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TONCO |
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Comune
di Tonco
p.zza Lanfranco 1
Tel: 0141/991259
E-mail: comuneditonco.comunedito@tin.it
Mayor: Gianfranco Casorzo
Population: 880
Altitude: 271 a.s.l.
Carabinieri: Portacomaro
Tel: 0141/202133 |
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The
village of Tonco is of Longobard origin.
It was initially called Todenco or Tudenco,
later transformed into Tonco or Tunco.
Following the period of Longobard domination,
the first known feudal owners were the
“Di Tonco”. In 1397 feudal
ownership passed to the Asti nobleman
Oliviero Turco, and then to the Natta
family. In 1617, during the war of succession
of the Monferrato, Tonco was pillaged
and burnt by the Franco-piedmontese troops.
It then followed the fortunes of the Marquisate
of Monferrato.
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| LOCAL
AREA |
| Tonco
is situated on a low hill in the lower Monferrato
area to the north of Asti. The economy of
the village is not centred exclusively on
agriculture: alongside the traditions offered
by the prized wines, small industries operating
in the mechanical sector producing agricultural
machinery and others producing leather clothing
and goods have recently set up. |
| ART
AND ARCHITECTURE |
| Going
up the Valle Versa the curious profile of
the parish church of Tonco can be seen, with
its original pointed bell tower. The village
features a number of small but interesting
churches (San Giovanni, Sant’Antonio,
San Girolamo, Santissima Annunziata, San Martino),
and bears the signs of its aristocratic past
in the shape of the elegant Villa Toso, Villa
Mensio and the town hall, dating from the
seventeen hundreds. |
| EVENTS |
| Tonco
is known for its unusual turkey festival,
which is held on the first Sunday of Lent
each year: this is a horse race battled out
by riders representing the various districts,
re-enacting an ancient rural tradition believed
to ward off evil spirits. The celebrations
for the patron saint, San Rocco, are held
in August, with dancing, sporting and various
other events. |
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