The town's name is attributed to the noble families that ruled the territory, the Alfius and the Natta. It is a small town in the province of Alexandria, whose territory borders to those of the city of Asti and consists of a number of villages and districts. Located in Val Versa, on the hill Montebaldo, from its privileged position, the town overlooks a beautiful surrounding environment with picturesque corners and features a series of trails through the stony hills, where it is possible to admire several rare species of plants. The town is predominantly devoted to agriculture, particularly to viticulture, which is a basic source for the local economy with the production of fine wines. Alfiano is also famous for the presence of mineral water springs.
The first official confirmation of the presence of a settlement in the area dates from the Carolingian period.
The village was a fief of the Marquises of Montferrat between the X and XI centuries and was granted to some local noble families, such as: the Alfiano Guala, at the death of their last heir it was ceded to Secondo Visconti, who donated the rule to the family Natta. The latter ruled here between the XV and the second half of the XVIII centuries, until the territories were annexed to the Kingdom of the Savoy and became part of the province of Casale, till 1798, the year of the fall of the old regime in Piedmont.
Not to miss:
- the Church of San Marzano, dating from the XVII century, features a classical façade, entirely in brick, divided into two quadrants, with niches and a large tympanum and frescoes by the painter Guglielmo Caccia, an artist born nearby Moncalvo. The Bell tower, located at the rear, is surmounted by a spire and adorned with a locally crafted clock;
- the Chapel of St. Defendente in the district of Cardona, which features a masterpiece of the local artist Guglielmo Caccia;
- the ruins of the ancient Castle, located in a dominant position over the town;
- the Castle of Razzano in the district of Casarello, a medieval building which was converted into a residential district in the late XVII century;
- two busts of the Roman Ages, situated near the church of St. Eusebius in Cardona.