Belforte Monferrato
Belforte Monferrato: the municipality in Ovadese
Located in the province of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Belforte Monferrato is a small municipality with 503 inhabitants and is part of Ovadese, a historic-cultural area of Basso Piemonte and Monferrato. The territory is characterized by the extreme hilly foothills of the Ligurian Apennines, with a wooded area that flanks the right bank of the Stura di Ovada and a hillside area of precious vineyards. The town is situated on a spur at the foot of the Castle and still retains the medieval topography.
Physical geography
Territory
Located at the right end of the Stura di Ovada stream valley on the border with Liguria, Belforte Monferrato is located in an unspoiled wooded area and a fertile plain rich in springs. The town is located in a hillside area of precious vineyards and extends on a spur at the foot of the Castle, a patrician residence.
Climate
The climate of the town is typically Mediterranean with hot and high temperatures in summer and mild and moderate winters.
History
Belforte Monferrato takes its name from the defensive fortification of this Apennine valley, which appears often in official documents of the time. At first, the town was located in a place called "del Faldellino", between the Turchino state road and the left bank of the Stura stream. Here, the monks of Bobbio founded a monastery of distant times and the lay community settled on the right bank of the stream, in the underlying plain, where a chapel was erected, still visible as of the early Middle Ages.
After the assault and destruction of the Giusvalla abbey by the Saracens and the continuous raids on the territory, Anselmo, son of the Marquis Aleramo of Monferrato, decided to build the new abbey of San Quintino as a form of contrast to the raids and to defend the pilgrims and commercial routes.
After several events, Belforte Monferrato passed under the dominion of the Malaspina of Cremolino, then under the Spinola of Genoa and finally to the Grimaldi until 1652, when Patrizio Cattaneo della Volta became the marquis.
Conclusions
Belforte Monferrato is a small town but rich in history and natural beauty. This municipality in Ovadese, located in a hillside area of precious vineyards and an unspoiled wooded environment, offers numerous cues for those who want to discover the culture and traditions of this area of Piedmont.
