The ruins of the Castello di Montessoro

The Castello di Montessoro in Isola del Cantone is an ancient fortification in ruins that served as the noble residence of the Spinola family. According to local historical sources, a first building was erected on Bric Castellazzo as early as the 11th century under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Tortona. Following various historical events, the Spinola family of the Luccoli branch took ownership in 1330 and built a new castle at a lower altitude during the first half of the 14th century, the remains of which are still visible today.

In 1394, the castle was affected by the passage of the French soldiers of the Duke of Orléans, Luigi di Valois. The Spinola family chose the manor as the center of control for the namesake marchesato, a feudal state included in the Imperial Feuds. The castle also served as an important prison until 1748. The autonomous small state, though under the protection of the Savoy, included several nearby centers such as Piano, Castel di Pietra, and Masone until the late 18th century.

Reconstructions based on the ruins suggest the castle had a complex structure, likely distributed over multiple levels. Shaped like a large merlons cube with sides of about twenty-five meters, it featured two towers diagonally opposite to the north-east and south-west. Internally, the basement contained a private oratory for the feudal family in addition to the prison. Following the French domination of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, the castle fell into a state of inevitable decline and abandonment.

While the structure currently stands in a state of ruin, a new phase of consolidation and recovery began in 2014. The remaining walls and towers offer a glimpse into the architectural layout of the medieval fortification, marking the transition from a center of feudal power to a preserved historical site.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons