Roasio
Welcome to Roasio, a Piedmontese municipality
Hello everyone! Today, I want to introduce you to Roasio, a Piedmontese municipality located in the province of Vercelli, Italy. Roasio is a small scattered municipality, counting about 2243 inhabitants. The municipality seat is located in San Maurizio, one of the five main hamlets in the territory.
Physical geography of Roasio
Roasio is situated at the foot of the pre-Alpine hill range and is crossed by the Rovasenda, a local stream. In the municipality, there are five main hamlets, namely: San Maurizio, Santa Maria, Sant'Eusebio, San Giorgio, and Corticella. Furthermore, the municipality has an exclave, the hamlet of Castelletto Villa, which can be reached only through Villa del Bosco. Near here, it is possible to find Lake Ravasanella, marking the source of Rovasenda, and other watercourses such as the Guarabione and Marchiazza streams.
The Roasio territory is well known for its particular soil composition, favoring high-quality agriculture, with the cultivation of orchards and vineyards on the hills (Bramaterra D.O.C. wine) and rice cultivation on the plain.
Origins of the name Roasio
Roasio, also known as Rovaxidam, Rovaxidum, Rovasij, Rovasio, or Rovasino, has an uncertain origin name like its first settlement phases, which consisted of small villages at various altitudes.
History of Roasio
The first documented references concerning Roasio territory go back to the Acts of Otto III of Saxony in 999 and his Diploma of 1000, in which the Woods of Roasio (Silvam Rovaxidam) were donated to the Archdiocese of Vercelli. In a 1190 Act, it is also mentioned the "pontem castri Rovasij", a structure that probably crossed the Rovasenda stream.
The history of the various urban agglomerations present in the municipal territory originates and develops mainly around the oldest Churches, still standing today, even if modified over the centuries.
During World War II, Roasio was involved in a terrible massacre during which German soldiers murdered twenty-two people, accusing them of siding with the Allies.
Conclusions
Roasio is a municipality full of history and enchanting landscapes. If you are nature enthusiasts and wish to get to know the true beauty of Piedmont, I highly recommend visiting this small municipality in Vercelli. Thank you for reading my summary, I hope I have intrigued you enough to arrange a trip to Roasio!
