Canossa Palace

This monumental building, which makes up all of one side of the piazza of the same name, dates back to the restoration of a 16th-century mansion owned by the Alberigi family, which was later purchased by the Canossas in 1659. They were a family of Veronese descent and very obliquely related to the famous medieval dynasty that ruled Mantua. In the 17th century, they obtained the domain of Calliano nel Monferrato and the title of Marquis from the Gonzagas. The new appearance of the building, which remains the same today, can be dated back to 1675, although the entrance door, featuring dogs - the emblem of the family - carved in marble, is from the 18th century. But the 16th century origins of the building are supported by the fact that the current ashlar-work, which characterises the two large façades, drew on inspiration from the underlying ashlar of Romano influence. The design of the windows can also be attributed to the age of architectural mannierism. The building as a whole therefore takes on the appearance of a singular union of Mannerist styles that developed during the Baroque period.