Cinzano, with about 320 inhabitants, is 35 km away from Turin.
Overlooking the gentle valleys of Monferrato, it is situated amidst the green hills of Turin. The last town in the province of Turin, it stands at 495 meters above sea level in an open position, sheltered from winds. At the center of the ridge of hills stretching from Superga towards the Vezzolano Canonica.
Cinzano’s historical core is dominated by the mighty Castle. The Castle, donated by Frederick Barbarossa in 1164 to the Marquises of Monferrato and later to the Marquise Della Chiesa, is now a residential property with a large park. The Parish Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot, dating back to the 10th century, overlooks the main square, offering breathtaking views.
Cinzano, an ancient settlement evidenced by a found arrowhead dating back 2,000-3,000 years before Christ, was also occupied by the Romans. In Roman times, the settlement was crossed by a road that connected Industria (now Monteu da Po, where the archaeological area is worth visiting) to Carreum Potentia (Chieri). Donated by Frederick Barbarossa to the Bishop of Chieri, it was then long contested, due to its strategic position: subjected to Chieri, it passed ownership among various Lords before passing to the Duchy of Savoy in 1631. In the early 1700s, during the war between Piedmont and France, it was occupied by the French. Following Napoleon’s invasion of Piedmont (1796), Cinzano became a stronghold for the Christian group, a personal army of the Austrian major Branda de’ Lucioni, who, along with other similar groups (Biella, Chivasso, Ivrea, Santhià e Novara) defeated the occupiers and captured Turin in 1799.
Places of Interest
The Castle, a fortress of medieval origin evidenced by the layout of the walls and towers – now adapted into a residence – with a large park. Along with the parish church and other related buildings, it forms a separate core from the rest of the settlement of Cinzano. In 1872, the Marquises Della Chiesa, former owners, reacquired the castle and restored it in a neo-medieval style. Count Ernesto di Sambuy, who at the time was also involved in creating the medieval village of Valentino in Turin, was tasked with decorating the interiors and arranging the gardens. Thanks to these works, the castle regained the appearance of an ancient fortification that we can see today. The large central square tower, known as the ‘salt tower,’ and parts of the two lateral towers are the only original structures still preserved today. In the second half of the last century, the castle, damaged by war and neglect, was sold and restored for residential use.
The Parish Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot, located on a hill where the ancient core of Cinzano was situated.
The rectory and the parish theater are directly connected to the last outposts of the castle. The facade, facing west, is finished in cream-colored plaster. On either side of the main door, there are two wooden doors topped by shell-shaped windows.
A commemorative plaque above the central door reads: “D.O.M./DIVO ANTONIO ABATI COMPATRONO DICATI/ FANI HVIVIS PROSPECTUM/ TEMPORUM INIURIA PENE LABENTEM/ PUBLICO SUMPTU/ CINTIANI COMMUNITAS ELEGANTER INSTAURAT/ ANNO SALUTIS MDCCXCII”.
The interior of the church consists of a single nave with a cross vault, opening onto four side chapels.