Bosio
Lassù sui monti dell'epopea partigiana.

                                                                                                                                                     to List
Prima incluso in quello di Parodi Ligure, il comune ha una sua autonomia amministrativa dal 1948. Comprende le borgate Spessa e Serra e le frazioni Costa S. Stefano e Capanne di Marcarolo. Quest'ultima è quella di maggiore spicco, sia perle vicende storiche più lontane che per quel-le più recenti. La tradizione vuole che su questo altopiano avvenissero scambi commerciali dei prodotti agricoli tra le tribù primitive di Liguri e Celti che abitavano in zone montane con quelle che erano insediate nella fascia costiera. Da queste strade passarono le truppe comandate dal famoso capitano di ventura Facino Cane, in viaggio tra Casaleggio Boiro e Genova. Tragici collegamenti con la "grande" storia avvennero alla Benedicta nei pressi delle Capanne di Marcarolo durante la Resistenza. I Partigiani che nel 1944 combattevano il nazi-fascismo subirono una grossa sconfitta
e molti furono uccisi o deportati in Germania, da dove non fecero più ritorno. Il sanguinoso episodio è commemorato da una cappella votiva e dal Sacrario eretto in memoria dei Martiri della Benedicta, dove ad aprile si ricordano con solenne cerimonia. Anche Saragat e Pertini si sono recati sul luogo in veste di presidenti della Repubblica.
I boschi e le radure dei dintorni si prestano a stupende passeggiate panoramiche. Sentieri serpeggianti conducono alla zona compresa nell' itinerario europeo delle "Capanne di Marcarolo", un parco naturale protetto; conducono a Brisco e a Eremiti o, per chi volesse una meta più lontana, seppur agevole, al santuario dedicato alla Madonna sulla vetta del Monte Tobbio (m. 1092). Il percorso partendo dalla Cascina degli Eremiti, è di circa un'ora e mezza. Nei pressi della cappelletta è in funzione un rifugio invernale del CAI di Ovada e Novi.
Lo sport prevede campi di tennis, bocce e calcio.
Nei locali della scuola è a disposizione una bella biblioteca. Nel mese di ottobre è indetta la Festa degli Eremiti; l'ultima domenica di maggio e la I° domenica di settembre ci si riunisce in allegria per la Festa del Tobbio, mentre nell'ultima domenica di luglio si celebra la festa patronale di S. Isidoro e di S. Croce. Simpaticissima per grandi e piccini, la Festa della Castagne.
Produzioni locali: vi sono fattorie modello, aziende vinicole che producono fino a 80.000 quintali di vini D.O.C. (Dolcetto, Barbera) e di squisito Moscato. Molti i funghi in stagione che arricchiscono l'eccezionale cucina tradizionale, la quale vanta anche ottime focacce, torte di riso e dolci artigianali da assaggiare nei localini caratteristici.
Bosio è sede della Comunità Montana Alta Val Lemme ed Alto Ovadese.

Up there, on the epic partisan  mountains.

First included in that of Parodi Ligure now the town has its own administrative autonomy since 1948. It includes the burgh Spessa and Serra and the hamlet Costa S. Stefano and Capanne di Marcarolo (Marcarolo's huts). The last is the most prominent, both for most distant historical events and for the most recent. Tradition wants that on this plateau came to pass trade of agricultural products between the primitive tribes of Ligurian and Celts who lived in the mountainous regions with those who had settled in the coastal strip. From these roads  went by the troops commanded by the famous captain of fortune Facino Cane, traveling between Casaleggio Boiro and Genoa. Tragic links with the "big events of history" took place at the Benedicta near the Capanne di Marcarolo during the Resistance. The partisans who in 1944 fought the Nazi-fascism suffered a big defeat
and many were killed or deported to Germany, from where they never returned. The bloody episode is commemorated by a Votive Chapel and the Memorial erected in memory of the Martyrs of Benedicta, where in April are remembered with solemn ceremony. Saragat and Pertini went on the site as Presidents of the Republic.
The forests and meadows of the surroundings lend themselves to beautiful scenic walks. meandering paths lead to the area included in the 'European itinerary of "Capanne di Marcarolo", a protected natural park; lead also to Brisco and Eremiti or, for those who want a more distant goal, albeit easy, the shrine dedicated to Our Lady on the summit of Mount Tobbio (m. 1092). The path from the Farm of the Ermiti, is about an hour and a half. Near the chapel there's a winter refuge of C.A.I. Ovada-Novi Ligure.
The sport associations provides tennis, football, and bocce courts.
In the premises of the school it is provided of a beautiful library.
In the month of October there's the Feast called "of the Eremiti".
On the last Sunday of May and the first Sunday of September we meet in joy for the Tobbio Festival, while the last Sunday of July is celebrated the Patronal Feast of S. Isidoro and St. Croce.
A fun for young and old, the Festival of Chestnuts.
Local productions: there are modern farms, wineries; producing up to 80,000 tons of wine D.O.C. (Dolcetto, Barbera) and delicious Moscato. Many mushrooms in the suitable season that enrich the exceptional traditional cuisine, which also boasts of excellent buns, rice cakes and homemade desserts to be tasted in the characteristic cafes.
In Bosio is the head office of the "Mountain Community Alta Val Lemme and Alto Ovadese".

