"Porta Rossa" palace

It was built during the 1600s by the Frico family, who enjoyed great consideration from the nobles of the time. Many members of the family had undertaken military careers, holding important positions. The last member of the lineage, Giovanni Antonio Frico, responsible for the defense of the fiefdom of Diano d'Alba, sold the palace to the Abbado family.

Carlo Giuseppe Abbado was a very good doctor, who also treated those who could not afford to pay him.

In 1830 a cholera epidemic broke out. Doctor Abbado had a hospital built adjacent to the chapel of San Calogero, in an area far from the town, thus saving hundreds of people from contagion. The Abbado family coat of arms is still visible on the central railing of the balcony.

Coat of arms of Michele Abbado

The last member of the Abbado Michele family put the property up for sale which was purchased by Gustavo Castellazzo, an anticlerical of liberal inspiration who was later mayor of Diano for a long time. In the seventies, the building acquired the name "Porta Rossa" (red door) thanks to the new ownership of the Berzia family who founded the winery of the same name with the collaboration of the famous oenologist Luigi Artusio.

Photo depicting the ancient square, the church of Sant'Anna and the palace

Until 1930 there was the chapel of Sant'Anna on the main square. Today the Vicolo Sant'Anna also known as "Archirun" remains because, being very narrow, the carts had to exit going "backwards". Once upon a time there was no road next to the palace. CG Abbado had it opened in 1803 to reach his Moncolombetto farmhouse, and he also donated to the Municipality a part of his private courtyard adjacent to the Palace which became the current Piazza Trento e Trieste.