Roccabruna
A trip to Roccabruna
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about a wonderful town in Piedmont: Roccabruna. Known as "La Ròcia 'd Druné" in Piedmontese and "La Rocho" in Occitan, this town of 1549 inhabitants is located at the entrance of the Val Maira, on a panoramic territory overlooking the nearby Dronero.
The origins of the name
The name Roccabruna dates back to a public act of May 28, 1028, when Olderico Manfredi II and his wife Berta donated to the new Abbey of Caramagna some of their possessions, including Roccabruna.
History
The territory of Roccabruna has been inhabited since prehistoric times by Celtic-Ligurian populations, before the submission to Rome. Roman remains have been found in the area of the "Chapel of San Ponzio", where a Roman epigraph is kept along with other archaeological finds.
In the centuries, Roccabruna followed the events of the nearby Dronero, of which it was an integral part for some time. But towards the thirteenth century, the village maintained a certain independence, so much so as to give itself its own Statutes and obtain a first partial detachment from Dronero, then equipping itself with its own legislation.
The territory then passed into the hands of the Lords of Saluzzo, who reassembled it with Dronero. In 1694, there was the definitive separation from the town and then Roccabruna acquired definite autonomy. Among the personalities linked to Roccabruna, we can remember Giacomo Inaudi.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the municipality of Roccabruna depicts the two rocks overlooking the hamlets: Rocca Cubiera and Rocca Bruna.
Monuments and places of interest
One of the most important attractions of Roccabruna is the Church of the Assumption of Mary, located in the Centro hamlet. In a panoramic position, the interior of the church is richly decorated and houses a watercolour and a baptismal font from the seventeenth century by an unknown author. It is also the original parish of the town.
There are also other sacred places in the municipal territory, such as the Sanctuary of St. Anna, located in the homonymous hamlet, the Church of San Giuliano, founded before 1150 by the monks of Oulx, and the Sanctuary of the Nativity of the Virgin, present and cited since the thirteenth century in the Foglienzane hamlet.
The modern Church of the Holy Family, located in the Prarosso hamlet, is instead a contemporary sacred architecture inaugurated in 1996. It is the third parish established in 1962.
Conclusions
Roccabruna is a town rich in history, culture and natural beauty, worth discovering. You must not miss the opportunity to visit its churches and sanctuaries, immersed in breathtaking landscapes. If you want to discover the history of the Celtic-Ligurian populations, take a trip to Roccabruna and admire its archaeological remains. You won't regret it!
