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Francavilla Bisio: sights, history and trails

Alessandria

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Francavilla Bisio-castello1.jpg
Image: Davide Papalini · CC BY-SA 3.0
Elevation
160 m above sea level
Area
7.75 km2
Demonym
francavillesi
Patron saint
Our Lady of Graces

A closer look

Discovering Francavilla Bisio

Francavilla Bisio (Francavi in Piedmont) is an Italian municipality of 489 inhabitants[1] from the province of Alessandria in the Piemonte. It is located on the right bank of the Lemme stream, at its outlet in the plain.

History of Francavilla Bisio

SymbolsExplore this chapter

Identified with the ancient Bassignana or Bassignanella, it draws the name from a probable tax exemption of the place by its feudal lords. In the 12th century, the territory housed the grangia of S. Maria, owned by Rivalta Scrivia abbots. Territory owned by the Savoy since 1708, it was feud of the families Grillo (1681) and Guasco (1780).

In 1863, the municipality of Francavilla assumed the new name "Francavilla Bisio".[4]

Symbols

The coat of arms of the municipality of Francavilla Bisio was granted by decree of the President of the Republic of 14 February 2008.

"From the blue, inquarified by the cross diminished of red, besided, in the first and fourth, from the tower of the same, put to the guelfa of three, brick, closed and windowed, of black, the tower in the first founded on the arm of the cross, the tower in the fourth founded at the tip; in the second and in the third, from the three ears of gold wheat, held, silver tied. Exterior ornaments from Commune.[5]»

The gonfalone is a white drape with the edge of red.[5]

What to see in Francavilla Bisio

Religious architecture · Civil architecture · Military architectureExplore this chapter

Religious architecture

  • Parish church of Madonna delle Grazie, 1950, with a red brick facade that recalls the reason for the castle

Civil architecture

  • Villa of the Counts of Bisio, outside the town

Military architecture

The town is dominated by the Guasco castle, built around a tower already present in the 10th century, but object of successive extensions; the current aspect, albeit medieval, is the result of nineteenth-century renovations

Society

Demographic evolutionExplore this chapter

Demographic evolution

Inhabitants registered[6]

Infrastructure and transport

In the municipal territory there is a certified air surface, which can be used both by ultralight and general aviation aircraft.Explore this chapter

A certified air surface is located in the municipal territory, which can be used both by ultralight and general aviation aircraft.

Administration

Below is a table relating to the administrations that have succeeded one another in this municipality.Explore this chapter

Below is a table relating to the administrations that have succeeded one another in this municipality.

Period First citizen Match Load Notes
June 18, 1985 June 26, 1990 Mario Mazzarello civic list Mayor [7]
June 26, 1990 April 24, 1995 Mario Mazzarello Italian Socialist Party Mayor [7]
April 24, 1995 June 14, 1999 Mario Mazzarello center Mayor [7]
June 14, 1999 August 17, 2002 Assunta Lubiano civic list Mayor [7]
August 17, 2002 May 27, 2003 Mario Mazzarello civic list Deputy Regent [7]
June 12, 2003 April 15, 2008 Mario Mazzarello civic list Mayor [7]
April 15, 2008 May 27, 2013 Mario Mazzarello civic list Mayor [7]
May 27, 2013 June 11, 2018 Francesco Berta List of Towns in common Mayor [7]
June 11, 2018 May 15, 2023 Lucio Bevilacqua List of Towns in common Mayor [7]
May 15, 2023 in office Lucio Bevilacqua list of cities Yesamo Francavilla Mayor [7]

Image gallery

Explore this chapter
  • Castello di Francavilla Bisio
    Castello di Francavilla Bisio
  • Church of Our Lady of Graces
    Church of Our Lady of Graces
  • Campanile of the church of Madonna delle Grazie
    Campanile of the church of Madonna delle Grazie
  • City hall
    City hall

Notes

Explore this chapter
  1. ^ to b Monthly demographic balance for the year 2026 (provisional data), up demo.istat.it, ISTAT.
  2. ^ Seismic classification (XLS), up risks.protezionecivile.gov.it.
  3. ^ Table of degrees/day of Italian Municipalities grouped by Region and Province (PDF), in Law 26 August 1993, n. 412, annex A, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 1 March 2011, p. 151. URL consulted on 25 April 2012 (archived fromoriginal url on 1 January 2017).
  4. ^ Royal decree 11 January 1863, n. 1126, regarding "Decree authorizing various municipalities in the provinces of Milan, Alessandria, Brescia, Cremona, Turin, Ascoli, Macerata, Cuneo, Piacenza, Porto-Maurizio, Ravenna and Sassari to take on a new name."
  5. ^ to b Francavilla Bisio (Alessandria) D.P.R. 14.02.2008 granting of coat of arms and gonfalone, up Honorary Office and Araldica, Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ^ Data taken from:
  7. ^ to b c d And f g h the j http://amministratori.interno.it/

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