Salussola
Welcome to Salussola: a tour through the history and geography of a welcoming Piedmontese municipality
Hello everyone! Today we will take you on a journey to discover Salussola, a small and delightful town located in the province of Biella in Piedmont. Salussola is home to roughly 1,862 people and is situated on the border between the Po Valley and the hills of the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre, traversed by the Elvo river. I can assure you that this town offers the perfect mix of history and natural beauty.
The physical geography of Salussola
Salussola is a municipality with a vast and interesting territory. It borders to the north with the hamlets Vergnasco and Magnonevolo of Cerrione and part of the plains of Massazza, to the east with the plains of Villanova Biellese and Carisio, to the south with Dorzano and Cavaglià and to the west with Roppolo, famous for its woods on Mount Orsetto.
The history of Salussola
The name Salussola comes from the Lombard diminutive of Sala, with the variant salucula, salutiolam, salussula. This suggests the existence of a small feudal court in the Lombard Kingdom of the 7th century, replacing the ancient settlement of Victimulae in the lower province of Biella, from which the village was born.
According to legend, in the ancient hamlet of San Secondo, to the northwest on the hill, there was a small village called Victimulae, from which the village of Salussola was formed. It is also said that in this area, Saint Secondo was martyred at the end of the 3rd century.
In the past, Salussola was a strategic and fortified outpost, used as a gold reserve. When the gold reserves ran out, the town lost some of its interest. In the 5th-7th centuries, the village was dominated by Lombard raids. During this period, the figure of the blessed Peter Levita, originally from Salussola, but moved to Sicily, stood out.
Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire, Salussola was then ceded by Charles the Fat in favor of the archdiocese of Vercelli, and in the 12th century divided between the counts of Biandrate and the Avogadro of Cerrione, who administered it under the Duchy of Savoy.
Symbols of Salussola
Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Salussola
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Salussola is a beautiful church dating back to the 12th century. Originally it was a parish church, and in the 17th century the current bell tower was added. The church has been renovated several times over the years, but has always maintained its beauty and its importance in the social fabric of the town.
Monuments and places of interest in Salussola
Salussola has several monuments and places of interest to visit. One of these is the Porta Urbica, which constitutes the southern entrance to the upper village, called Salussola Monte. The gate is part of the medieval city walls that were built around the 12th century.
The history of witchcraft in Salussola
An interesting event that occurred in Salussola was the witchcraft trial against Giovanna de Monduro. The woman was originally from Miagliano, north of Biella, but became the wife of a Salussola citizen. Prosecuted for witchcraft on February 13, 1470, she was tortured and forced to confess through the method of torture. On August 17, 1471, the woman was burned at the stake near Miagliano. The records related to the trial are preserved in the historical archive of Biella.
Conclusions
This was a small overview of information on Salussola, a town rich in history and natural beauty. We hope it has made you want to visit this delightful municipality in the heart of the province of Biella. Thank you for reading and see you next time!
