Paderna: sights, history and trails

Small hilly community, of medieval origin, whose economy is purely agricultural. The Padernesi, who present an old age index among the highest in the region, live totally in the municipal capital. The territory has an undulating geometric profile, with not very accentuated altimetric variations. The town, interested by strong building expansion, is in a panoramic position on a spur that branches off from a counterfeit interposed between the valleys of the watercourses.

The toponym is attested, from the year 1200, through the form of “Paderna”, derived, most likely, from the ellipses of the synatagma (Praedia) Paternal (whose meaning is "(funds) inherited from the father)" or from (Villa) Paternal. Founded in medieval times by the inhabitants of the nearby Tortona, probably on the site of a previous location, located between the current settlement and Spineto. The first historical information dates back to 1155, the year in which the Montemerlos, local lords, came to the aid of the Tortona people when they were besieged by Federico Barbarossa. It was subsequently ceded as a fief first to the Spinola family and then to the Carbone family. Between 1676 and 1688 the inhabitants managed to obtain the redemption of the fiefdom, in order to have greater independence. In 1630, like many other towns in the area, it was devastated by the terrible plague remembered by Manzoni. Its monumental emblem is the parish church of San Giorgio, whose mass divides the lower part of the settlement from the upper one. Its orientation would suggest that it was built in ancient times; the central nave is, believed by some, but without any credible evidence or argument, to be from the early Christian period, while the side naves date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

The facade was built in the fifteenth century and inside it is possible to admire two paintings depicting Saint Sebastian and the Madonna and Child. Also worthy of a visit are the town hall, located on the site of an ancient castle, and the Romanesque bell tower, the only remnant of an ancient parish church that was built in the Vezzano valley.

• Church of San Giorgio: the parish church, already mentioned in documents of the 11th century, was rebuilt later in the current form to three aisles. The bell tower dates back to the 19th century. Inside is the wooden statue of Saint George, work attributed to the Maragliano school.

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