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Gavi, not only Cortese
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Versione italiana
Welcome to Gavi!
At an altitude of 233 meters it extends in an area of 5,090
hectares, and it is thanks to the particularly fertile ground, to
the ideal climate and especially to man's tenacity, that the screw,
in these parts, rewards the labors with harvests quality grapes
which, through a careful winemaking, producing renowned wines in the
international field. Legend has it that a name Gavia princess,
daughter of Clodomiro king of the Franks, who married against the
wishes of the court came to Gavi to escape from the troops of the
king. Here the couple they found water, forests and peace, and I
decided to stop.
Legend has it that they were discovered and that the two, with the
permission of the Pope, they could settle equally in Gavi and the
Queen of the Goths, Amalasunta, gave them authority over the
territory.
The princess was beautiful and Cortese; hence the name of the grape
that gives rise to Gavi. Many different and interesting are the
events that take place throughout the territory of Gavi; These
proposals have the dual objective to preserve and make known to
tourists than it is the culture, the tradition, the gastronomy of
the Gavi area.
Gavi has ancient
origins; findings suggest the existence of the Neolithic station
Cavatium from which the Latin Gavium. The chronicles mention the
existence of a "castle" on the summit of Mount Moro: in it,
according to legend, found refuge from his persecutors the Gavia
princess. When the Roman empire, Gavi remained of the Byzantine
sphere, then franc. The discovery of the remains of Arab weapons
documents the presence of the Saracens (X century): from then on the
east side of the mountain is actually called Monte Moro. Historical
information on some of Gavi Castle you have in 973. At that time
belonged to Gavi Obertenghi family. From these he descended the
branch marquis that the twelfth century assumed the title "Gavi".
First Marquis of Gavi was Guido, took office on site around 1065,
which ceded in 1116 to the Marquis to his son Alberto. During the
long rule of Alberto (60 years), Gavi, surrounded by powers in sharp
growth as the vast municipality of Tortona, the Marquis Aleramico
and Genoa, and commercialmentestrategica position, she saw its power
grow and become pawn ambitissima.Gavi found himself often at the
center of disputes and alliances, enjoying a serene period only
during the rule of the Emperor Frederick of Swabia 1, known as
Barbarossa, bound by friendship to the Marquis of Gavi and in
possession of a tower of the castle where he stayed several times .
At Barbarossa's death (1190) the fate of the Marquis of cables went
increasingly declining until September 16, 1202 by an official act,
passed to the Genoese the village, the castle and the Curia,
composed of Tassarolo, Pasturana, Montaldo (Strict) , Amelio, Cross
and Gottorba, and throughout their territory as well Scrivia.
![](images/Portino.jpg)
The Fort
was closely linked to the events of the Republic of Genoa. In the
decade 1348-1358 Gavi and its castle are under the dominion of the
noble Visconti family. In 1359 Gavi back in possession of the
Republic of Genoa and followed its vicissitudes, until, ups and
downs, back to the Visconti. The second of the Visconti began in
1418, then the castle was sold to the Fregoso and, in 1468, to the
Guasco family of Alessandria. In 1528 Gavi Forte and his return
under the rule of the Republic of Genoa. It finally opened a long
period of peace. In 1625, Gavi and its castle were affected by the
war between Genoa and the French-Piedmontese.
When, in the siege of 1625, the French army and Savoyard employed
for the first time artillery it was understood that the structure of
the fort was no longer adequate. 1 rectors of the Republic of Genoa
was convinced of the need to fortify the castle and to do this he
was appointed one of the biggest experts in military buildings, the
Fiorenzuola. Work began in 1626 and lasted four years transforming
the castle in the current mighty fortress. The fortress could
accommodate a garrison which could reach 1000 men. Then in late '600
and early' 700 it was built the fortification of Mount Moro.In that
time stopped in Gavi the elebre Descartes. In the mid '700 the Gavi
fortress was for a heavy period under Austrian rule and, during the
Napoleonic period was the scene of battle between the French and
Austrian troops. Finally Following the treaty between France,
Austria and England in 1814, the republic of Genoa was abolished and
its territory was transferred under the rule of the King of Sardinia
Vittorio Emanuele I
The Portino (pictured above right) is the only survivor of
the four gates to the village, a defensive system based on walls
coming down from the fort and surrounding the entire town of Gavi.
to the right bank of the Lemme stream. The structure of the early
thirteenth century, is today a rectangular tower, covered by a roof
with four slopes; Originally the tower had no roof but ended with
battlements.
The mother church was the Pieve di Gavi S. Ilaria on Lemme, (left
below) located on the road to St. Christopher and long ago
abandoned and desecrated. It was built before 1000, perhaps on the
remains of a pre-existing temple Lombard-Byzantine, on a protruding
rock on the Lemme, overlooking the wide loop created by the river.
About the current Parish Church of St. Giacomo Maggiore, (below) the first document that confirms the existence of August 15,
1172, when the Alexandrians swear fidelity and allegiance to the
Marquis of Gavi. The facade is in pure Romanesque style, intact as
when the church was built in local sandstone, in the second half of
the twelfth century.
![](images/comuni-gavi-sangiacomo-retro.png)
The Sanctuary of N.S. Guard
(below left) was built in less than four months in 1861 thanks to the work of
the people of Gavi and the population of the surrounding villages. Sorge
sull'ameno Turchini hill, in view of Gavi, and is a magnificent temple in Greek
cross, the svelte and elegant forms. He prized marble floor red Levanto; There
are three altars, one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, according to the
Marriage of Maria Vergine, and the largest, topped by beautiful niche houses the
wooden statue of the Celestial Guardian.
The Sanctuary of N.S. Delle Grazie, (bottom right) Franciscan convent
destination for centuries of pilgrimage, is today, nell'assommarsi five
structures, six, eighteenth century, on what was the original fourteenth century.
At the origin of the current building complex there was a kiosk, around which,
following the passage of San Bernardino of Siena in apostolic pilgrimage, was
built around 1450, the Oratory of San Bernardino, a name that was added to the
oldest of Santa Maria delle Grazie. In time there arose a hospice for pilgrims
who later became the convent, in the eighteenth century there were the extension
works and the most impressive transformations that did take to the Sanctuary the
current structure.
![](images/Convento%20di%20Valle.jpg)
Versione italiana
Site of Gavi
![](../images/gavi-info_logo.gif)
PRINCIPAL WAY TO GAVI:
da Torino: A21 - uscita Alessandria Est km 120
A21/A26 - uscita Nevi Ligure km 120
da Milano: A7 - uscita Serravalle Scrivia km 100
da Genova: A7 - uscita Vignole Borbera km 50
A26 - uscita Ovada km 60
strada della Bocchetta km 39
More informations on
www.gavi.info
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