Costigliole d'Asti – The Parish Church of the Annunciation

A small church dedicated to the Most Holy Annunciation at this site, popularly known as Serra di Givada, has been documented as existing since 1635 (probably built as a votive offering by the inhabitants of the hill following the terrible plague of 1630–1632). Being very small and in poor condition, the population of the nearby farmsteads decided to have it rebuilt. Reconstruction took place between 1669 and 1676 and it was solemnly blessed by the parish priest of Costigliole, Monsignor Carlo Secondo Squillari, on November 5, 1680.

In 1690, a small portico was added to the front of the old church. In 1708, it was further extended, and between 1832 and 1835 a new sacristy and an adjoining house for the chaplain were built. The current church, replacing the previous one, was constructed partly in 1893–1894 (nave) and partly in 1900–1901 (presbytery and choir), at the request of Chaplain Don Alessandro Villa. It was blessed by the Bishop of Asti, Monsignor Arcangeli, on September 8, 1901.

The brick façade is adorned with two marble statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, sculpted by Giovanni Riva of Turin in 1954. The church was designed by local surveyor Pietro Gallino (1836–1900) and built by the construction company of Antonio Andriano from Castagnole delle Lanze. On the left side of the church stands the slender bell tower, erected in 1860.

The spacious interior features fine decoration carried out in 1957–1958 by Carlo Frascaroli of Alessandria, Carlo Valfredi, and Alfonso Occhetti, commissioned by parish priest Don Secondo Borio (who served from 1956 to 1960). The two frescoes flanking the presbytery—The Holy Family and The Supper at Emmaus—were painted by Valfredi in 1958.

On the left side of the presbytery, within a narrow shrine, stands a beautiful sculptural group depicting the Annunciation, which, according to documents, was purchased in 1728. The main altar, made of white marble, was crafted in 1924 by Crivella and Bagnasco of Turin.

The last chapel on the right houses a lovely painting of Saint Isidore the Farmer, dated 1906 and signed by Asti painter Anacleto Laretto (1874–1950). Of particular value is the painting in the choir depicting The Annunciation, painted in 1830 by Agostino Cottolengo (1794–1853) of Bra, as well as another from 1666 representing Saint Anthony the Abbot, which came from a private oratory that no longer exists since 1858, once located in the Bricco Borio area.

The three stained glass windows in the choir, created by the Paolo Gianina company in 1955, are of notable artistic value. A pleasant walk leads to the beautiful rural chapel of Saint Isidore, built in elegant Neo-Baroque style during 1897–1898.