L’antico castello di Alba: studi per la conservazione e la valorizzazione di un sito archeologico

The former hospital S. Lazzaro of Alba (CN), built at the end of the eighteenth century, conceals in the basement some remains of the ancient castle; a defensive structure used mainly as a military garrison. The building was created near the historical layout of the defensive walls of Alba Pompeia, already attested by the 1st century B.C. and later transformed during the Middle Ages. The structure of the ancient castle, depicted in the drawing of Alba in Theatrum Sabaudiae (1682), has a regular plan, with a central courtyard and four circular towers at the corners. In the last two centuries, this portion of the old town, has undergone a radical urban transformation, with changes in soil elevation, destruction of buildings and new reconstructions. These have contributed significantly to erasing the image of the castle that now has disappeared from the urban fabric. The extension of the hospital, through a long series of excavations, has brought out some archaeological ruins known by the superintendency of cultural heritage but completely unknown to the community. Starting three years ago, with the relocation of the hospital, the local authorities started a redevelopment project of the area, with the re-functionalization of the historical parts of the hospital structure and the demolition and subsequent rebuilding of the structure built during the economic boom without any architectural interest. Therefore, in the light of the above, the contribution proposes a strategy of conservation and enhancement, that with a careful project could create a dedicated cultural path, to highlight a significant historical milestone of the town, which remains relatively unknown general public.