A castle in Piedmont, along the streets of ancient Rome: a walk in Pozzolo Formigaro
If we got here a little 'of years ago, around 140 BC, we would probably come a Roman consular roads bordering the municipality: the way Postojna, also called "Strabo Emperor", which runs from the east, or Via Aemilia Scauri the west, known as "Sunrise Way." The same historical center of Pozzolo Formigaro located on the Via Quintana, demonstrating the strategic importance that the council had since ancient times.
Today, just an hour by motorway from Milan to get here, just like we did with the intention of spending a beautiful day out. Exit at Novi Ligure, a few km to the city whose name derives from "Pozzoli", places along the rivers where once gathered in small colonies to cultivate the land and digging wells to drink.
Our walk starts from the most important monument of the town, the Castle, which shows how this city, which today won the tourist with its tranquility, was once the center of many events of the war rather than ferocious. Pozzolo Castle, perched atop a terrace alluvial plain view, and is part of the circuit Open Castles of Piedmont. It was built in 1092 by Tortona, and for seven centuries, this fortified village represented a valuable bulwark against the expansionism nell'Oltregiogo Genovese. After the destruction of Tortona by Frederick I Barbarossa, the castle came under the rule of the Emperor, then return to its rightful owners thanks to Obizzo Malaspina recaptured with the help of the Milanese. Testimony to centuries of eventful history, rather, the castle now houses the Town Hall and in its interior, as well as the frescoes, which were originally in the Church of Our Lady of Ghiare, even a wooden Madonna in the fifteenth century.
If the roads in Roman times around Pozzolo Formigaro were of primary importance, so it was even in more recent eras, thanks to those who have traveled on two wheels: the champions of cycling Fausto Coppi and Costante Girardengo, both born in a very short distance from here, (Coppi and Girardengo Castellania in Novi Ligure, where the Museum of Champions), have often trained along the roads linking the neighboring municipalities. They were instead just Pozzolo Formigaro Franco and Nino Rota, famous journalists of cycling. The namesake of the famous composer was for many years cycling journalist at the BBC.
During our walk we admired many beautiful churches such as the Parish of St. Nicholas, the Parish of St. Bishop Martino and the two speakers, the Assumption and St. Trinity, also known as the "Whites Beaten" and "beat Rossi," according to the color of the hoods of their brethren. Chatting with the locals, we learned that an important altarpiece dedicated to Saint Sebastian, consisting of ten boards and from the Church of Ghiare, is preserved at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore.
We are in the historical-artistic for our dinner, choosing the Villa Roma restaurant in Novi Road. As the name implies, it is a beautiful villa of the early twentieth century, restored to its former glory with a careful renovation that took place about five years ago by the owners. "Because I'm Tuscan Tuscan cuisine and do in Piedmont, and this choice is also appreciated by the groups that arrive by bus as well as families who choose this location for weddings and communions," he tells the owner, Mr. Rino. We do not make any effort to imagine what we went through the garden going, would be the ideal place for the buffet during the summer. "Traditions do not touch. We are of the opinion that the polenta and polenta, stew and stews. These dishes are prepared as necessary to prepare them for hundreds of years without change. At the limit, to be lighter, you can eat smaller portions, "here is pretty clear philosophy of the restaurant. After the rich appetizer of the house, we continue with the four cheese risotto and champagne, while our friends take the ravioli del plin, with a sauce of braised beef. In the second choice of our group is divided between the cost Chianina beef, stew and braised sliced ??Fassone, all cooked at the time, as well as the desserts, all homemade. Let's water the goodness of this tradition with the best Piedmontese and Tuscan wines such as Chianti, Barbera and Dolcetto d'Ovada.
The summer is upon us and as we found in Pozzolo Formigaro right, I'll definitely stop here during the summer, when we return from the sea.
Frances Bertha
FOR INFORMATION:
www.comunepozzolo.it
Villa Roma Restaurant
Via Novi, 20 Pozzolo Formigaro (AL)
0143/419204