Cairo Montenotte Castle, Medieval fortress in Cairo Montenotte, Italy.

Cairo Montenotte Castle, also called Del Carretto-Scarampi Castle, stands on the height above the town of Cairo Montenotte in the upper Bormida valley. It was probably built between the 11th and 12th centuries as a fortress-residence for the Del Carretto family, controlling the road known as Magistra Langarum toward Cortemilia, Alba and Asti. After the sieges of 1625 and 1627 only some ruins of the old residence remain.

Built probably between the 11th and 12th centuries, the castle became the seat of Ottone Del Carretto after the division of his father Enrico I's lands. In 1214 Marquis Ottone I ceded his lands to the Republic of Genoa in exchange for official investiture. In 1322 the estates passed to Manfredo IV of Saluzzo, then between 1337 and 1339 to the Asti family Scarampi, who adapted the castle as their residence. The sieges of 1625 and 1627 left only ruins of the old Carretto residence.

The fortress reflects how medieval Ligurian lords used stone structures to display power and control over the valley below. Walking through the ruins today shows how important this position was for the region's defense network.

The path to the castle starts from Cairo Montenotte's town center and follows marked routes up the hillside. You can park at the base and walk from there to reach the ruins at the top.

The castle is also called Del Carretto-Scarampi to distinguish it from the nearby Castellazzo and the castle in the Carretto hamlet. A popular legend tells that in 1213 Francis of Assisi visited Ottone I's court and healed his deaf-mute daughter; the marquis then founded the Franciscan convent where the Del Carretto family had burial rights.