secretary to and trusted by the owner, also visited the Castle. However, it was at the beginning of the 19th century that the Castle saw its greatest moment of splendour when Pietro Bagetti, the Piedmontese painter and architect, frescoed the entire gallery.

In 1810, German garden architect Xavier Kurten redesigned the park, which rapidly became a site used for study by the University of Botany in Turin. In its grounds, there is an Italianate Garden featuring a parterre of box trees and roses. In its glory days, the castle was home to some 3,000 species of plants and flowers.

Today, there is still an orchard that serves as a reminder of fruit gardens harking back to medieval times, and there is a greenhouse next to the neoclassical temple, which provides access to a different section of the garden. The ‘tinaggio’, as it is called, is the room where vats containing grapes from the neighbouring vineyards were processed and stored during the fermentation phase. Wine production was historically a major resource in the area. It is now possible to organise banquets in this space, which is still imbued with the charming atmosphere of times gone by.

Places of interest in the vicinity
First and foremost, there is the Abbey of Vezzolano, documented since 905 but possibly present even during the time of Charlemagne. It contains frescoes depicting saints, warriors, and knights (who were not necessarily saints). It can be reached via a 16 km route through vineyards and woodland, and it is well worth a visit.

Located 10 km away is the Abbey of Santa Fede, a hidden gem of Romanesque architecture. It is the only church in Piedmont built in the shape of an Egyptian triangle, and its façade beautifully showcases its artistic beauty and antiquity.

Six kilometres from San Sebastiano are the remains of Industria, an ancient city dating back to the Roman Empire, with a forum and temple of Isis, once a flourishing cult during the late Roman era.

The Monferrato region is a treasure trove of ancient cities, Romanesque churches and castles, all awaiting every discerning visitor keen to appreciate its abundant natural and historical wonders.