Authentic jewel of Piedmontese Baroque, built according to the design of the Asti architect Benedetto Alfieri on behalf of the Marquis Tommaso Ghilini. Defined as "the true royal palace of the city," it was sold to the French government in 1805, passed to the Savoy family, and then (since 1869) housed the offices of the Province and Prefecture of Alessandria.