Saluzzo, capitale del Marchesato
Tra le "Sette Sorelle" cuneesi, Saluzzo è quella che maggiormente conserva un'atmosfera rinascimentale con molti monumenti e luoghi che ricordano il fasto del suo passato.
La storia di Saluzzo è strettamente legata al Marchesato nato nel XII secolo quando Manfredo, figlio di Bonifacio del Vasto, lo ereditò dando inizio ad una dinastia. Molti degli edifici storici che caratterizzano la città risalgono a quell'epoca.
Situata nella pianura cuneese, alla soglia tra le Valli Varaita e Po, vede le origini del suo nucleo più antico a prima del XI secolo, quando fu costruito sul pendio della collina e protetto da mura.
Il dominio del Marchesato di Saluzzo durò dal 1142 al 1548 ed ebbe il suo massimo splendore economico e culturale sotto la guida di Ludovico I e Ludovico II. In quel periodo Saluzzo, ottenuta anche dal papa l'istituzione della Diocesi, aveva l'aspetto di una piccola capitale, espansa a ventaglio sulla collina e circondata da una doppia cortina di mura.
In perenne conflitto con i Savoia, con la morte dell'ultimo Marchese, si sottomise alla Francia e, nel 1601 col Trattato di Lione, venne assegnata al Ducato sabaudo.
Il centro storico conserva ancora l'assetto medievale con eleganti palazzi signorili abbelliti da loggette e viuzze acciottolate che risalgono la collina.
In cima si trova il castello, detto Castiglia, per 4 secoli residenza dei Marchesi di Saluzzo. Dotato di quattro torri, bastioni, ponte levatoio e fossato, fu ridotto in rovina e successivamente trasformato in penitenziario.
Scendendo s'incontra l'Antico Palazzo Comunale caratterizzato da un loggiato al piano terra e decorazioni in cotto sulla facciata. Dietro svetta la Torre Civica che con i suoi 48 metri è un punto panoramico eccezionale sulla città ed il Monviso.
Percorrendo la laterale Via San Giovanni si incontra la duecentesca Chiesa di San Giovanni, luogo di rappresentanza dei Marchesi di Saluzzo, nonchè sede di sepoltura della dinastia, come testimonia la cappella sepolcrale Cappella Cavassa, accessibile dal chiostro.
Da qui, percorrendo strette vie, passaggi pedonali e gradinate si può arrivare ad altri due edifici simbolo di Saluzzo: Casa Cavassa, dimora nobiliare trasformata in museo, e Casa Pellico, casa medioevale in cui nacque e visse l'infanzia il celebre scrittore Silvio Pellico.
Prima di scendere verso la parte bassa della città, dove si trovano la Cattedrale Maria Vergine Assunta e Corso Italia, via principale dello shopping, esplorate ancora il centro storico, scegliendo vie meno battute. Soffermatevi a guardare altri edifici pregevoli, anche se un pò decadenti, come il Palazzo dei Marchesi del Carretto, piloni votivi, come quello di San Chiaffredo, chiese secondarie, come la Chiesa di San Bernardo, il cui campanile spicca grazie al suo rivestimento multicolore delle tegole.
Infine, non potete lasciare la città di Saluzzo senza aver fatto visita allo stupendo Giardino Botanico di Villa Bricherasio. Situato ai piedi di una collina poco distante dal centro storico, è un parco di circa 12.000 mq creato con abilità dall'esperto Domenico Montevecchi dove, in tre diverse zone climatiche, convivono in armonia, grazie ad un microclima particolarmente mite, numerose specie provenienti da tutto il mondo.
Saluzzo, capital of the Marquisate
Among the "Seven Sisters" of Cuneo, Saluzzo is the one that most preserves a Renaissance atmosphere with many monuments and places that recall the splendor of its past.
The history of Saluzzo is closely linked to the Marquisate born in the twelfth century when Manfredo, son of Bonifacio del Vasto, inherited it, starting a dynasty. Many of the historic buildings that characterize the city date back to that era.
Located in the Cuneo plain, on the threshold between the Varaita and Po Valleys, it sees the origins of its oldest nucleus before the 11th century, when it was built on the slope of the hill and protected by walls.
The dominion of the Marquisate of Saluzzo lasted from 1142 to 1548 and had its greatest economic and cultural splendor under the leadership of Ludovico I and Ludovico II. At that time Saluzzo, also obtained by the Pope the institution of the Diocese, had the appearance of a small capital, expanded like a fan on the hill and surrounded by a double curtain of walls.
In perpetual conflict with the Savoy, with the death of the last Marquis, it wa submitted to France and, in 1601 with the Treaty of Lyon, was assigned to the Savoy Duchy.
