Ceva
Ceva: the hilly town of Piedmont
Ceva is a municipality of 5609 inhabitants located in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont. Thanks to a decree by King Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy dated January 4, 1773, the municipality has the title of city.
Physical Geography
Territory
Located at an altitude of 329 meters, Ceva is mostly situated on hilly terrain, surrounded by hills mainly made up of Marna and other alluvial sediments.
Rivers
The Tanaro River runs through the town of Ceva and receives the Cevetta stream, a right tributary, which also collects the waters of the Bovina stream.
Seismic Classification and Other Territory Information
Ceva has an Italian seismic classification of 4, meaning a low possibility of seismic damage. The city is also classified in climatic zone E and has a thermal requirement of 2781 Degree Days. According to regulations, heating systems can only be turned on for 14 hours per day from October 15th to April 15th.
Origin of the Name
There is no certain etymology for the toponym "Ceva". According to Father Arcangelo Ferro, author of "Ceva and its Area", the name could be derived from a tribe of Ligurians called Çabates or Cebates, who founded or gave the name to the settlement of Ceva around 2000 BC. However, other hypotheses suggest that the term "Ceba" could derive from the name of an autochthonous cattle breed of the area or from the pre-Indo-European word "kaiva-i-s" with the original meaning of "enclosure, encampment, inhabited place".
Ceva: the Historic Center and Alluvial Plains
The Historic Center
The historic center of Ceva is located in a sort of natural basin. Within it, there are many historical buildings, such as the church of San Francesco from the 16th century and the Castle of Ceva, which dates back to the 10th century. The castle underwent many restoration interventions over the centuries and hosted illustrious figures such as Margherita di Foix, the third wife of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Furthermore, the historic center of Ceva has suffered several floods caused by the flooding of the Tanaro River in the past.
The Alluvial Plains
In recent decades, several areas of Ceva have begun to develop in zones characterized by alluvial plains. Among these areas, the former Caligaris factories area is notable, where a large urban redevelopment project was underway, which stirred up some debates within the community.
Ceva: Tourism and Gastronomy
Tourism
Ceva is a particularly attractive tourist destination for enthusiasts of enogastronomic tourism. The municipality is located in the Roero and Langhe region, famous for the production of prestigious wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, and Nebbiolo d'Alba. Furthermore, the surrounding territory of Ceva offers many opportunities for hiking or cycling, discovering the historical villages and natural beauties of the area.
Gastronomy
The local cuisine offers specialties such as maccheroni di Ceva, a typical dish of Piedmontese culinary tradition made of maccheroni, beef, and grana cheese, or tagliatelle with hare ragout and truffle tagliatelle. Also, the "bunet", a chocolate dessert known throughout the Piedmont region, is worth mentioning. In the historic center of Ceva, there are also many artisanal and gastronomic shops where you can buy local typical products such as cheese, salami, and prestigious wines.
Conclusions
Ceva represents an interesting tourist destination for enthusiasts of enogastronomic tourism and for those who want to explore the natural and artistic beauties of the area. A city with ancient origins, Ceva is a municipality particularly rich in history and traditions, testimony to a glorious past that lives on today.
