Libretto Percorsi Inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 1
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libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 1 • The Medieval Period • The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century • The Eighteenth Century • The Nineteenth Century • The Twentieth Century • Monuments Alessandria Walks thrOuGh HistOry Città di Alessandria al turismo e promozione della città Assessorato Assessorato alla cultura libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 2 How to get to Alessandria Santhià Santhià Gravellona Toce Casale Milano Monferrato A26 A2 Valenza Piacenza Torino A21 Tortona ALESSANDRIA Acqui Novi Terme Ligure A7 Ovada A26 Genova Voltri Alessandria WALKS thrOuGh HistOry Città di Alessandria Assessorato al turismo e promozione della città Assessorato alla cultura Many of the more important places mentioned in these walks have a detailed sign in front of them giving further information (in Italian) This is to enable the visitor and residents to get the most out of their visits. libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 3 This booklet, drawn up by the Council’s Tourism and Heritage department contains descriptions of the town’s most important monuments and sites. There are six chapters which span a period of roughly 1,000 years from the tenth century to the present day. The Council who decided in 1997 to enhance its cultural and historical heritage were given invaluable help from the local Rotary Club and the “Città Nuova” association. The aim of this booklet is to make both residents and tourists aware of how Alessandria has changed through the ages. index The Medieval Period walk 1 page 2 The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century walk 2 page 6 The Eighteenth Century walk 3 page 8 The Nineteenth Century walk 4 page 16 The Twentieth Century walk 5 page 22 Monuments walk 6 page 28 Ufficio cultura del Comune di Alessandria Telefono 0131 40035 - 0131 43140 [email protected] IAT info Telefono 0131 234794 [email protected] libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 4 The Medieval Per The Medievvia a Re o r a CITTADELLA largo n Catania gnot p.zza Divina a Provvidenza via Rossini spalto Rovereto T viale Milite I e lungotanaro Solferino m via Giordano Bruno via S.M.Castello via Milazzo u p.zza i Gobetti F via p.zza 1 via Guasco Casale S.Stefano via Milano via Verona p.zza via Mazzini S.Rocco via Vochieri via Schiavina p.tta 6 via Venezia lungotanaro S. Martino S.Lucia 2 via Alessandro III via Plana via Lumelli 5 via Savonarola C.so Virginia Marini p.zza via Ghilini s Carducci 4 p. palto Borgoglio zza della p.tta Libertà via Dante Lega p.zza via Rattazzi spalto Borgoglio via Pontida Turati via Faa di Bruno via Bergamo via Parma Cavallotti via XXIV Maggio Roma corso v corso 3 corso 7 via Marsala Crimea via S. Lorenzo piazzale Curiel via S.F. d’Assisi via S. G. d. Vittoria Stazione F.S. piazza Marconi via Cavour piazza Garibaldi corso Cento Cannoni The Medieval Period 2 libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 5 eriod walk 1 vi al Period a Rettoria 1 The Church of St Mary of the Castle viale Michel 2 The House of “Gli Umiliati” 3 The former church of St Francis nza 4 Palatium Vetus 5 The Church of St Mary Carmine e Ignoto 6 The Inviziati Palace Milit 7 The Church of St James of the victory 8 The Stortiglioni Tower (Marengo) via Galimberti via Scassi 9 Casalbagliano Castle (Casalbagliano) spalto Marengo The Medieval walk begins in the Rovereto district, in the heart of town,with the Church of St Mary of the Castle,which dates to the 9th century. The town core,which sprang up in 1168, came about through a joining up of zia the already existing military garrison with the via Burgonzio adjoining dwellimgs of Gamondio, Marengo and Borgoglio, the latter lying on the other side of the River Tanaro. At that time,the town housed many important religious orders, which duly led via Claro to the building of St Francis’ church, the Carmine church and St Peter’s cathedral. Thanks to the river Tanaro many small trades sprang up such as the fulling and dying of wool. Montello via These were principally carried out by the monks .so Lamarmora c via Marengo and residents of the “Casa degli Umiliati” They via Oberdan set up no less than 5 mills, of which remains the so called “Umiliati”s’ dye works. This town could not help but be economically affected but the nearby Lombardy region as it lay midway between this rich Duchy and the major Meditteranean seaport of Genoa. palto Gamondio s 3 libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 6 The Church of St Mary of the Castle piazza S.Maria di Castello 1 9th century Thius church figured as early as 