Piedmontese Apennines

<< Piedmont

The southern and eastern part of the Province of Alessandria is occupied by hills and mountains, and includes the northernmost section of the Apennines. Here are the historical regions of Acquese, Ovadese, Novese, and Tortonese, centered around the towns of Acqui Terme, Ovada, Novi Ligure, and Tortona respectively. Various towns in this area house interesting historic attractions.

Tortona

Tortona is a city located in the eastern portion of the Province of Alessandria. Originally a Ligurian village called Dertona, it later became a flourishing Roman colony. For centuries it remained the most important city in the region, and in the Middle Ages it was the seat of a bishopric and then a free comune. Destroyed after a siege by Frederick Barbarossa in 1155, it was quickly rebuilt, but it was dominated by various local powers. After almost four centuries under the rule of Milan, it joined the Duchy of Savoy in the 18th century. The city became an industrial center after the unification of Italy.

Abbey of Santa Maria di Rivalta

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Rivalta (Abbazia di Santa Maria di Rivalta) is a medieval abbey located near Rivalta Scrivia, a hamlet just south of Tortona. The abbey was founded in the 12th century, and its church is an example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The complex hosts various ancient frescoes, paintings, and other artworks.

Il Divisionismo

Il Divisionismo is the name of an art gallery in Tortona dedicated to the Divisionism, an art style that was popular in Italy in the late 19th and early 20th century. The museum houses several paintings by some of the most prominent Divisionist artists of that period.

Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia

The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia is a 20th-century church in Tortona. This church is a site of pilgrimage as it hosts the remains of Saint Luigi Orione, but it is also known for the imposing 14-meter-tall statue of Saint Mary that adorns the top of the bell tower.

Novi Ligure

Novi Ligure is a city located at the foot of the hills in the Province of Alessandria. The town emerged as a free comune during the Late Middle Ages. After being contested for centuries, it was mostly ruled by Genoa until 1797. In the 19th century the city was moved from Liguria to Piedmont, but it was given the suffix “Ligure” to underline its link with the region.

Museo dei Campionissimi

The Museo dei Campionissimi is a museum focused on the history of cycling. The exhibition includes a section on the history of the bicycle in general, but it is mostly dedicated to Fausto Coppi and Costante Girardengo, two famous cyclists born in the Province of Alessandria.

Serravalle Scrivia

Serravalle Scrivia is a small town among the hills in the Province of Alessandria, located along the Scrivia river. The ancient Roman town of Libarna was located nearby, while the current city emerged during the Middle Ages. Now it is known as a link between the Po Valley and Liguria.

Archaeological Area of Libarna

Libarna was originally a Ligurian settlement, which later became a flourishing Roman colony. The town was hit by Barbarian invasions during the fall of the Roman Empire, and it was abandoned in 452. Some ruins of the ancient city have been unearthed, including a theater, an amphitheater, and a few more buildings.

Gavi

Gavi is a small town among the hills south of Novi Ligure, in the Province of Alessandria. The town features various historic landmarks, and it is best known for its large fortress.

Fort of Gavi

The Fort of Gavi (Forte di Gavi) is a large fortress located on a hill overlooking Gavi. Originally built as a medieval castle, it was later slowly expanded and reworked into a fortress under the rule of Genoa. After being decommissioned in the 19th century, it was used as a prison, and now it serves as a museum.

Acqui Terme

Acqui Terme is a town among the hills in the Province of Alessandria, known for its thermal springs and its wine. The hot waters of Acqui Terme were already known during the Roman period, when the town was among the most important spas in the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages it was the seat of a bishopric and then a free comune. After being ruled by various local powers, it became part of the Duchy of Savoy and then Italy.

La Bollente

La Bollente is a 19th-century monument located in the center of Acqui Terme, and a symbol of the city. The decorated pavilion is placed on the site of a hot thermal spring where the waters can reach a temperature of 75°C, hence its name, meaning “the boiling one”.

Acqui Terme Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Acqui Terme Cathedral (Duomo di Acqui Terme) is a church built in the 11th century, and the main religious site of Acqui Terme. Originally erected in Romanesque style, it was later reworked and its interiors were adorned with Baroque decorations. The church hosts various interesting artworks, including the 15th-century triptych of the Madonna di Montserrat by Spanish painter Bartolomé Bermejo.

Palaiologos Castle

The Palaiologos Castle (Castello dei Paleologi) is a castle originally built in the Late Middle Ages, and reworked under the rule of William VIII, Marquis of Montferrat, a member of the Palaiologos family. The castle now hosts an archaeological museum hosting a collection of local findings.