Points of Interest
Roero Area
Roero area involves the territory of 23 Municipalities (22 in the
Province of Cuneo and 1 - Cisterna d'Asti - in the Province of Asti),
as well as part of the territories of Alba and Bra. Roero landscape
reflects a complex history going back to the first prehistorical
settlements (Neolithic), to the presence of Liguri people, the Roman
Empire which built a thick road network, fortified centers (the
so-called "Castelleri") and introduced and developed wine growing.
Longobards, Latins, and Saracens left traces in the local toponymy.
In 901, the Bishop of Asti received from the Emperor the 5 parish
churches existing at that time (San Vittore di Canale, San Pietro di
Novelle in Monteu, San Martino di Vezza, San Giovanni di Villa in
Guarene, San Pietro di Piobesi). The spiritual jurisdiction extended to
all the Roero area and to the important woodland called "Nemus Cellar"
or "Silva popularis", going beyond the line of the Rocche from Bra to
Cellarengo. The Bishop's temporary jurisdiction, locally practiced by
lords, was subsequently spoiled by the Commune of Asti, against which
the Lega dell'Astisio formed in 1199.
The settlements at the top of the Rocche developed at the end of the
13th century for defensive needs; they grew more and more for the
abandonment of isolated buildings and parish churches in a period in
which the division of the local power led to uncertain balances and
continuous struggles. In this period, the main noble and middle-class
families from Asti (Malabaila, Alfieri, Solaro, Isnardi, Falletti,
etc.) came on stage. Roero area became involved in the struggles
between the French and the Spanish (1500) during which, on 14th April
1544, Ceresole battle was fought and won by the French of Duke
d'Enghien and the Peace of Crepy was signed. With the restoration
carried out by the Savoia family, Duke Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia
imposed his control over the Roero area, used afterwards as a base of
the operations for the succession to the Monferrato Dukedom. The
struggles between the French, the Spanish and the Savoia family went on
in the following century, and the whole territory suffered from
destruction and sacks. The 18th century gave way to the flourishing of
Piedmont Baroque style, which inspired the architecture of several
churches and buildings, also to the detriment of the previous
Romanesque-style buildings. At the end of the 18th century the French
imposed themselves through a series of events involving all the
southern part of Piedmont, and opened a way to the Napoleonic revenge.