1107 in a charter and was part of the Rovereto garrison from which the town sprung. Of architectural note: the remains of walls from two earlier buildings a first dating back to the very beginning of the Medieval period A church with courtroom (8-9th The Church of St Mary of the Castle century) a second of triabsidal design dating back to Charlemagne’s time. House of the humble via Lumelli, 13-17 2 12th century This is the last remaining site of what were originally five belonging to this religious order. This order came into being towards the end of the 11th century and was one of the most important sites in the town. Inside: important remains of middle age workshops, amongst which “il Tinaio degli Umiliati” (the dyeworks) with its earthenware columns were such activities as the dying and fulling of wool and cloth were carried out. The former church of St Francis The former church of St Francis via XXIV Maggio, 5 3 13/14th century Site of the Franciscan order, it was completed in 1314 Its original church layout was altered in the seventeenth century with the addition of partition walls when it was turned into a military hospital. Of particular note are the polychrome vaults and the remaining signs of the “Madonna with child and two angels” fresco which dates back to the first half of the fourteenth century. Palatium Vetus piazza Libertà, via Migliara, 28 4 12th century Built around 1170 it was the centre of local government in medieval times, it housed the podestà (the ruling class). It used to Palatium Vetus stretch as far as Via Migliara and Via dei Martiri. Inside: a fourteenth century Mgistrates Courtroom, arcades and a fresco featuring Saint Paul. In the course of time this building as undergone sweeping alterations, firstly for military reasons and subsequently it became a private dwelling. The Church of St Mary’s Carmine Church via dei Guasco 5 1200 circa Containing three aisles,this church was built by the Carmelite order in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It was subsequently enlarged in 1466 when a cloister was added. It was restored towards the middle of the nineteenth century in late gothic style. Inside: Madonna del Rosario (16th century) Polyptych of Crucifixion and St Lucia standing between Saint Barbara and Saint Agatha (14 The Church of St Mary’s Carmine Church th century) Tryptych showing Saint Theresa and Crucifix (18th century). The Medieval Period 4 libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 7 Inviziati Palace, the Bishop’s seat via Vescovado, 1 6 15th century Originally built in the fifteenth century by Nicolaio, a member of a very important merchant family, he himself was both a man of action and trade.The lacunar ceiling is particularly noteworthy (It dates back to at least 1494) In the ground floor rooms (which house the Diocese’s offices) past Inviziati Palace, the Bishop’s seat bishops’ portraits may be seen. The Church of St James of the Victory via S.Giacomo della Vittoria 7 14th century Built in 1391, following the battle in which Alessandria’s army led by Jacopo del Verme and Andreino Trotti successfully overcome the French troups led by the Count of Armagnac. Inside: “Madonna del latte” (Our lady suckling child) 1395, thought to have been painted by the painter from Lodi known as “Maestro di Ada Negri”. Santhià Santhià Gravellona Toce Casale Milano Monferrato Madonna del latte Valenza Piacenza Torino ALESSANDRIA 8 Tortona 9 Acqui Novi Terme Ligure Ovada Genova Stortiglioni Tower Voltri Marengo (AL) 8 13th century Stortiglioni Tower Built in Medieval times by the Stortiglioni family in the ancient settlement of Marengo. It is now linked by popular tradition to the name of the Longabard queen Teodolinda. Casalbagliano Castle Casalbagliano (AL) 9 13 –17th century The thirteenth century tower was used as a starting point for an elegant seventeenth century residence which was later enhanced by the works of of Carlo Caniggia and Francesco Mensi. In the course of time, the ownership of the castle passed from one family to another. Bagliani, Inviziati, Petitti and finally the Parravicini. This latter family gave it up and it became a military hospital during the first world war and subsequently regional H.Q. of P.N.F .Its abandonment during the last 45 years has led to a state of dereliction in which the surrounding Casalbagliano Castle walls became dilapidated and disappeared. Its once beautiful and verdant garden has met the same fate. The Medieval Period 5 libretto percorsi inglese 21-04-2008 17:06 Pagina 8 TheThe SixteenthSixteenth and an Sde There are very few remaining vestiges of the “Sumptuous palaces and the verdant splendour of their gardens” of the churches and the imposing fortifications built by Pompeo Rebutti.