Sant'Agata Fossili
Sant'Agata Fossili: a small municipality in the Ligurian-Piedmontese pre-Apennines
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk about a small Piedmontese municipality located on the hills of Tortona, Sant'Agata Fossili. The town owes its name to a chapel dedicated to Saint Agatha around which the settlement developed. Despite the proximity of the better-known Podigliano, now a fraction of the municipality, Sant'Agata has an interesting history to discover.
History
The town has ancient origins, in fact, in the diplomatic code of the Abbey of San Colombano di Bobbio, a chapel dedicated to Saint Agatha is mentioned in the years 863-883. However, the first mention of the town dates back to 1277. During the Middle Ages, Sant'Agata followed the Ghibelline faction and in 1359 the podestà of Tortona suspended the sentences pronounced against its inhabitants. In 1575, the chapel dedicated to Saint Agatha became a parish and in 1703 it was elevated to the rank of a deanery with the title of archpriest. In the twentieth century, the church was restored and the facade underwent radical modifications in 1921.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, vine cultivation developed thanks to the impulse of Archpriest Corazza. In 1871, the municipality added the specification "Fossili" due to the numerous fossils found in the surrounding land.
In 2003, the village was hit by a strong earthquake that caused damages and evacuations.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the flag of the municipality were granted by decree of the president of the Republic in 2014. The flag is a white cloth.
Society
The municipality has 367 inhabitants and has undergone a demographic decline in recent years.
Demographic evolution
In the table relating to the successive administrations, we can observe the trend of the population of the town.
Administration
The municipality of Sant'Agata Fossili is currently administered by Mayor Claudio Miraglia, who leads a council of 5 members.
In summary, Sant'Agata Fossili is a small municipality that has a fascinating history and offers the opportunity to discover the treasures of the Ligurian-Piedmontese pre-Apennines. If you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to visit it.
