Bastia Mondovì
Discovering Bastia Mondovì
Hello friends! Today I want to introduce you to a small town in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont: Bastia Mondovì. This town has only 637 inhabitants and is located on a hill, near the confluence of the Ellero stream and the Tanaro river, which characterizes it with its course and its numerous bends.
Physical Geography of Bastia Mondovì
Bastia Mondovì extends over an area of 11.97 km², but most of its territory is made up of numerous hamlets, locations or scattered houses inhabited or not, that surround the historic center. The municipality's territory is mainly hilly and is crossed by the Tanaro river. It is located at the foot of the Langhe and constitutes an important gateway to the Langa Monregalese area.
Origins of the Name Bastia Mondovì
The name of the town has undergone many variations over time, in relation to historical events. From the oldest documents, we know that the town was called "Parish of San Martino" and "de Alma", indicating the civil settlement. In the eleventh century, with a document, the rights over "Castrum et Villa Caraxonis" were granted to the bishop of Asti, Ottone, and the name of the town was "Caraxonis" or Carassone. In the twelfth century, the name "Bastia Caraxoni" appears for the first time, indicating a fortification made of beams and boards, called "battifolli". From here derives the name of the municipality Battifollo near Bastia Mondovì.
History of Bastia Mondovì
The territory of Bastia Mondovì has a very ancient history closely linked to the Pieve of Santa Maria di Carassone, which dates back to the VI century-VII century. At this time, there was already a fortified nucleus in Carassone-Villero, built on a natural spur protected by the Tanaro river. In the thirteenth century, the lords of Carassone built a bulwark or "bastia" on the opposite bank of the Tanaro, which was later further fortified to provide greater protection to the town of Alma. Over the years, the municipality of Mondovì tried to conquer the region and at the end of the thirteenth century, Bastia became a village affiliated with Mondovì.
Conclusions
Bastia Mondovì is a small Piedmontese municipality with a long history behind it. Although it is a place of modest size, it retains a great charm thanks to its position on the hill, the stone houses, and the breathtaking views. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax, with the possibility of hiking, cycling or driving through the Piedmont hills, I recommend visiting Bastia Mondovì.
