Sale
Welcome to Sale!
Hello everyone! Today we'll be talking about Sale, a municipality located in the province of Alessandria, in the region of Piedmont. This small town, which has about 3,889 inhabitants, is located near the confluence of the Tanaro and Po rivers, in the Tortonese area. In this text, we'll explore its history, from traces of Roman settlements to the demolition of the ancient medieval walls. Take a few minutes to read everything and discover more about Sale!
History
Like many Italian cities, Sale has an ancient and fascinating history. In fact, in the municipal territory, there have been found Roman artifacts and centuriations in the countryside to the south, which attest to the colonization of the area already starting from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. In Gothic times, there was a fortified "Castra" from the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It is believed that in the 10th and 11th centuries, three Sals (the main one called Sala Roderadi), united to form the village of Sale. A document from 933 AD refers to the sale of lands "in loco Salae". It is assumed that this union led to the birth of the village we know today.
The village of Sale lived under the rule of various lordships over the centuries. In 1035 AD, Sala Roderadi was bought by Hugh, Count of Tortona. It was under the lordship of the Dioceses of Tortona (perhaps from 1003 AD) and the Archdiocese of Genoa. In addition, it was owned by the Este (since the end of the 10th century), both the Italian branch and the Bavarian one with Guelfo IV d'Este.
Even during the Middle Ages, Sale saw various conflicts. In 1164, Frederick Barbarossa gave the village to the Pavia, who then became allies of Pavia in the war against Tortona. In 1216, Milanese and Piacentine militias opposed to Frederick II of Swabia invaded Sale and set the village on fire. In 1229, a battle saw Pavesi and Tortonese opposing each other again. In the fourteenth century, the village became a fiefdom of the Beccaria, and then of the Visconti, Sforza, and Adorno families.
In 1499, King Louis XII of France conquered Sale with the entire Duchy of Milan and became a fiefdom of Cardinal d'Amboise. In 1500, the Botta family became the owner of the village, then passed to the d'Adda family until 1797. After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, Sale definitively passed, with the Oltrepò Pavese, under Savoyard rule. In 1818, the village was added to the province of Tortona and the ancient medieval walls were demolished between 1825 and 1826.
Conclusions
So here's a brief summary of what Sale has experienced over the centuries. We hope this text has made you better acquainted with the history of the city, and that you have rediscovered the fascinating past that lies behind every corner of this beautiful place. If you're in the area, we encourage you to visit and admire in person the breathtaking landscape of Sale!
