Villanova d'Asti: sights, history and trails

Its foundation dates back to the year 1248, as it results from precise documents of the astigian archive. The inhabitants of Dusino, Solbrito and Supponito, a town near Corveglia, then abandoned but whose memory is kept alive from the square dedicated to it. Since Roman times, however, the presence of agglomerations (Brassicarda) probably due to veterans who were assigned plots. Towards Poirino, around Lombard ruins called "old race" or Corveglia, in 1001 Emperor Otto III donated to the Benedictine nuns of the monastery of San Felice di Pavia, dependent on the Monastery of San Salvatore di Pavia^[4][5], some land and in the 13th century the Augustinian canons settled in Corveglia who, at the beginning of the 14th century, enriched the rooms with sculpted columns and capitals. In 1340 the religious, having fallen into debt, had to abandon the building which has only now been restored to its former glory.

With the act of donation of 28 January 1494, the fief was donated by Ludovico il Moro to his wife Beatrice d'Este, with all its possessions, forts and feudal rights connected to them, i.e. the mere et mix imperious, every kind of jurisdiction, gifts, immunity, etc., the faculty of administering them according to their own arbitrary, deputating castellans, priests, officers, etc.^[6][7]

Miniatures of the two spouses: left, Ludovico il Moro at age 41; right, Beatrice d'Este at age 18. Birago's work. Contended in the donation diploma dated 28 January 1494 with which Ludovico infeuds Cassolnovo's wife, Carlotta, Capo di Monte, Villanova d'Asti, Sartirana Lomellina, Leale, Cusago, and Sforzesca. Stored today at the British Library in London.

The surrounding area Villanova, from Valfenera to San Paolo Solbrito, was the scene of bitter clashes between the French and the Spanish in the 17th century, but the mighty "star" walls always protected the town.
In 1690 he risked the plundering by the troops of General Nicolas de Catinat de La Fauconnerie when Casa Savoia broke the alliances entering the League of Augusta alongside the Imperials. After it was made a solemn vow to Our Lady, the French, infamous for cruelty and already present in the normally unspoilt town, left her, having suddenly to come elsewhere, without harming her in any way despite the refusal of Turin to pay the ransom requested.

Even today, in order to fulfill the vote, the mayor solemnly participates in the Mass of the Immaculate Conception in the church of San Martino and traditionally takes the word after reading the Gospel. A stone, present on the walls of the ancient convent in Via Roma, tells these extraordinary events: the entrepreneur Villanova, already occupied by money ready to unleash, left unintentionally by that same general who instead put to iron and fire the countryside, burned nearby Poirino and plundered Ceresole.

After the failure of the siege of Turin wanted by the Sun King in 1706 and after the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 assicuated to Vittorio Amedeo of Savoy the crown of Sicily, Villanova finally enjoyed a long peace. Following the events that led the Savoy to take refuge in Sardinia protected by the English fleet, Piemonte until the river Sesia was annexed to France on 11 September 1802 (24 Fruttidoro, year X). Villanova, until 1814, was included in the "Département de Marengo", "Deuxième arrondissement" (Asti)". The young Piedmontese fought courageously for their homeland alongside other French citizens, especially in the unfortunate Russian campaign where the Poirinese Domenico Mazzucchi earned the war cross in Moscova.

The main churches are San Pietro, Sant'Isidoro (patrono), San Martino. The latter was originally from the Pavesi nuns dedicated to San Felice; it houses a statue of Our Lady of Clementi, a splendid wooden altar ("of the black souls"), the major altar of Carlo Pellagata (1777), a Macrino d'Alba, two works of the Moncalvo besides a Christ baptized by St. John the Baptist in the presence of Saints Peter, Andrew and angels and, in the same chapel, a representation of Villanova protected by Saints Sebastian and Rocco placed on an altar whose marble shows St. Martin. Nearly opposite is a characteristic brick house, Baldissera house, classic example of eighteenth century Piedmontese.

Of particular interest for those who visit this city is the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Graces built where, in Napoleonic times, the Mother of God appeared. In its avenue, the last Sunday of July, is realizedInfiorate: carpets depicting religious images created with petals of flowers. Lovely restored in its 18th century frescoes, the temple that belonged to the "Confraternity of Batù", hosts conferences, cultural debates, concerts. It is located at the fifteenth-century municipal tower 26 meters high in Piazza Supponito.
Imponente is the ancient convent of San Francesco d'Assisi (crollate but immediately rebuilt in the second half of the sixteenth century) located at the crossroads between the Contrada del Corpus Domini and the Real Road of Piacenza (later called via Maestra, today Rome). Inhabited by an exponent of the ancient Savoiarda family of Richetta (riches étaient) since 1806, as a government official while Villanova was included in the French Empire, it is currently owned by De Robertis.
The abbey of Corveglia, now owned by Brossa and used as an agriturismo, important testimony of medieval architecture, is located on the state road towards Carmagnola continuing along which, close to the border with Poirino, you can admire the tree-lined avenue that leads to the Banna estate, property of the Marquise Spinola, home of the Fondazione Spinola Banna aimed at encouraging the work of young artists, especially in the musical field.
The town hall, neoclassical building designed in the form of a Palladian villa, is the work of architect Giuseppe Frizzi.

Since its foundation, the fertile surrounding territory favoured agriculture. Almost absent the vine, instead they give excellent yield of cereals.

Villanova is still bred today "the blonde", that is the hen known also as "ourstraline" or "red of crivelles", once widespread on lands faithful to the Savoy; the white hen was instead raised by the subjects of the Marquis of Saluzzo.

The presence of the tollgate, on the Turin-directorAlessandria, the railway station a few kilometers and a wide plain around have allowed Villanova to become in recent decades the third industrial pole of the province, after the capital and Canelli.
Important are the RFT (SKF Group), Util Industries, Fornace Ballatore, BASF, Dierre Porte, of the De Robertis family, founded thanks to Minister Goria and BCUBE that deals with integrated transport and logistics, the Cornaglia Group Research Centre.

The town of Villano is also developing a good sports pole with the rebirth, a few years ago, of the company "Polisportiva Mezzaluna". The name derives from the homonymous bastion (mezzaluna dolce) of the walls in the form of a star that, until Napoleonic times, defended the city, beautifully and faithfully reproduced in all details on that page of the "Theatrum Sabaudiae" (XVII century) that in the City Hall adorns the study of the mayor.

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

The municipality is served by the motorway toll of Villanova d'Asti, located on the A21 highway, and from railway station, served by the SFM 6 line (Turin-Asti).

Further reading

• Pietro Savio, City statutes of Villanova d'Asti, Vatican City, Vatican Apostolic Library, 1934.