In the picturesque setting of the hills of the ancient Marquisate of Saluzzo, you will find Castello della Manta, a splendid residence with many exquisite frescoes. Legend has it that the rooms of this castle are haunted by as many as three ghosts. The first is the spirit of a noblewoman, the White Lady. She wanders through the rooms on the third floor, still smelling of jasmine, her favourite essence. The second ghost wanders around restlessly during the night, and it is said to be the spirit of a young man who cannot rest over the loss of his sweetheart. The third spirit can be felt in the castle cellars; it belongs to a peasant girl, crying over the untimely death of her fiancé.

You can continue the ghost hunt by reaching the Roccolo Castle in Busca. This is an aristocratic residence in neo-Gothic style built from 1831 onwards by Marquis Tapparelli d'Azeglio. Here children are enchanted by the story of Melania, daughter of the noble owners, whose good spirit still wanders around at night waiting for her beloved husband to return. The castle grounds fascinate everyone, young and old alike.  The memorial stone dedicated to Melania, the small church, the grotto, the pond and the panoramic terrace make it a truly enchanted place.

Moving on to Fossano, you will find the large square where the Castle of the Princes of Acaja stands. Formerly a fortress, it has four angular towers that rise skywards, designed to protect the town. Here the Tourist Office is the starting point for guided tours. The route winds its way through the rooms of the manor house, up to the top of the viewing towers and along the patrol walkways. The themes include the historical figure of Bona di Savoia, Duchess of Milan and widow of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, who was forced to live the last years of her life within the mighty walls of the manor house. Legend has it that her spirit has never left the building, and some of the people of Fossano swear they have seen her look out of the windows of the high towers.

The legends continue at the Royal Castle of Valcasotto, in the territory of Garessio, in the Tanaro Valley. The music room houses a painting attributed to the school of the Flemish portrait painter Van Dyck depicting a woman dressed in black. At nightfall, the ghost of the Lady in Black roams the halls of the Savoy residence prophesying doom and gloom to the poor wretches she encounters.