Fabbrica Curone
Fabbrica Curone: a characteristic village in Piedmont
Located in the high valley of the Curone river, the Municipality of Fabbrica Curone, also known as Frògna in the Piedmontese language, is a small village of only 594 inhabitants. With its 24 hamlets, including Brentassi, Ca Bastardini, Garadassi, Selvapiana and many others, this municipality borders Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy and is the easternmost municipality in the Piedmont region.
Climate
The climate in Fabbrica Curone is typically mountainous with cold and snowy winters and cool summers.
History
Since the Lombard era, the territory of Fabbrica Curone has been among the possessions of the Abbey of San Colombano di Bobbio, inserted in the territory of the monastic court of Casasco. The village was founded around the 9th century, as a small urban settlement around the ancient parish of Santa Maria Assunta. Equipped with a castle, it was then subject to the bishops of Tortona, and following a papal bull in 1157, it was elevated to the rank of imperial fief, which was attributed to the Malaspina family, who kept it until its suppression in 1797.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the Municipality of Fabbrica Curone was granted by decree of the President of the Republic on October 19, 1962.
Monuments and points of interest
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Fabbrica Curone is a Romanesque building composed of a central nave with a gabled roof and two side aisles with a simple pitched roof. The entrance is adorned with a stone portal, surmounted by a Romanesque frieze. The porch that animates the facade is a recent addition, dating back to the 19th century.
In the hamlet of Lunassi, the Museum of Peasant Civilization has recently been established, in which tools, equipment, machinery, documents, and objects are collected that demonstrate to the visitor the struggle for survival of a population attached to a poor soil.
The hamlet of Caldirola, located 1,110 meters above sea level, is a well-known ski resort equipped with ski lifts.
Another noteworthy hamlet is Salogni, located at 950 meters above sea level, near which the Rio Maestro flows under the chapel of the Madonna della Cintola, dating back to the 16th century. From Salogni, it is possible to reach the altitude of 1,400 meters via a paved road, and from here, by following some paths, the mountains Monte Chiappo (1699 m) and Monte Ebro (1701 m). Also from Salogni, via the path number 108 of the Italian Alpine Club, you can reach the Ezio Orsi Refuge (1397 m) located at the foot of Monte Ebro (1701 m).
Society
In the last century, the Municipality of Fabbrica Curone has lost over 80% of its total population.
Culture
Fabbrica Curone is part of the culturally homogeneous territory of the Four Provinces, which include the Province of Alessandria, the Province of Genoa, the Province of Pavia, and the Province of Piacenza. This means that the village has common customs and an important repertoire of very ancient music and dances of the four provinces.
In conclusion, Fabbrica Curone is a small characteristic gem in Piedmont, with its millennia-old history and its points of interest, including the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the Museum of Peasant Civilization, and the ski resort of Caldirola. Moreover, the municipality is located in a culturally rich territory, together with the nearby provinces of Alessandria, Genoa, Pavia, and Piacenza, where you can discover the traditions and music of the four provinces.
