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Paleologi Castle is in Acqui Terme; its original structure dates probably back to the late Roman era, although it was largely destroyed by the Huns in 452 AD.

The current building dates back to the XI century and it used to be the residence of the bishops-counts of Acqui until the mid-XIII century. It later became the stronghold of the medieval village of Acqui and the seat of the governors of the city; then, at the end of the XIII century, it became a property of the Paleologi Marquises.
In 1430, the Sforza family from Milan conquered Acqui Terme, along with the castle. Later on, the Marquises of Monferrato acquired the complex and the castle was rebuilt and passed to the Gonzagas of Mantua in 1533. Between the XVI and XVII centuries, it suffered several attacks by the French and the Spaniards who completely destroyed it.

The first reconstruction took place in 1663, the last in 1815, thanks to Vittorio Emanuele I.

Today, the manor houses a museum, known as “the Paleologi”, from the name of the dynasty that retained the dominion over Monferrato for centuries.
In 2001, it was renovated and fitted with an instructional path that goes from prehistory to the Roman period and then to the Middle Ages. The main room recalls the thermal and spa vocation of the city of Acqui, presenting the reconstruction of the ancient “Bollente” fountain.

The garden

The Paleologi castle is surrounded by a garden of about 360 square yards, planted with native tree species or already growing in the surrounding area. One part is dedicated to ornamental plants, while another is used as a “Birdgarden”: a natural oasis for birds, amphibians and small mammals.

The thermal baths of Acqui

The ancient Aquae Statiellae, already known in the second century BC, was a city with impressive structures like the aqueduct, a theatre, an amphitheatre, a forum and the thermal baths. Its thermal waters were so famous that even the historian Pliny mentioned them in details among the best ones of the Roman Empire.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)