 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
MARANZANA |
| |
 |
Comune
di Maranzana
Via Giacomo Bove 36
Tel. 0141/77931
E-mail: maranzana@ruparpiemonte.it
Mayor: Marco Lorenzo Patetta
Population: 315
Altitude: 272 a.s.l.
Carabinieri: Quaranti
Tel. 0141/77018 |
|
|
|
|
|
The
village of Maranzana is in the far south
east of the province of Asti, on the border
of the province of Alessandria.
It lies in a hilly area with woodland
and vineyards.
The entire area is part of a protected
district, "Zona di salvaguardia del
Bosco delle Sorti - La Communa",
which was established under article 4
of regional law no.29 of 14 November 2001,
and is a great place for open air activities,
nature walks and birdwatching.
There is a rare species of service tree
in the area, as well as a large population
of badgers, and the badger pawprint is
used as the symbol of the protected area.
There are also woods of downy oak and
the area is one of the northern most regions
of the Mediterranean basin where tree
heather grows.
|
| HISTORY |
The
origins of Maranzana are not well defined:
it appears to have developed from a settlement
comprising a few isolated houses belonging
to farmers and shepherds, into a group
of huts. As an estate it was part of Acqui
and owned by the Marquis Aleramo in 967,
before passing to the Marquis Bonifacio
del Vasto and the del Bosco Marquisate.
In 1180 it was granted to Alessandria.
Then it returned to the Monferrato Marquisate,
before changing hands several times then
being granted to the Marquis Giacomo Ghilini
in 1670.
|
| |
This
is a farming village and its inhabitants
have devoted particular attention to the
layout of the vineyards, leading to the
creation of micro-areas particularly suited
to specific grapes. Moscato, for instance,
is grown in the vineyards of Avezzano,
Cortese in the Tagliata area, Barbera
in Badia, Solia and Riolio, and Dolcetto,
Brachetto and Chardonnay in the Violina
area, rounding off the mosaic of local
wine-production.
|
| ART
AND ARCHITECTURE |
Arriving
in Maranzana from Asti you reach the Chiesa
di S.Rocco which dominates the valley from
a hill top bearing the same name.
The churchyard was used as a cemetery and
the building itself was used as a quarantine
hospital. It has just been restored.
Continuing on we reach piazza G.Marconi and
the Torre Civica, which dates back to the
13th century and was restored in 1986. There
are wonderful views of the hills and plains
from here, from the Alps to the Appenines.
Heading along the bridge which leads to the
castle, we come to the Oratorio dell'Annunziata,
dated 1600, which boasts a valuable wooden
tableau of the seventeenth century Venetian
school depicting the annunciation.
The oratory was the seat of the ‘confraternita
dei Flagellanti’.
Continuing on we come to Zona Falce, with
the chiesa di S.Sebastiano, where the mothers
used to take the bonnets of babies suffering
from cradle cap, in order to be cured.
(Taken from the book "Cose di Casa Nostra"
by Dr A. Baracco).
What is now the town hall in via Giovanni
Bove 36 was the birth place of the distinguished
explorer Giacomo Bove, and there is a commemorative
plaque to this effect in the entrance hall.
The building is also the headquarters of the
cultural association "Giacomo Bove &
Maranzana”, which conserves a number
of items belonging to the explorer, kindly
loaned by his great-granddaughter Franca Bove. |
| EVENTS |
April
and May: “Echi di Cori”, a choral
event with the patronage of the Provincia
di Asti.
May: the "Canva d'or" Spring Festival
featuring a wine competition, cakes and flowers.
June: the "Borgo di Confine" painting
competition: painters take to the streets
of the village in search of the most picturesque
views, then there are food and wine evenings
with a fish-based menu.
August: Timed uphill cycling trials followed
by barbeque; sports night; the “Notturna
Maranzanese” running race, "Tra
le vie del borgo" – race followed
by barbeque
August: End of summer dinner
21 October “Festa di Santa Emerenziana”,
village patron saint along with San Giovanni
Battista (24 June).
November: "Novello" wine and Bagna
Cauda Fair.
During the summer there are various musical
concerts, and there are also several food
and wine evenings throughout the year organised
together with cultural events. Programmes
are widely available locally. |
|
|
|
|
 |
