Castello di San Cristoforo

piazzale Carpeneto Spinola - 15060 San Cristoforo (AL)
Tel. +39 338.335.9855
Tel. +39 (0143) 682.260
Tel. +39 (0143) 682.120
E-mail: info@comune.sancristoforo.al.it

The origins of S. Cristoforo date back to the Augustan Age, and it is crossed by one of the Empire's minor road networks. Due to its strategic role, a tall solid tower, called Torre del Gazzolo, was built here in the 10th century. According to some, the tower was part of a monitoring system which had the purpose of signalling by lit fires at its top the incursions of the Saracens from the Ligurian Sea. In the 14th century, the castle is built around the Tower. The complex is located at the centre of the town and surrounded by walls, which enclose the castle with its nearby buildings: Casa Lunga, Forestiera, Parco and the Parish Church. The castle is an elegant keep characterised by a tower, rework of the 10th century tower. Another fortification is added in the 15th century and its shape has remained the same. The layout is regular quadrilateral and incorporates the pre-existing tower in the corner, flush with the new façade of the castle, making the construction phases clear to see. The entrance is defended by a courtyard of weapons, outside the wall block. The pedestrian door leads to a small courtyard and then a bridge, probably originally a drawbridge, which takes to the ashlar door to access the construction. The interior is structured around the small courtyard, the buildings occupy three sides, the fourth contains the entrance to access the palazzo. The castle is tangent to a lower and wider fortified circle, enclosing the stables, servants’ lodgings, chapel and a small Italian-style garden. Casa Lunga is a 15th century building and had several purposes including that of cellar, fermentation room, pressing chamber. The 15th century Forestiera was used to accommodate guests and strangers and forms the eastern part of the complex. On two floors, the first preserves a walled-up passageway that connected the church to the castle, used by the castle dwellers to reach the interior of the parish church directly, from where behind a grate they could take part in the religious function without being seen.