Santa Vittoria d'Alba
Welcome to Santa Vittoria d'Alba!
Hello everyone! Today I want to introduce you to Santa Vittoria d'Alba, a delightful commune located in the beautiful region of Piedmont. With its 2844 inhabitants, the town offers plenty to see and do, from the imposing Castle with its 30-meter-high square tower, to the Gipsoteca, a museum dedicated to sculptor Gioachino Chiesa.
Let's explore Santa Vittoria d'Alba
Physical geography
Santa Vittoria d'Alba is located on a hill overlooking the Roero and the Tanaro Valley, between Alba and Bra. The commune extends over several districts: Cinzano, Borgo, Villa, Lussi, and Case Nuove.
Monuments and places of interest
Civil architecture
The Castle of Santa Vittoria d'Alba is the main tourist attraction of the commune. Located on the rock surrounded by vineyards, it offers a panoramic view of the Langa and Roero. Majestic and imposing, it dominates the entire town. Currently, it is privately owned and houses a tourist complex with a 4-star restaurant and hotel.
Other places of interest include Cascina in Lussi, the Genevraj fountain, and the Valle Spinzo fountain.
Archaeological architecture
The Turriglio, of Roman origin, is a circular building on a square base, perhaps what remains of a temple. Located at the crossroads of the roads that connected Alba Pompeia, Pollentia, and Augusta Bagennorum, centers of Regio IX Augustea.
Anforiano, an ancient settlement now disappeared, was located above the road that, from Borgo S. Antonio, before crossing the Lussi district, leads to Monticello d'Alba.
The Castrum of Bricco San Cristoforo remains in a few masonry remains, but still dates back to the 12th century.
Museums
The Gipsoteca of Santa Vittoria is a museum inaugurated in 2005 and dedicated to sculptor Gioachino Chiesa, originally from the city. All of his plaster models and other works donated to his fellow citizens are exhibited here.
Religious architecture
Santa Vittoria d'Alba is rich in churches and bell towers. Among the main ones, the parish of the Assumption, the fraternity of San Francesco, the church of San Rocco, the parish of Santa Paola in Cinzano, and the Santa Vittoria pillar.
Society
Demographic evolution
The city has 2844 inhabitants, steadily growing over the last few years.
Ethnic groups and foreign minorities
As of December 31, 2017, foreign citizens residing in Santa Vittoria d'Alba are 388, mainly from Romania, Morocco, Albania, Senegal, and the Republic of Macedonia.
Culture
Cinema
The commune was the subject of the film "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" by Stanley Kramer – a film based on facts that occurred during World War II, when the inhabitants hid a million bottles of wine from the Germans. The film was shot in Italy, including the Cinecittà Studios and the communes of Anticoli Corrado and Capranica Prenestina in Lazio.
Conclusion
Santa Vittoria d'Alba is a commune that offers a lot to its visitors, from the beauty of the Castle to the history of Anforiano and the Castrum of Bricco San Cristoforo, as well as restaurants offering typical Piedmontese cuisine. If you decide to visit the Roero, you cannot miss this little gem!