      Panorama

La parrocchiale                                                                                                

The Regional Park of "Capanne di Marcarolo"
 

Located on the vast plateau that lies between Piedmont and Liguria, the park is dominated by the summit of Mount Tobbio, from its top you have a views that, in days of clear skies, are of incomparable beauty. At his side you have the the high ridges of Colma, the Pracaban, the Poggio and Figne, with views which open directly, also with breathtaking images, the sea and the coast below.
The particular geographical location allows the park to enjoy the peculiar climatic conditions that give rise both in arid areas, with predominantly herbaceous vegetation and shrubs, both fresh and more ventilated areas in which predominates a more northerly vegetation. This type of vegetation is favored by the abundance of rains that allow the stream Gorzente a gait often impetuous and the lakes below to present, in an environment totally wild, in very suggestive way.

The forest here is dominated by oaks, beeches, service trees, pear trees, raven, ranni and maritime pines, blacks and red pine trees. Thanks to the reforestation of pines has made the appearance of the tit tuft  which enriches the bird fauna of the park that already also have: the buzzard, the kestrel, the goshawk and the harrier eagle. You can observe roe deer, wild boar, wolf sporadically (present steadily in Val Borbera -see valborbere.info) and then the fox, weasel, marten, badger, skunk. Extinct is unfortunately the otter.

The Shrine of the Martyrs of Benedicta, inside the park, commemorates the tragic massacre of partisans perpetrated by the Nazis. Since April 9, 1944, when  210 Nazi Victims were shot and began the deportations and the reprisals, the resistance spread, right from Benedicta in all the valleys. Now, this monument lies here, on the Alta Colma, everlasting remembrance to the value of the Alexandrian people.

Administrative Headquarters:
Via Umberto I, 32 / A 15060 Bosio (AL)
Tel./Fax 0143/684777

Documentation Center for the History and Local Culture:
Palazzo Gazzolo 15060 Voltage (AL)
Tel./Fax 010/9601512

Tourist Information Point:
Frazione Capanne Marcarolo 15060 Bosio (AL)
Tel. 0143 / 684049X

Mount Tobbio

On a clear day, the view that the Alexandrians have if they cast a glance at south meets an unusually harsh mountain, it's the Monte Tobbio, the heart of the Regional Park of Capanne di Marcarolo. From the little church on its top, standing next to an emergency shelter, you can see both the port of Genoa and the Monferrato hills that and a large portions of the Alps.
To claimb up on top, the trail begins in Voltaggio where you take a narrow path, perpendicular to the main road that runs through the village that rises towards the south. The road after a few meters is divided into two small carriage: you take the right one and after a short path, in close proximity to a second sharp bend to the left, leave the road continues southwards on a path just obvious that, after a few minutes of walking, you reach a mule track which, advancing in a cool forest of chestnut trees, move up easily . After 20-30 minutes of walking, you will come across the first fork,  take the road to the right; path a short flat stretch, you arrive at a second deviation where it is necessary to take the left path. Here it starts to climb, always in the forest of chestnut trees, until you come out onto a large ridge where, among pines and small spikes of rock, gorse and helichrysum, finally appears the summit of Tobbio, yet far enough away. The route continues on a path that so evident intersects wide trail from the Pass of the Eremiti, following which you reach first Passo della Dagliola and then, along the south side of Tobbio, the church placed on top.