Pollenzo
The ancient town of Pollentia on the left bank of the Tanaro is known today as Pollenzo, a frazione of Bra in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont.
In antiquity Pollentia was in the territory of the Ligurian Statielli, Augusta Bagiennorum (modern Roncaglia in the Commune of Bene Vagienna) being 16km to the south. Its position on the road from Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin) to the coast at Vada Sabatia (modern Vado Ligure, near Savona), at the point of divergence of a road to Hasta (modern Asti) gave it military importance. Decimus Brutus managed to occupy it an hour before Mark Antony in 43 BC; and it was here that Stilicho on the March 29, 403 fought the Battle of Pollentia with Alaric which though undecided led the Goths to evacuate Italy.
The place was famous for its brown wool, and for its pottery.
According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica considerable remains of ancient buildings, including an amphitheater, a theater and a temple were still in existence, although the so-called temple of Diana was more probably a tomb.
In 1832, Carlo Alberto carried out an important agricultural undertaking on about 685 hectares. After having cleaned-up unhealthy land, he created a true and proper modern agricultural business with fourteen dairy farms, the restructuring of an ancient castle, and an agrarian agency with vineyards and cantinas to make “a good quality champagne”. Pollenzo, an ancient Roman installment on the Tanaro River, renewed itself, according to the taste of the time, into the Neo-Gothic style which reigned at European courts, especially in England.
Carlo Alberto chose the architects Pelagio Palagi and Ernesto Melano who created ex novo a true and proper hamlet formed by a large four-sided square with porticos, in the center of which, a monumental fountain was placed, and a church. The dairy farm and the remaining spaces took on coherent and coordinated shapes, colors, and materials. Brought back to life by the Slow Food Association, the ancient Tenuta di Pollenzo (Pollenzo’s Estate Farm) has been transformed, within a few years, into an Experimental Agricultural Science Center which includes a hotel, a restaurant, a cantina called “Banca del Vino” containing important wines, and above all, a center of university study, The European Academy of Taste.
The sale and the international diffusion of Piedmont products throughout the world, supported by events and initiatives organized by Slow Food, has become an important vector of development and knowledge benefiting Pollenzo. Ancient Roman Pollenzo is now undergoing major digs. Within the hamlet, the remains of the theater and the oval-shaped amphitheater are visible. Along the edges, the small homes built over the centuries that take up the space, are transformed it into flower and vegetable gardens. Savoy’s Pollenzo is, instead, completely different. Along the axis of Via Amedeo di Savoia, homesteads with a central courtyard appear. The Church of San Lorenzo, the square, and Via Carlo Alberto together create, along with the association, a single unit in a markedly Neo-Gothic style. From 1997 is listed by UNESCO as Human Heritage site.
Bra
6 Km. from Albergo dell’Agenzia
On the left shore of the river Tanaro, Bra is regarded as the main city of “Roero” and one of the few examples of Baroque “Piemontese”. Founded around the year one thousand has several places of interest: Palazzo Traversa and its museum of local history, the “Craveri” Museum of Natural History, the churches of Santa Chiara, Sant’Andrea and Battuti Bianchi. It has been the birthplace of the “Slow Food” Movement in the early 80’.
Alba
12 Km. from Albergo dell’Agenzia
The Main city of the shire is surely worth a visit: besides the gastronomic appeal of wines and truffles it offers historical and artistic opportunities too. In the old town centre signs of the thriving “Alba Pompeia” can still be found and remarkable archaeological finds are kept in the City Museum. The town distinguishing peculiarity are above all the medieval towers and buildings in warm brickwork colours that surrounds the visitors from via Cavour to St. Lawrence’s Cathedral.
Cherasco
8 Km. from Albergo dell’Agenzia
For those who love art, the entire town is a masterpiece of distinguishing and precious monuments, churches and lovely houses; those who loves reading, this town will immediately recall “La città delle mura stellate” (The town with star-shaped walls), a successful novel by Gina Lagorio. In Cherasco the conflicts for succession in the Monferrato area came to an end in 1631 and the armistice of Napoleon Bonaparte was signed in 1796.
Bene Vagienna
20 Km. from Albergo dell’Agenzia
This town entered history two thousand years back with the name of "Augusta Bagiennorum", and was one of the three Roman Augustas. It was a military presidium at the foot of the rough mountains routes to Gaul, and a commercial centre in the Po valley. Later, the war between France and Spain lead the village to build the fortified pentagonal walls that surround the town. Nowadays, it is still possible to admire the Roman theatre and amphitheatre, the castle, the mediaeval walls, its splendid churches and many palazzos.
