The area of the commune of Calamandrana was inhabited by the Ligurian people, of Celtic origin, who were defeated by the Romans around 200 BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire this land became the property of the Monferrato Marquisate for a short period of time. In 1216 Calamandrana, taken by Alessandria, was conquered by Asti, which held onto it till 1218, when hostilities between the two towns ceased and the village returned to Alessandria.

Calamandrana is a kind of outpost of the Langhe area, with two different types of land: the plains around the river Belbo, with their plant nurseries, and the hills with their vineyards. The growth of the number of small and medium-sized companies in the wine sector is gradually strengthening the local economic identity, and highlighting the links between agriculture, the local area, the environment and society.

The town’s illustrious citizens include the abbot Giulio Cesare Cordara (1704-1785) of the Counts of Calamandrana, Jesuit, poet and philosopher who co-wrote the poem in octaves entitled “il Fodero”, which it appears that Manzoni took inspiration from for “The Betrothed”. The poem is an epic/comic rendering of the foundation of Nizza Monferrato. He was also a historian and his “Historia Societatis Jesus” continued up to 1635.

EVENTS

At the end of November is ‘Barbera Bollito e Barbatelle’ (the workshop of the 3 B): a food and wine event with conferences on rearing the local breed of cattle, “Castrato del Monferrato e della Langa astigiana” and plant nurseries. Another important cultural event is Teatro & Colline, with a range of different high quality theatre performances in a particularly atmospheric setting.