Rocchetta Cairo
Rocchetta Cairo: A Brief Introduction
Rocchetta Cairo is a village located in the municipality of Cairo Montenotte in the province of Savona and has a population of around 1100 inhabitants. In the past, Rocchetta was an independent municipality, but it was incorporated into that of Cairo Montenotte in 1880. Here is a brief geographical and historical description of the city.
Physical Geography
Rocchetta is located on the right bank of the Bormida di Spigno and stretches over a modest plain formed by a river bend. The city was founded at an altitude of 340 meters above sea level and is located about 6.5 kilometers from the municipal capital of Cairo Montenotte. Rocchetta is home to a natural reserve called "the fauna oasis of the plain of Rocchetta".
History
The historical center of Rocchetta developed around the Castle of Rocchetta Cairo, an ancient fortress built in the 10th century, owned by the Knights Hospitaller. Throughout the centuries, many influential families ruled Rocchetta, including the Incisa di Camerana and the Ponte di Scarnafigi. In 1235, the Del Carretto family acquired the castle and in 1322, the lands of Rocchetta passed to Manfredo IV of Saluzzo.
Subsequently, the control of the city passed to the Scarampi brothers, merchants and bankers from Asti, who became the new feudal lords of Rocchetta Cairo. They ruled Rocchetta first for the Republic of Genoa and then for the Marquisate of Monferrato with their reunion on July 9, 1419. In the 16th century, the territory of Rocchetta was already involved in wars between the troops of the Holy Roman Empire and those of the Kingdom of France, until a peace was reached in 1599. In 1735, much of the territory came under the dominion of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in 1736, the entire fiefdom was ceded with the Peace of Vienna.
During the French domination, Rocchetta Cairo was part of the Letimbro Department, with Savona as the capital, within the Ligurian Republic, annexed to the First French Empire on December 2, 1797. With the new French arrangements in 1798, Rocchetta was part of the I canton, capital Savona, of the Colombo Jurisdiction. From 1803 it became the main center of the I canton of Savona in the Colombo Jurisdiction, and from 1805 to 1814 it was included in the Department of Montenotte. In 1815, Rocchetta Cairo was incorporated into the Kingdom of Sardinia, as established by the Congress of Vienna in 1814 for the other municipalities of the Ligurian Republic. Subsequently, the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861.
Rocchetta Cairo in the 20th Century and Beyond
During the first half of the 20th century, many nobles discovered the beauty of Rocchetta Cairo and built summer villas in the city, making it a summer tourism destination. In recent years, Rocchetta has seen new construction development, becoming a destination for young families who choose to live in the city.
In summary, Rocchetta Cairo is a city with a long and rich history, an important natural reserve, and an architectural beauty that attracts visitors from all over Italy. We hope that its charm will never be forgotten and that the city can thrive in the future.
