In the second half of the twelfth century the estate of Cortandone belonged to a number of landed families who took the title “Di Cortandone”, and for more than one hundred years these families regularly appear in records. At the beginning of the fourteenth century the castle appeared to belong to the de’ Mandra family. It then became part of the Marcello estate (1433), before passing to the Broglia family (1580). The Broglia family left on 8 August 1654, when the estate lands were sold to Pietro Francesco Facello.

Visitors to Cortandone arrive in piazza Roma, formerly piazza San Sebastiano due to the chapel dedicated to the saint, demolished in the mid-nineteenth century. From there via della Costa leads to the town hall. From the highest point of the town, Camporotondo in the Campia district, there are views of the surrounding Alps and the picturesque hills of the Monferrato area.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

By the town hall is the eighteenth century parish church of Sant’Antonio Abate. The façade of this building is in late Baroque brickwork, while the interior decorations date back to 1907. From the church yard you can see the remains of the walls of the ancient castle. Other historic religious sites include the chapel of S. Carlo, mentioned in a legacy dated 1626, the church in honour of Cristo Salvatore, and, in the Campia district, the chapel of S. Grato.