The historic center still retains its medieval structure with elegant stately buildings adorned with loggias and cobbled lanes that go up the hill.
At the top there is the castle, called Castiglia, for 4 centuries residence of the Marquis of Saluzzo. Equipped with four towers, bastions, drawbridge and moat, it was reduced to ruins and subsequently transformed into a penitentiary.
Going down you meet the Ancient Town Hall characterized by a loggia on the ground floor and terracotta decorations on the facade. Behind it stands the Civic Tower which, with its 48 meters, is an exceptional panoramic point over the city and Monviso.
Going along Via San Giovanni you will find the thirteenth-century Church of San Giovanni, the place of representation of the Marquis of Saluzzo, as well as the burial seat of the dynasty, as evidenced by the sepulchral chapel Cappella Cavassa, accessible from the cloister.
From here, along narrow streets, pedestrian crossings and steps, you can get to two other symbolic buildings of Saluzzo: Casa Cavassa, a noble residence converted into a museum, and Casa Pellico, a medieval house where the famous writer Silvio Pellico was born and lived when was a child .
Before going down to the lower part of the city, where are located the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary Assunta and Corso Italia, the main shopping street, explore the old town again, choosing less traveled routes. Stop to look at other valuable buildings, even if a little decadent, such as the Palazzo dei Marchesi del Carretto, votive pillars, such as the San Chiaffredo one, and secondary churches, such as the Church of San Bernardo, whose bell tower stands out thanks to its multicolored coating of the shingles.
Finally, you cannot leave the city of Saluzzo without having visited the beautiful Botanical Garden of Villa Bricherasio. Located at the foot of a hill not far from the historic center, it is a park of about 12,000 square meters created with skill by the expert Domenico Montevecchi where live together, in three different climatic zones, thanks to a particularly mild microclimate, numerous species from all over the world.
Among the "Seven Sisters" of Cuneo, Saluzzo is the one that most preserves a Renaissance atmosphere with many monuments and places that recall the splendor of its past.
The history of Saluzzo is closely linked to the Marquisate born in the twelfth century when Manfredo, son of Bonifacio del Vasto, inherited it, starting a dynasty. Many of the historic buildings that characterize the city date back to that era.
Located in the Cuneo plain, on the threshold between the Varaita and Po Valleys, it sees the origins of its oldest nucleus before the 11th century, when it was built on the slope of the hill and protected by walls.
The dominion of the Marquisate of Saluzzo lasted from 1142 to 1548 and had its greatest economic and cultural splendor under the leadership of Ludovico I and Ludovico II. At that time Saluzzo, also obtained by the Pope the institution of the Diocese, had the appearance of a small capital, expanded like a fan on the hill and surrounded by a double curtain of walls.
In perpetual conflict with the Savoy, with the death of the last Marquis, it wa submitted to France and, in 1601 with the Treaty of Lyon, was assigned to the Savoy Duchy.
The historic center still retains its medieval structure with elegant stately buildings adorned with loggias and cobbled lanes that go up the hill.
At the top there is the castle, called Castiglia, for 4 centuries residence of the Marquis of Saluzzo. Equipped with four towers, bastions, drawbridge and moat, it was reduced to ruins and subsequently transformed into a penitentiary.
Going down you meet the Ancient Town Hall characterized by a loggia on the ground floor and terracotta decorations on the facade. Behind it stands the Civic Tower which, with its 48 meters, is an exceptional panoramic point over the city and Monviso.
Going along Via San Giovanni you will find the thirteenth-century Church of San Giovanni, the place of representation of the Marquis of Saluzzo, as well as the burial seat of the dynasty, as evidenced by the sepulchral chapel Cappella Cavassa, accessible from the cloister.
From here, along narrow streets, pedestrian crossings and steps, you can get to two other symbolic buildings of Saluzzo: Casa Cavassa, a noble residence converted into a museum, and Casa Pellico, a medieval house where the famous writer Silvio Pellico was born and lived when was a child .
Before going down to the lower part of the city, where are located the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary Assunta and Corso Italia, the main shopping street, explore the old town again, choosing less traveled routes. Stop to look at other valuable buildings, even if a little decadent, such as the Palazzo dei Marchesi del Carretto, votive pillars, such as the San Chiaffredo one, and secondary churches, such as the Church of San Bernardo, whose bell tower stands out thanks to its multicolored coating of the shingles.
Finally, you cannot leave the city of Saluzzo without having visited the beautiful Botanical Garden of Villa Bricherasio. Located at the foot of a hill not far from the historic center, it is a park of about 12,000 square meters created with skill by the expert Domenico Montevecchi where live together, in three different climatic zones, thanks to a particularly mild microclimate, numerous species from all over the world.
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