The town of Novello lies on the ridge of a hill that slopes gently down towards the Tanaro Valley. The view fanning out over the Langa around Barolo is spectacular, with the splendid vineyards of La Morra, Serralunga d’Alba, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Perno and Monforte d’Alba arrayed like the steps of an amphitheatre.
Novello’s urban layout features public and private buildings arranged in an orderly way along the main street.
Probably already inhabited during Roman times, the settlement was considered a strategic spot for control of the Tanaro Valley and routes towards Alba and the Langhe. It was contested in the Middle Ages by the marquesses of Monferrato and the communes of Asti and Alba. The original castle, enfeoffed to the marquesses of Carretto, was destroyed in the 15th century. The current castle, rising up over the town, is a 19th-century construction by the architect Schellino di Dogliani.
The tower-gate is the most significant remnant of the medieval urban fortifications. The stone walls have brick trim and a single arch. The top was modified in the modern period for use as a belfry. During the 18th century, the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo was built alongside, in baroque style.
