Clavesana
Welcome to Clavesana: nature, history and culture
Hello everyone! Today I will take you on a journey to discover Clavesana, a small municipality nestled in the southwestern Langhe area of the province of Cuneo, Piedmont. With its 810 inhabitants, Clavesana offers a breathtaking view of the lower Langa area. The territory includes an alluvial plain on the left bank of the Tanaro river, while on the right, hills extend among which are the historical center of the capital and the hamlets of Lo Sbaranzo, Surie, Ghigliani and San Bartolomeo. But let's see together what this enchanting place has to offer.
Physical geography: between plains and hills
The territory of Clavesana consists of an alluvial plain, formed on the left bank of the Tanaro river - where the main nucleus of the village is located - and a strip of hills of the lower Langa on the right. The hills, in the lower part of the slopes, are occupied by woods often interrupted by natural 'calanchi' terrain, where it is possible to notice the lithological stratification of marl and sandstone typical of the entire area. The territory of the municipality is between 258 and 641 meters above sea level, with a total altitude range of 383 meters.
History: an ancient marquisate and the devastation of the Tanaro
Clavesana was once the seat of an ancient Aleramian marquisate, remaining the capital of the marquisate from 1142 to 1387. This small dominion extended to some areas of Liguria until the mid-thirteenth century, when it was divided with brother Ottone II. Clavesana had a difficult life, wedged between the various powers of the area, until Genoa incorporated the marquisate territories into Liguria and the marquisate of Saluzzo annexed the areas near Mondovì. In November 1994, the lower part of the village was devastated by the overflowing of the Tanaro river following torrential rains.
Monuments and places of interest: castle, museum and giant bench
Clavesana offers different civil monuments of tourist interest. The castle dominates the spectacular 'calanchi' from the top, from which the Tanaro valley can be admired. It was built in the 13th century by the Bruno di Tornaforte family and was rebuilt in the 18th century by the marquises of Clavesana after being destroyed in 1627 during the war between the Savoy and the Republic of Genoa. Currently, it was purchased by foreign entrepreneurs in 2016. The Historical and Ethnographic Museum is housed in an eighteenth-century noble palace, the former municipal seat. Furthermore, Clavesana hosts the famous Chris Bangle Red Giant Bench, which offers a splendid panoramic view of the entire municipality.
Society: demographics and ethnicities
As with many small towns, Clavesana's demographics have fluctuated over time. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) as of December 31, 2017, there were 89 foreign citizens residing in Clavesana, divided by nationality, with the significant presence of 36 Moroccans.
Culture: museums and events
Despite being a small municipality, Clavesana offers interesting museums and events. The Historical-Ethnographic and Tradition Museum represents an opportunity to discover the artistic and cultural heritage of the Langhe. Among the events, Sapori di Langa stands out, which takes place every third Sunday of May, and the Festa di Madonna della Neve, the patronal celebration of the most populous hamlet of the city, held on the first Sunday of August and which offers delicious polenta and sausage.
And so our visit to Clavesana ends here. We have been among the hills of the lower Langa, discovering the history and most important monuments of the village and savoring culture and tradition. Thank you for following us, we hope to see you soon here in Clavesana!
