Alessandria

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Alessandria

Alessandria (Lisandria in Piedmontese) is a city in Piedmont, Italy, and the capital of the Province of Alessandria. The city is sited on the river Tanaro, 55 miles southeast of Turin.

Alessandria is also a major railroad hub.

History

Alessandria was founded in 1168 upon a preexisting urban nucleus, to serve as a stronghold for the Lombard League, defending the traditional liberties of the communes of northern Italy against the Imperial forces of Frederick Barbarossa. Alessandria stood in the territories of the marchese of Monferrato, a staunch ally of the Emperor, with a name assumed in 1168 to honor the Emperor's opponent, Pope Alexander III. In 1174–75 the fortress was sorely tested by Imperial siege and stood fast. A legend (related in Umberto Eco's book Baudolino) says it was saved by a quick-witted peasant, Gagliaudo: he fed his cow with the last grain remaining within the city, then took it outside the city walls until he reached the Imperial camp. Here he was captured, and his cow cut open to be cooked: when the Imperials found the cow's stomach filled with grain, Gagliaudo was asked the reason to waste such a rich meal. He answered that he was forced to feed his cow with grain because there was such a lot of it, and no room to place it within the city. The Emperor, fearing that the siege would last too long, left Alessandria free. (Malaria was probably the real cause of his departure.) A statue of Gagliaudo can be found on the left corner of the city cathedral. Alessandria was granted a charter as a free commune in 1198, but entered into jealous conflicts with the older communes of the region, in particular with Asti.

In 1348 Alessandria fell into the hands of the Visconti and passed with their possessions to the Sforza, following the career of Milan, until 1707, when it was ceded to the House of Savoy and henceforth formed part of Piedmont.

With Napoleon's success at the Battle of Marengo (1800), it fell to France and became the capital of the Napoleonic Département of Marengo. From 1814 Alessandria was Savoyard territory once more, part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

During the years of the Risorgimento, Alessandria was an active center of the liberals.

In a suburb, Spinetta Marengo, the Battle of Marengo is reenacted annually, on June 14.

Alessandria was the first capital of an Italian province to be governed by a Socialist: the clockmaker Paolo Sacco was elected sindaco. July 25, 1899.

Alessandria was a tactical military target during World War II and was subjected to intense Allied bombing, the most serious being the raids of April 30, 1944, with 238 dead and hundreds wounded, and April 5, 1945, with 160 deaths, among them 60 children from the children's asylum in Via Gagliaudo (when the town had already been freed by the partisans).

On November 6, 1994 the Tanaro flooded a good part of the city, causing major damage, especially in the Orti quarter.

Events

Battle of Marengo
Fraskettando SkaBluesJazz Festival official web site. Band who played included The Blues Brothers Band, Eddie Floyd, Soft Machine, Mick Abrahams & Clive Bunker and other. Period: 6, 7, 8 July.
International Rally "Madonnina dei Centauri".official web site

Visiting Alessandria

Localities to visit include the Morbello commune with activities including hiking, mountain biking, wineries and farmstead bed-and-breakfasts.

People born in Alessandria

Umberto Eco, writer
Carlo Carrà, painter
Giovanni Migliara, painter
Angelo Morbelli, painter
Urbano Rattazzi, statesman of the Risorgimento
Gianni Rivera, footballer

Museums

The Marengo Battle Museum

External links

The official website of the city council
Guide to Alessandria city - Information, phone numbers and useful link