“The origins of the present day village can be identified in the “fundus” of the well-known gens Cornelia, which rose up among the plains with relation to the Roman route which from Alba stretched to Turin through Sommariva Perno, a brief distance from that which connected Asti to Pollenzo through Piobesi .  Archeological evidence, among which a sepolcral stele belonging to the Cesii family, are proof of  the relative importance of the settlement of that age.

The Bishop of Asti, from the X century , has a precocious interest in the area, in relation to the nearby parish of S.Peter in Piobesi, but at the same time the possession of the abbeys of Breme and Nonantola are noted.

The formation of free comunes rediscovers the importance of Corneliano as a crossroads of the area and for its practicability:  on high rose the mighty castle, which also favoured the transfer of the inhabitants to the slopes of its hill.  The new lords of the castle – “de Montaldo” e “ de Corneliano” – at the beginning of the XIII century sided up with the Astisio League, on the side of Alba and against Asti.   In this century-old antagonism, Corneliano  represents a strong point, advancing on Alba on the left of the Tanaro.

The dominion of the De Braida starts in 1262, firstly in the precints of the commune of Alba, then halfway through the XIV century in the county of Asti and finally that of the Savoy in the XVI century.  In 1459 these feudatories are flanked by the Mastorgio followed by the Romagnano of Santa Vittoria in 1471.  In the XVII century, the De Brayda being extinct, there is the presence in the feud of the Mathis of Bra and the Peres Binelli.

The long wars of the first half of the XVI century ruin the habitat and fortifications of the castle, of which remain today only the elegant  decagonal tower and imposing remains of the retaining walls which sustained the level ground on which rose the homes of the feudal lords.  The original manuscript of the statutes of 1415-16 are still preserved privately.