Cantarana is an Italian town of Astesana in the northwestern province of Asti in Piedmont. It consists of two distinct hilly areas divided by the Maggiore valley or Cantarana valley, named after the stream that crosses it. Compact hilly area that tends to the municipalities of Dusino San Michele and Valfenera and where the most populous hamlets of Cantarana arise: the Palazzazzo and the Bricco Grosso. Cantarana was born as a municipality in 1500. In reality, the name of Cantarana had begun to be used as early as 1300 as the center of a vast landed property of the noble Malabayla family from Asti. The Palazzasso is the ancient residence of the Cantarana counts. In ancient times this residence was next to the current mill and was like the latter of medieval origin. But due to the Little Ice Age, like the whole town, it underwent a gradual swamping and was, in 1500, abandoned in favor of the current building. The current structure in the preserved part, despite having undergone some important changes over the centuries, still remembers the original structure today. It was born as a rural residence and in addition to the central residential body it was equipped with farmhouses and stables. On the far left, although remodeled in the first half of the eighteenth century, stands the private chapel dedicated to San Giuseppe. The Malabayla, owners of the castle, were a powerful family of bankers and worked not only for the city of Asti (to which they gave two bishops and many notables) but also in various places in France. More recently the “Palazzasso” was the scene of an episode in the life of the writer Vittorio Alfieri in which, as a boy, playing in the courtyard, he suffered a fall that seriously injured him in the head. Linked to the history of the building is the chapel of San Giuseppe, which preserves a valuable painting of the saint placed above the masonry altar which is the original one. The property then belonged to the Cacherano d’Osasco and Gambini Counts, consists of two main bodies. The first “L” shaped houses the caretaker’s house on two levels and 120 square meters, large and double barn, porch, evacuation room, chapel and stables. The main house on two levels for about 500 square meters houses on the ground floor: entrance, corridors, kitchen, bathroom, dining room and double reception room. On the first floor through an internal staircase, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Large and spectacular cellar, porch and double garage. Large terrace, stone patio and garden in a private courtyard. The property has 2.5 hectares of land around the main building. Main building A2, secondary A4 + C6. The historical details of great value, the dominant position and the construction peculiarity give a unique charm to the property that can now find multiple uses, including commercial ones. Asti 16 km, Turin 40 km. For information: GIEFFE PATRIMONI Real Estate Advisor, Turin – London – Alba – Milan – Rome. (+39) 011 / 76.000.11