Castle of Burio

Located on a hill south of Costigliole d'Asti near the border between Langhe and Monferrato, at the confluence of the Tinella and Nice, is a couple of kilometers from the town and is surrounded by fields mainly cultivated with vineyards.

Of typical structure Asti-Monferrina, after falling into abandonment, it was restored starting in 1980.

It is positioned on a polygonal shaped pavement bounded by embossing and presents itself, by size and type, as a set of buildings from different eras. The original fortified nucleus has been flanked, since the 17th century, several buildings whose architecture is sometimes contrasting. The towers, the oldest buildings and a drawbridge are bordered on the complex.

The drawbridge leads to an internal courtyard which leads in turn to a underground tunnel, not visitable, while the octagonal tower is equipped with a spiral staircase.

According to legend, the castle takes its name, as well as the place where it rises, from the ancient Ligurian strain of euburiati. In the loyalty pact between the inhabitants of Costigliole in the city of Asti dated 13 July 1198, among the names of the wealthy people who swore loyalty appears a certain Guglielmo dei Burri, therefore probably coming from Burio; this character could be the oldest member of the Borio family (of Costigliole, Tigliole and Novello). It is known that it belonged to the Pallidi until the end of the 16th century.

It has never covered a particularly strategic function, being intended for agricultural use. In the Middle Ages, it was owned by the various Astigian families that covered the Lordship of Burio, from Pelletta to Roero, from Malabayla to Pallio. In this sense it became a vital center of land ownership.

In the 17th century, he was at the center of the war between Spain and the army led by Duke Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy.

In the following centuries he passed to the family Asinari, before the property was divided into shares, then unified and reacquired in the 20th century by Count Luigi Lanzavecchia.

It became a private residence and acquired a function for tourism use, it is used as a place of cultural and artistic events, so much to be inserted in the circuit of "Open Castles" of Basso Piemonte.