Alba, Piedmont

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Alba
Alba pompeia
Comune
Città di Alba
View of the city of Alba
View of the city of Alba
Alba is located in Italy
Alba
Alba
Location of Alba in Italy
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Province / Metropolitan city Cuneo (CN)
Frazioni Altavilla, Gallo, Madonna di Como, Mussotto d'Alba, Piana Biglini, San Rocco Cherasca, San Rocco Seno d'Elvio, Santa Rosalia, Scaparone
Government
 • Mayor Maurizio Marello (since June 23, 2009)
Area
 • Total 54 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation 172 m (564 ft)
Population (31 December 2011)
 • Total 31,667
 • Density 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Albesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 12051
Dialing code 173
Patron saint St. Lawrence
Saint day August 10
Website Official website
File:AlbaCN0001.jpg
The Cathedral of Alba.
File:AlbaCN0002.jpg
A view of Via Vittorio Emanuele in the center of Alba.

Alba (Latin: Alba Pompeia) is a town and comune of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Cuneo. It is considered the capital of the UNESCO Human Heritage hilly area of Langhe, and is famous for its white truffle, peach and wine production.[1][2] The confectionery group Ferrero is based there.

History

For the ecclesiastical history, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Alba Pompeia#history

Alba's origins date from before the Roman civilization, connected probably to the presence of Celtic and Ligurian tribes in the area.

The modern town occupies the site of ancient Alba Pompeia, the name given after being officially recognized as a town by the Roman consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo while constructing a road from Aquae Statiellae (Acqui) to Augusta Taurinorum (Turin). Alba was the birthplace of Publius Helvius Pertinax, briefly Roman emperor in 193.

After the fall of the Western Empire, the city was repeatedly sacked by Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Byzantines, Lombards, Franks, Hungarians and Saracens. In the 11th century it become a free commune (or city-state) and was a member of the Lombard League. Montferrat and the Visconti fought over the town; later it became a possession of the Gonzaga. Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy conquered it twice, while later France and Spain battled for its possession. The Treaty of Cherasco (1631) assigned Alba definitively to Savoy. During Napoleonic Wars, it was part of Republic of Alba in 1796 and Subalpine Republic, which were French clients before annexing to French Empire in 1802. It was an arrondissement center in firstly Tanaro department between 1802-1805, later in Stura one between 1805-1814 before liberation by Austrian troops. It was returned to Kingdom of Sardinia (Duchy of Savoy's name after gaining Sardinia in 1720) in 1814.

Alba won a Gold Medal for Military Valour for the heroic activity of its citizens in the Italian resistance movement during the course of World War II. On 10 October 1944 the town was liberated by partisans who established a Republic of Alba which for a few weeks was able to maintain its independence from the Fascist Republic of Salò. The republic was lasted to 2 November 1944, when Republic of Salo retook it. It was finally liberated by French troops on 2 May 1945.

Main sights

Of the Roman city, which had a polygonal form, parts of the fortified gate and remains of some edifices with marble and mosaics can still be seen.

Other attractions include:

  • The Palazzo Comunale (13th century, housing a Nativity by Macrino d'Alba of 1501) and the Bishop's Palace.
  • Some towers of the 14th and 15th centuries: Alba was once known as the "City with hundred towers".
  • the Romanesque Alba Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Duomo), built in the 12th century, probably over holy edifices of Roman age. It was restructured in the 15th century, by bishop Andrea Novelli, and again in the following centuries. The current appearance is from the controversial restoration of the 19th century, of which the three portals and the crypt are from the original edifice. The church is well known for its wood-carved chorus made in 1512 by Bernardino Fossati. The current belfry, from the 12th century, includes entirely the original bell tower.
  • The Gothic church of San Domenico (13th through 14th centuries), the most artistically relevant church in town. It has a noteworthy portal with a triple arch within a pointed arch, a polygonal apse and traces of Renaissance frescoes. During the Napoleonic Wars it was used a stable, and was reconsecrated on 22 June 1827.
  • The Baroque church of St. John the Baptist, housing a Madonna of the Graces (1377) by Barnaba da Modena and a Madonna with Saints (1508) by Macrino d'Alba.

The city museums include the F. Eusebio Municipal Museum of Archaeology and Natural Science.

Economy

In addition to traditional agriculture, Alba is a very important center of wine. In the area of Alba, in fact, there are 290 wineries that cultivate an area of 700 hectares (1,700 acres) of land, producing an average of 61,200 hL of wine annually.[3]

The wines of Alba are among the most renowned in Italy and are divided into:

The city has a thriving economy, boasting the confectionery industry's world-renowned Ferrero, the publishing house Società San Paolo and the textile firm Miroglio.

The town also houses the largest cooperative credit bank of Italy, by number of partners, the Banca d'Alba, and the international food chain Eataly. UniEuro, the Italian chain of stores specializing in household electrical appliances and acquired by Dixons Retail in 2002, was also established in Alba.

Alba is also famous worldwide for its white truffles, and its annual Truffle Festival.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Alba has a humid subtropical climate which is moderated by the proximity of the Mediterranean sea. Its winter are warmer, January is usually 5 °C (41 °F), and its summers are hot, where temperature can reach 35 °C (95 °F). Rain falls mostly during the spring and autumn; during the hottest months rain is less common, July with 43 mm (2 in) and August with 51 mm (2 in). During November and December, the town of Alba can be prone to fog.

Climate data for Alba
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.6
(56.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 22.8
(73)		 26.6
(79.9)		 28.8
(83.8)		 27.4
(81.3)		 23.6
(74.5)		 18.2
(64.8)		 11.8
(53.2)		 6.4
(43.5)		 17.53
(63.56)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)		 3.6
(38.5)		 8.6
(47.5)		 12.9
(55.2)		 17.2
(63)		 21.3
(70.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 22.1
(71.8)		 18.6
(65.5)		 13.5
(56.3)		 8.2
(46.8)		 3.0
(37.4)		 12.82
(55.08)
Average low °C (°F) −2.0
(28.4)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 3.6
(38.5)		 7.8
(46)		 11.6
(52.9)		 16.0
(60.8)		 17.6
(63.7)		 16.8
(62.2)		 13.6
(56.5)		 8.9
(48)		 4.6
(40.3)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 8.12
(46.62)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 53
(2.09)		 51
(2.01)		 86
(3.39)		 113
(4.45)		 124
(4.88)		 87
(3.43)		 43
(1.69)		 51
(2.01)		 76
(2.99)		 107
(4.21)		 93
(3.66)		 64
(2.52)		 948
(37.33)
[citation needed]

Sport

The town’s football club, A.S.D. Albese Calcio has been in existence since 1917.

Quality of life

In 2009 Alba was the 1st Italian Comune with more than ten thousands inhabitants for Quality of life.

Notable natives and residents

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See also: Category:People from Alba, Piedmont

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Alba is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ VinoStore.it
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Sources and external links

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